Anyone using Leica R lenses on the Df?

[Fraser]

Has anyone had any success using Leica R lenses on the Df or any other full frame Nikon?
Cheers.

 

[Calzone]

Has anyone had any success using Leica R lenses on the Df or any other full frame Nikon?
Cheers.

I have used a 50 Lux "E60" on a D3X using a Leitax "Almost Auto Aperture" F-mount rear flange.

In use it is like shooting a perspective control lens with stop-down metering. The lever provided makes it easy to open the iris for focusing, but it still remains an extra step that slows down shooting.

I found trying to manual focus on a camera that is designed for use with autofocus lenses not to be optimal with fast glass. Nailing the focus at F1.4 remains vague.

The 50 "E60" is a wonderful lens that displays a wonderful balance between sharp and soft. I compare the rendering to a 75 Lux where it is sharp, has wonderful bokeh, and creamy OOF. It is particularly great to use as a portrait lens even though it is a 50. Non ASPH, but mucho sharp and detailed.

Unfortunately I was not able to exploit fully the virtues of this lens with a D3X. Currently this lens is on a Leica SL which is a match made in heaven. Very easy to nail the focus, and this particular lens loves to be shot wide open. The SL is the best camera I own.

Cal

 

[Rico]

The registration doesn't jibe. Leica R lens on Nikon F body requires a change to the mount of the lens (Leitax), or loss of infinity focus. The original mount of choice for adapter fanatics was Canon EF, although there were recurring issues of mirror strikes and interference of levers and other lens protrusions. The current, and very effective, platform is Sony Alpha 7 with its FF sensors and short registration. I use the A7ii, here with Apo-Telyt-R 280/4:

Alternatively, you can use earlier vintage Leica M lenses with Visoflex capability (65mm and longer). You will need to remove the optical head and add a fruit-salad of adapters. Here's my D3X with attached Telyt-V 280/4.8 circa 1970:

Shooting with adapted lenses is generally a pain, although TechartPRO is breaking new ground.

 

[Ronald M]

Leitax and clones work. I presume you know about manual diaphragms.

You do not get the same image as Leica because the sensors/color engineering are different . Raw does not help.

Plus is later Nikon bodies correct LCA automatically and axial CA not sure about.

If you have a ten screw flange on Leica lens, you must use a ten screw adapter and at the time I did mine Leitax was the only one. The extra 4 hold the lens together and are very long. Placement is too precise to do without a CNC machine and a trepan is required.

 

[Ken Ford]

I think it was the barkeeper that had a F2 adapted with a R mount - IIRC it was an extensive modification to get proper registration. Something similar on a Df body is intriguing. It won't be me, though!

 

[Fraser]

Seems not worth the effort, cheers.

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

I had converted a 3 Cam 50mm Summicron, a 3 Cam 90mm Elmarit and a R Cam 35mm Elmarit (very late production) to Nikon F mount with the Leitax converters to use with film and with my D700....and it was eye-opening how awesome these lenses are on a decent digital camera. However since getting an M8 and now M9, I converted them back to 3 Cam to use with a recently acquired, mint minus Leica SL (2nd version - cost me $89 for the camera). I gave a machinist at work the mount for the R Cam 35mm Elmarit to remove the extra material Leica added to prevent using with older Leica SLRs, and Leica sent me the third Cam and tiny screws - and now it meters and works perfectly with the Leicaflex SL. Anyone using these lenses on Nikon (or Canon) DSLRs I urge you to get the late model 35 Elmarit as I find it quite good on digital Nikon FX.

 

[Godfrey]

I had equipped two R lenses to use on Nikon mounts and found their use on the D750 obnoxious. I swapped them back to R mount and use them on the Leica SL (or the Leicaflex SL or R8) where they belong.

G

 

[Calzone]

I had equipped two R lenses to use on Nikon mounts and found their use on the D750 obnoxious. I swapped them back to R mount and use them on the Leica SL (or the Leicaflex SL or R8) where they belong.

G

Like Godfrey I use mine also on a SL2-MOT for film. A joy to use.

Cal