Trappedin DC
Member
Picking up an XPro3 next week along with the 16 2.8/ 23 2/35 2 lenses but want to use my Leica lenses too. I’ve read all I can but it seems like all the adapters out there are “the best”. Want to keep the price around $200 tops. Any recommendations appreciated.
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
It's a little out of your price range but there would be only one choice for me if I needed such an adapter - Voigtlander VM-X Close Focus Adapter.
All the best,
Mike
No need to spend that much. Mine cost $20, and has a close focusing helical, very useful for rangefinder lenses that often can only focus to 1m.
Beemermark
Veteran
The Fuji adapter is probably the best.
michael_isaev
Newbie
I have fuji x-t2 and leica m5 with bunch of lenses. I got kipon adapter for around $50, and while adapter is okay, I don’t think that fuji is any good digital back for leica system. Partially it’s because of crop factor, and the fact that my zm 21/4.5 or 35/2.8 are not what they are on leica. But mostly it’s because fuji sensor is not optimized for leica glass.
Both zm 21/4.5 and zm 35/2.8 have poor edge/corner performance which doesn’t get really flat even stepped down. Sharpness of both lenses is surpassed by fuji 23/1.4 and 35/1.4, on all apertures.
Cv 35/1.4ii and cron 50/2 are slightly better in the corners, but sharpness wise across the field and in the center they can’t quite get to fuji 35/1.4 and 50/2, again on all apertures.
What makes all leica lenses harder to use on fuji is short focusing throw. Lenses lice 35/1.4, 50/2, 90/2.8 take sub-mm barrel movement to focus precisely wide open. Focus by wire that native lenses have, even though without great feedback, is much more useful to operate if you use lenses on fast apertures. Because of focus throw, or maybe because all my lenses were optimized for film, it feels that the focus point is really diminishing and depth of field is razor thin.
Fuji has rather high pixel density, equivalent FF sensor would have ~60 MP, and it really is optimized for modern lenses. Old era lenses just don’t have that appealing compared to what fuji has to offer. Most lenses are simultaneously sharper, faster (aperture), faster to work with (AF), and have really nice rendering. Lenses from leica immediately fall under “special effect lenses” on fuji, at least for me.
Both zm 21/4.5 and zm 35/2.8 have poor edge/corner performance which doesn’t get really flat even stepped down. Sharpness of both lenses is surpassed by fuji 23/1.4 and 35/1.4, on all apertures.
Cv 35/1.4ii and cron 50/2 are slightly better in the corners, but sharpness wise across the field and in the center they can’t quite get to fuji 35/1.4 and 50/2, again on all apertures.
What makes all leica lenses harder to use on fuji is short focusing throw. Lenses lice 35/1.4, 50/2, 90/2.8 take sub-mm barrel movement to focus precisely wide open. Focus by wire that native lenses have, even though without great feedback, is much more useful to operate if you use lenses on fast apertures. Because of focus throw, or maybe because all my lenses were optimized for film, it feels that the focus point is really diminishing and depth of field is razor thin.
Fuji has rather high pixel density, equivalent FF sensor would have ~60 MP, and it really is optimized for modern lenses. Old era lenses just don’t have that appealing compared to what fuji has to offer. Most lenses are simultaneously sharper, faster (aperture), faster to work with (AF), and have really nice rendering. Lenses from leica immediately fall under “special effect lenses” on fuji, at least for me.
Trappedin DC
Member
Which brand was it?
Trappedin DC
Member
Trappedin DC
Member
Good info thanks. I have CV M glass also so more modern glass and coatings. I like weird looking shots (Lomo LCA, Holgas etc) so that won’t be a problem. I’d use the M glass for arty abstract type photos.
Generic, they are many similar listings on ebay, this is the one I bought.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/112309899799
It works well.
Can also be combined with adapters to Leica M.
For example, to use Konica AR lenses on my Fuji, I got a Konica to Leica M adapter and attach it to this close focusing helical adapter. This results in a Konica to Fuji adapter with close focus feature.
I do the same with Pentax K and Nikon to Leica M adapters.
Adapting rangefinder lenses to digital can be a challenge, but most lenses from 35mm and up (with a few exceptions) work fine. Wider lenses can have problems on all digitals with all sensor sizes (m43, APS-C, and full frame.)
Trappedin DC
Member
I won’t be going smaller than 35
Trappedin DC
Member
Found a deal on the Rayquil adapter and am giving it a shot.
Those are high quality adapters.
Trappedin DC
Member
Yup . Gandy says they’re Dandy!
peterm1
Veteran
If you really want to spend $200+ then go ahead. But you do not really have to when buying basic adapters which are just a simple mechanical ring though certainly they need to be precisely designed and made with good QA.
I shoot two systems (M4/3 and Sony E) with a wide range of lens types (M42, Pentax PK, Nikon F, Leica M, Leica LTM, Konica, Minolta, Exacta) and I have settled on K&F concept adapters for pretty well all my adapter needs. If I had to pay $200+ for each adapter I simply could not experiment with using that range of lenses. They typically cost around the $30 mark and are a definite cut above ordinary adapters bought from China (though I believe these are made in China too). They are precisely made and their new "pro" range is especially nicely designed and so far I have never had a single problem. I have no connection to them - am just a satisfied customer.
Trappedin DC
Member
Got a Raquil for $60. And a $20 Fotodiox for some Nikon F mounts. I haven’t received that one yet but they look well made and get great reviews.
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I used to spend top money on Novoflex but the cheap eBay adapters do the same thing. It’s just a piece of metal and unless it’s loose it’ll work. You are using live view to focus so the precision of something like the rangefinder M/LTM adapter is not critical, by the way I always spend money on either Wetzler or Voigtlander for those.