Using SLR wide angle lenses on RF cameras

Nokton48 said:
Here are my three Leicas. In the back, you can see my new black M4-2, with the Canon FL 19mm F3.5 attached. As you can see, it is very compact. I sold off my 21mm F4 CV, and I don't miss it at all! The Canon build-quality is awesome, and the lens is every bit as good as the Leitz 21mm F3.5 Schneider Super Angulon, maybe better. At less than half the price of the SA, it is still a great bargain. GoKevin has the Canon RF rangefinder version for $1800US, but this lens is optically identical to the rangefinder version.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on the quality of the older lenses. I see it as a way to get RFF members high quality optics at much lower cost. The FL 19mm 3.5 is a good example. Its RF sister costs much more, but who needs RF coupling with a 19mm lens. I may do a lens comparison of such 19-21 mm lenses. The FL 19 and the Rokkor 21 are non-retro design lenses, so they look and feel and weigh like RF lenses from that era.
 
Raid,
I don't think the LTM 19mm F3.5 is rangefinder-coupled, either. Only difference is Leica thread, versus FL mount. With the B adapter, they are virtually identical. Neither lens has a rangefinder cam, that I can see in any pictures I've seen, including Peter's book, which I have. Both zone-focus, which is fine. My 21 CV was rangefinder coupled, but I thought that was kind of unnecessary. And it was more difficult to rangefinder with a lens that wide, as I recall. But at F16, 2 feet to infinity is sharp. Who needs to focus, as you know.

I'd like to see some pix with that 21mm. Earlier Minolta SLR's are my choice for reflex shooting. I've always been very interested in that one. Would be great on any of my SR cameras, because they all have mirror-lockup. The lens was designed to use on the SRT101.
 
Last edited:
Nokton48 said:
Raid,
I don't think the LTM 19mm F3.5 is rangefinder-coupled, either. Only difference is Leica thread, versus FL mount. With the B adapter, they are virtually identical. Neither lens has a rangefinder cam, that I can see in any pictures I've seen, including Peter's book, which I have. Both zone-focus, which is fine. My 21 CV was rangefinder coupled, but I thought that was kind of unnecessary. And it was more difficult to rangefinder with a lens that wide, as I recall. But at F16, 2 feet to infinity is sharp. Who needs to focus, as you know.

I'd like to see some pix with that 21mm. Earlier Minolta SLR's are my choice for reflex shooting. I've always been very interested in that one. Would be great on any of my SR cameras, because they all have mirror-lockup. The lens was designed to use on the SRT101.
Click to expand...


You are right; both models were non RF coupled. For all practical purposes, the FL is the better lens since it can be used on RF and on SLR cameras.

My CV 25/4 is non-coupled, but I find focusing easy with it.

There was a 9 element 21mm 4.5 first, followed by the 8 element [or maybe 7] 21mm 4 W-Rokkor.
 
Thank you, Kim. The main negative aspect for using SLR lenses on RF cameras could be the size and weight of SLR lenses. The old lenses sometimes are of the same size as a corresponding RF lens.
 
John,
I bought mine many years ago. It is a fun lens as you cannot take too many fisheye photos before they look alike. Search in ebay. I have not seen such a lens for sale for some time.
 
raid said:
Is there a Nikon-Leica adapter on the market? That would be useful to have.
Click to expand...

Raid, I have an adapter for Nikon to M mount I bought on ebay from jinfinance. Very well made adapter and works perfect. Cost alot less than CQ's version. I use it with Nikon lenses on a G1, but I could use my 20/4 Nikkor and the CV 21mm VFer on my M3 and scale focus. Lots of DOF at the smaller f stops--at f/16 infinity to 1.5 ft. I might have to take this setup out someday.
 
I've resorted to using two Canon adapters (F-mount to FD body, and FD mount to 39mm thread) to mount Nikkors on my Bessa L. It's clunky, but it works.
 
wjlapier said:
Raid, I have an adapter for Nikon to M mount I bought on ebay from jinfinance. Very well made adapter and works perfect. Cost alot less than CQ's version. I use it with Nikon lenses on a G1, but I could use my 20/4 Nikkor and the CV 21mm VFer on my M3 and scale focus. Lots of DOF at the smaller f stops--at f/16 infinity to 1.5 ft. I might have to take this setup out someday.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I will check it out. My only wide angle Nikkor lens is the 24mm/2.8.
 
Interesting idea and for $175usd from CQ I might be willing to try, other such adapters are even more $, yes? Do you have to be extra careful with the heavy SLR lenses on 35mm RF's? Nikon f/2.8 are substantial...
Not too familiar with the adapter ideas but my interest would be with a Nikon 12.5mm fisheye which apparently won't work because it is a "G" lens or maybe my 105mm macro (great lens) but I fear trying to distance focus with this one would be futile. Other Nikon glass not so much unless I mention my 80-400VR, whew wouldn't that be something on an M7 or CL. Silly.
 
L. M. Tu said:
Yes, an N adapter behind the Nikon lens, and then the Canon to Leica adapter (called the B adapter by Canon, I think?).
Click to expand...

L.M.Tu: Yes, it is Adapter B by Canon. I do not have Adapter N, but I don't have many Nikkor wide angle lenses.
 
WDPictures said:
Interesting idea and for $175usd from CQ I might be willing to try, other such adapters are even more $, yes? Do you have to be extra careful with the heavy SLR lenses on 35mm RF's? Nikon f/2.8 are substantial...
Not too familiar with the adapter ideas but my interest would be with a Nikon 12.5mm fisheye which apparently won't work because it is a "G" lens or maybe my 105mm macro (great lens) but I fear trying to distance focus with this one would be futile. Other Nikon glass not so much unless I mention my 80-400VR, whew wouldn't that be something on an M7 or CL. Silly.
Click to expand...

Adapter N is impossible to find these days. Are you suggesting that CQ has such adapters for $175? Only wide angle lenses will work well with zone focusing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom