Convert G lenses to Leica M-mount

raid said:
Hi,
What makes you find the G-M 21mm lens better than the ZM 21mm lens? I have neither one.
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It was rated #1 wide angle lens in 35mm system, period.
The 21mm viewfinder is superb as well.
A beautiful piece and a must have for g system (don't say u have used G system if you haven't tried it yet). It is that good.
The conversion cost is more expensive for 21mm
 
"Optically, I prefer the Zeiss-for-Contax G 21mm f/2.8. It's slightly sharper wide open and has far less distortion than this Leica 21mm f/2.8. I can see distortion with this Leica lens, but I can't see any with the Zeiss-for-Contax G. According to the manufacturers' data, the Zeiss-for-Contax G has only one-third the distortion of this Leica lens. That's because the Zeiss lens appears not to be a retrofocus design, while this Leica lens is."

Quote from 21/2.8 Leica review.

If I could only have one Contax G lens this would be it.
 
I may have to get me such a lens. First, I need to explore the 28mm, 45mm, and 90mm lenses.
 
raid said:
Comments of G2 users often mention the shortcomings of the G1.
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They often DO mention shortcomings, don't they! Honestly I think its just rationalization for having spent more on a G2 compared to a G1. The finder is, um... difficult on both bodies. Performance, speed and noise of the AF between the two is close enough that one could drop a hankie over the difference. The G2 is just bigger, uglier and more expensive, IMHO :D.

And yes, much as I love the 45mm Planar and 90mm Sonnar, the G Biogon is the gem of the lineup. It is the only 21mm lens I need or want. When my G1 dies and there are no more functioning bodies left on eBay, that is my one lens I will surely send to MS Optical for conversion to M-mount
 
Hacker said:
There is still the Leica 21mm f/1.4 to compare with!
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True - and I drool in anticipation, even though at 77mm x 70mm dia and 580g :eek: this is one huge beastie of a lens in comparison to the Biogon. And vignetting performance looks to be about the same as the Biogon: "At full stop with the 35mm format, its maximum - i.e. in the corners of the image - is around 3.2 aperture stops (ed. - that's Noctilux territory) or, with the Leica M8 models and their slightly smaller format, around 1.9 aperture stops. Stopping down to 2.8 visibly reduces this light fall-off towards the image edges to 1.7 or 0.8 aperture stops." On the other hand, distortion correction appears to be superb.

Frankly I hope a bunch of people buy them as soon as they are available, after which I hope the usual suspects give the lens horrible reviews - then I might be able to afford one! ;) (I kid! I kid!)
 
jmkelly said:
They often DO mention shortcomings, don't they! Honestly I think its just rationalization for having spent more on a G2 compared to a G1. The finder is, um... difficult on both bodies. Performance, speed and noise of the AF between the two is close enough that one could drop a hankie over the difference. The G2 is just bigger, uglier and more expensive, IMHO :D.

And yes, much as I love the 45mm Planar and 90mm Sonnar, the G Biogon is the gem of the lineup. It is the only 21mm lens I need or want. When my G1 dies and there are no more functioning bodies left on eBay, that is my one lens I will surely send to MS Optical for conversion to M-mount
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John,

Your posting makes me feel better about having bought the G1 and not the G2. Thanks! I saved some money, and I have three beautiful lenses to enjoy.
 
jmkelly said:
They often DO mention shortcomings, don't they! Honestly I think its just rationalization for having spent more on a G2 compared to a G1. The finder is, um... difficult on both bodies. Performance, speed and noise of the AF between the two is close enough that one could drop a hankie over the difference. The G2 is just bigger, uglier and more expensive, IMHO :D.
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I have both and I prefer the G2 over the G1. That :bang: distance dial on the G1 makes me :mad:

:)
 
Guys, I saw an advertisement on ebay that there is a bayonet adaptor for contax g- lenses to leica-m. Is it viable? anybody tried it instead of converting the lens mount?

thanks...

I may want to trade my elmarit-m 90 and get a zeiss 90m then as I am impressed by the results. Anybody compared both?
 
Do you have a link to this adapter?

The flange distance between Leica M and Contax G is so close I don't think there is room for an adapter.

Not to mention, how would one focus?
 
LeicaFoReVer said:
Guys, I saw an advertisement on ebay that there is a bayonet adaptor for contax g- lenses to leica-m. Is it viable? anybody tried it instead of converting the lens mount?

thanks...

I may want to trade my elmarit-m 90 and get a zeiss 90m then as I am impressed by the results. Anybody compared both?
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I wonder how could work such G-to-M improbable adapter: Contax G lens are autofocus; nevertheless these lens are really something good!
So good that - in my personal opinion - worth the cost of Japanes Exposures conversion packages.
 
I'm thinking about doing the conversion too. Great lenses.
I'll at least do the 21mm when I get some funds.

Raid- I never had any issues w/ focusing or using the G1, and always had fun using it. You'll do well with it once you get used to it.
Since I got the G2 though, the G1 really doesn't get used much, unless I need a 2nd body.
I just like the way the controls are set up better, although I realize that's just my personal opinion.
(i like the controls on the G2 EXCEPT the drive mode dial on the left... I've bumped that a few times by accident and ended up on multiple exposure w/out realizing it... a dozen shots lost the first time I was in amsterdam...ouch)
 
There is a possibility that another person will start to offer mount modification of G1-G2 lenses into M lenses. Once I know more about his progress, I will let you know.
 
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If you like the Contax G 90/2.8 look, and want it with M mount, an easier way might be to get the M-Hexanon 90/2.8 instead.

John, we are still waiting for your comparison :)

Roland.
 
BTMarcais said:
(i like the controls on the G2 EXCEPT the drive mode dial on the left... I've bumped that a few times by accident and ended up on multiple exposure w/out realizing it... a dozen shots lost the first time I was in amsterdam...ouch)
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I have solved this problem in the following way: every third film somewhere along the pics, I would have exact duplicates. What would have happened is that the little left side dial had gone off its S setting to C and my finger was too long on the shutter button to be done with one shot. I did hear the double exposure clicks and I knew!

This i traced to slight rubbing of the left top corner of the G2 when i took it out of its confinement occasionally.

So I got my trusted bright red nail polish bottle out and dropped one miniature red dot (of Leica fame, no less) on the dial where the S is and another red dot on the - indicating mark on the body itself. Now it will be visibly obvious if the dial has been disturbed. No doubles since then. Good. And I can quickly check this even in the dark as well.
 
It's late and perhaps I just missed it in the thread, but who's Dirk? And more importantly, does he have a web site or a way to contact him?
 
ferider said:
If you like the Contax G 90/2.8 look, and want it with M mount, an easier way might be to get the M-Hexanon 90/2.8 instead.

John, we are still waiting for your comparison :)

Roland.
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I have had the M-Hexanon for a while and like it very much - the build quality and handling on the KM lenses was just superb. I shot a bunch with the M-Hex on the R-D1 when I first got it - have it on the Hexar now with a roll of HP5+ in. I have a roll of Ektar in the G1 just now.

When I get both those done (been crazy busy at work, and heck it's been raining every day I have had time to go out and shoot) I will put the same film in both the G1/Sonnar and the Hexar/Hexanon and do some side-by side shooting. Maybe the innacurate AF of the G1 and the difficulty of long lens focus on the short-EBL Hexar will even things out ;).

If anyone has a MS-modified 90mm Sonnar they want to lend me for a week, I will shoot it and the Hexanon on the Ikon for a better comparison.
 
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