MyFunLeader Contax G 35mm F/2 to Leica M Conversion

[pptmstr]

Just received a black paint conversion + a brass helicoid, anyone interested in a mini review?

FUNLEADER Contax G35 to Leica M Conversions
(link contains affiliate program referral coupon that gets you 5% off -- used to be 15% -- and I get a 10% commission)

 

[james.liam]

Wonder what “myFunleader” actually translates into Mandarin.
The 35/2 was a solid lens but nowhere near the 45/2. That’s a Zeiss masterpiece.

 

[hap]

yes, that would be nice. I'd like to know what's involved , price (if you don't mind), and how it works for y ou.

Hap

 

[hap]

sorry, I missed the link.

Yes, like to hear about your experience.

1) Did you use your own G lens and convert DIY with the supplied helicoid?

2) is the conversion really reversible?

Funleader in Mandarin= $599 USD minus lens.

Not sure I have a 35/2. Need to dig out, but likely 28, 45, 90. Maybe should stick with the G2.

 

[pptmstr]

Wonder what “Funleader” actually translates into Mandarin.

Yeah that would be cool to find out, any Mandarin speakers here that fancy speculating on that? 🙂

The 35/2 was a solid lens but nowhere near the 45/2. That’s a Zeiss masterpiece.

I have G 21 / 28 / 45 / 90 and shoot all of them on my A7R3. I now have 35 in M (the one above). The 45 and the 28 are insanely sharp wide open, I simply can't believe them. I know the poor 35 got some reviews at the time stating that it does not come up to the 45 results and it's been quoted like that by many people that haven't actually used it, but there are also sources that state it being on par with the 45. I want to test it out (although not apples to apples since the 35 is now converted). To be honest, just looking at samples online, it shows some lovely pop wide open.

This thing is tiny! And the black paint is really beautiful, always been a black paint / lacquer fan, hence my M-P. I also want to geek out and do a conversion myself so I got the brass helicoid, which they call gold but upon touch it feels like exposed brass, basically the black one without the paint.

EDIT: correcting the way I formulated what G lenses I have.

 

[pptmstr]

sorry, I missed the link.

Yes, like to hear about your experience.

1) Did you use your own G lens and convert DIY with the supplied helicoid?

2) is the conversion really reversible?

Funleader in Mandarin= $599 USD minus lens.

Not sure I have a 35/2. Need to dig out, but likely 28, 45, 90. Maybe should stick with the G2.

No worries 🙂
1) I got really excited and I bought a black one converted by them and a brass helicoid to do my own geeky conversion.
2) No idea, but from I've seen in the conversion process pictures they provide, it seems like straight forward: remove the optical black and put it in the new helicoid.

And yes, I have a G2 and it's such an amazing camera, a huge piece of history. The manual focus is weird as hell but it's a beauty, undeniably.

 

[james.liam]

Funleader in Mandarin= $599 USD minus lens.

LOL!

I have all the G lenses (except the Hologon) and shot all of them on my A7R3.

MS Optics in Japan was converting G lenses to M for a few years. They come up for sale on flEaBay every now and again.
How were you focusing it on the Sony? Does the adapter have a helicoid?

 

[pptmstr]

MS Optics in Japan was converting G lenses to M for a few years. They come up for sale on flEaBay every now and again.

True! I actually contacted JapanExposures asking about conversions and Dirk replied saying they have stopped doing conversions for now. From the pictures on their website, their conversions looked really beautiful:

http://www.japanexposures.com/lens/

How were you focusing it on the Sony? Does the adapter have a helicoid?

Sorry I wasn't more clear: I used the G lenses on my A7R3 with this cheap ULATA adapter:

 

[splitimageview]

The MS-Optics conversion was fiddly and not very robust. The best thing about it was the light weight and the new higher-count blades.

Here is Hawk's conversion, also no longer available, this one simply removed the front lens assembly from the autofocus barrel/mount:

 

[pptmstr]

The MS-Optics conversion was fiddly and not very robust. The best thing about it was the light weight and the new higher-count blades.

Here is Hawk's conversion, also no longer available, this one simply removed the front lens assembly from the autofocus barrel/mount:

Thanks for sharing! I read about that too, but you know how these things spread online (just like how G 35/2 was said to be the "worst" of the G lineup) and I only want to speak about what I can test myself.

I can already tell you that this conversion is quite robust. Also, I thought that the "gold" version (I only have the helicoid / casing) would be a bit cheesy but it's quite beautiful, has a lovely lovely reflection and feel, delicate very accurate black markings and a suited black focus tab.

 

[pptmstr]

I wonder who "Mr. Ding" is ...

 

[james.liam]

"MR. DING'.

I love it.

Why did you get the brass helicoid and casing? Looks pretty now but in a year, it'll be green.

 

[pptmstr]

"MR. DING'.

I love it.

Why did you get the brass helicoid and casing? Looks pretty now but in a year, it'll be green.

hah! I love it too 🙂 I want to find out "who" this is.

I have always wanted to do a lens conversion myself, I am a huge fan of these unique pieces of photographic equipment, each like a unique character in a story. But I lacked time, mechanical tech skills and courage I guess. Plus that I love this little Contax G lineup of lenses so much, they are truly special and a big piece of photography history. I followed the previous Contax G to Leica M conversions closely and have been looking for an entry into this. The MyFunLeader helicoid + casing looked pretty sturdy to me and I just jumped on it as soon as I saw it, even if it's a little pricey (even with the 15% discount I got). I guess I will sell one of them once I buy a good looking G 35/2 and convert it myself. My work is so much computer time (visual effects) and I crave some manual work, haha 🙂

 

[splitimageview]

That’s a nice looking conversion for sure.

I owned a 35/2 Planar for a few years, I found it excellent. Somehow the internet turned “the 45 Planar is superior to the 35” into “the 35 is crap.”

That’s a completely unfair conclusion, considering the 45 has always been considered one of the best normal lenses ever made.

 

[raid]

The Zeiss G lenses are worth being converted to M. I have the 45/2 in G mount and also as converted to M mount (by Jim Buchanan). Don Goldberg converted the Hologon to M.

 

[james.liam]

The Zeiss G lenses are worth being converted to M. I have the 45/2 in G mount and also as converted to M mount (by Jim Buchanan). Don Goldberg converted the Hologon to M.

Raid,
How does it behave on an M digital?

 

[raid]

The 45/2 behaves very well on my digital M cameras, while the Hologon is an old design wide angle lens in which the rear element nearly touches the sensor. The Hologon is meant for film cameras only. M9 and M10 and M240 gave me bad results with the 16/8. Smeared edges with purple cast and darkening. It works well on my M3 though. The crop done by the M8 gives OK results.

45/2 on M8:

45/2 on M10: https://raid.smugmug.com/Leica-M10-Zeiss-Planar-45mm-20/

a crop:

 

[james.liam]

Even on downsized jpg's, amazing detail. Anything special about it to merit the cost?
So many 50mm options out there. Not sure how it would fit into my roster (Canon 50/1.4 & 1.8 LTM, 50 Rigid, Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM, 50 APO) as something unique.

 

[pptmstr]

That’s a nice looking conversion for sure.

I owned a 35/2 Planar for a few years, I found it excellent. Somehow the internet turned “the 45 Planar is superior to the 35” into “the 35 is crap.”

That’s a completely unfair conclusion, considering the 45 has always been considered one of the best normal lenses ever made.

Absolutely! Thank you, that's exactly what I've been saying about this silly internet.

 

[pptmstr]

The 45/2 behaves very well on my digital M cameras, while the Hologon is an old design wide angle lens in which the rear element nearly touches the sensor. The Hologon is meant for film cameras only. M9 and M10 and M240 gave me bad results with the 16/8. Smeared edges with purple cast and darkening. It works well on my M3 though. The crop done by the M8 gives OK results.

Thanks so much for sharing those. My 45/2 G on A7R3 is incredible as well.

Would you be able to share some photos of your G to M conversions for us? Much appreciated in anticipation.