Canon EOS mount lenses on the M9 via adaptor

[northernlights]

I have Zeiss ZE (Canon EF) lenses that I use on the Canon DSLR.

I have shot with the M8 for over 2 years before I switched and am now contemplating a move back to the rangefinder family and getting a used M9 as I miss the portability and weight.

I need some advice here on the EF - Leica M adapters sold currently in the market such as ones from fotodiox and if they work well on the M-mount bodies.

Much appreciated.

 

[dimitris]

I doubt how this could work since the distance for the EOS lenses is further away from the film plane than the leica ones. If there are adapters then 1. they should change the focal length of the lens and 2. should be difficult to use electronic aperture for them. I might be wrong though.

 

[keytarjunkie]

I doubt how this could work since the distance for the EOS lenses is further away from the film plane than the leica ones. If there are adapters then 1. they should change the focal length of the lens and 2. should be difficult to use electronic aperture for them. I might be wrong though.

The distance for eos lenses is further away from the film plane than the leica ones, like you said, which means you can use adapters. 😉 However, as you mention, there is no electronic aperture control. Perhaps there are adapters out there that allow you to mechanically control an eos lens, but I'm pretty sure there are none that offer coupling to the leica's rangefinder. Why would you want to do this anyway? By putting a big lens with a big adapter on a small camera, you are effectively ruining the point of using a small camera. ZE lenses are sharp, but so are the tiny ZM lenses. And, though I have done so, I don't really see the point of owning a Leica camera without a Leica lens. Unless it's a money thing (it was for me).

If it's a money thing, forget about buying a M9 and just take a few vacations with your Canon and make some awesome pictures. Otherwise, it is much more practical and better in the long run to use M-mount lenses on M-mount cameras.

 

[venchka]

I type too slow.

Can you manually control the aperture on the Zeiss lenses. Canon EOS-EF lenses don't have aperture rings as you probably know. You could shoot wide open all the time.

Wayne

 

[bugmenot]

Canon EOS EF lenses were designed electronic from the start. Motors are internal and so is the aperture control. There is no mechanical coupling (like Nikon/Pentax/Sony Alpha) to allow aperture control. So while simple metallic tubes exist to mount a Canon EF lens on your Leica, you'd have a hard time focusing it (no RF coupling, no liveview), and will be stuck with whatever maximum aperture (wide open) your lens possesses.

 

[northernlights]

Thanks guys.

I am hearing possibilities that there is no rangefinder coupling and lack of aperture control and shoot wide open only. Definitely not encouraging. I had wanted to use the Zeiss 21mm ZE and share it with the Canon 450D. Maybe stretching a little, the 70-300f4-5.6L IS.

Definitely, if I get the M9, I would want the 35 f2 asph as my favorite perspective is 35mm (hence I had used the then 28f2 asph on my then M8..perfect couple). The 21mm ZE on the M9 I am considering is supposed to take the place of my then CV15mm super heliar I had used on my then M8. I still have the 21mm finder.

The amazon website has an interesting shot of an M9 with a 50mm f1.8 EF lens via a Fotodiox adaptor.

 

[C4D]

I have the full line of Zeiss ZF lenses for my Nikon D800e that I sometimes use on my Leica CL. I use an adapter and scale focus with the 18mm, 21mm, and the 28mm and the Nikon mount ZF lenses have the manual aperture ring so I can change aperture. Metering still works fine as well with the lenses mounted on the Leica. Image results have been excellent but the lenses are just so damn large mounted on the Leica body that it really makes it impractical, especially the 21mm.

 

[Kent]

1. they should change the focal length of the lens ...

No.

should be difficult to use electronic aperture for them.

Yes.

And they are, of course, not coupled. So you would have to scale-focus them. Could work with superwides at f/8 or so, but surely not with 2/135 L wide open. 😉

 

[venchka]

I just checked. The Zeiss ZE mount lenses offer auto exposure aperture adjustment and, according to photos of the lenses, DO NOT have aperture rings.

One bit of information missing in the OP: What Canon body are you currently using? Perhaps it makes more sense to upgrade the Canon instead of chasing Unicorns and Leica rangefinder cameras?

Wayne