Leica R or Voigtlander M-mount for Sony A7?

[lowep]

I have recently acquired a Sony A7 that I want to use with legacy lenses and am now trying to figure out where to start.

The first choice I have to make is if I should buy an adapter to mount my trusty old dog-eared 28mm Leica R f2.8 Elmarit that I have got so much use out of it probably has no resale value or a very nice silver 28mm Voigtlander f1.9 Ultron that is in impeccable condition, as I do not wish to splash out on adapters for two lenses that cover the same focal length.

What if any significant difference do you reckon should I expect to see when looking at images made with either of these fine lenses on the Sony A7?

Obviously the Ultron has a wider aperture that is not to be sneezed at but from what I have found out so far browsing on the internet Leica M mount lenses do not necessarily deliver better IQ on the A7 than Leica R mount lenses that is surprising.

 

[fuwen]

Because of the sensor design and the distance between the rear lens element to the light sensor, for 35mm and below R would be better and for above 35mm both M and R will be fine.

 

[BillBingham2]

I'd start with the R glass. As mentioned above, light rays hit the sensor "straighter".

B2 (;->

 

[lowep]

Thanks for the very useful replies! I will be happy for sentimental reasons to stick with my old Leica R and sell the Ultron, which will also make my wife happy for financial reasons 🙂

If I understand right the most recognized adapter options for Leica R to Sony E mount are the Metabones (cheap and includes AF confirmation chip), Novoflex (better built, more expensive, no AF confirmation chip) and Leitax (screw attachment, AF chip optional, medium price) or...

I already have a Leitax R to Canon EF replacement mount, so another adapter option could be to use Leica R lens with Canon EF replacement mount + Metabones EF-E smart adapter that would also keep the door open for future investment in a Canon lens that could deliver both IS and AF.... BUT if I understand right AF performance via this adapter is almost worthless and the adapter it not exactly rock solid, so

lots of options to consider, which I guess is why I bought the A7 in the first place... though what is not written in small print anywhere on the box as far as I can see is just like real life no adapter option seems to be without as many minuses as pluses.

 

[Godfrey]

When I had an A7, I used R lenses with the Novoflex adapter. Worked well.

G

 

[uhoh7]

An M or LTM adapter is 20 bucks, and the cheap ones are fine. I would shoot both lenses and then decide. The R should be better, but the 1.9 Ultron is one of the best RF 28s on the stock A7. Fast too.

 

[craygc]

If you're looking at M-mount, probably the best 28mm for the A7 series is the 28mm Elmarit v3. They tend to be reasonably priced at around US$1000 these days