I've edited the title (for easier search) as some of the posts contained valuable information on the Leica 19mm version II.

Please let me know if you find the title in appropriate, thanks a lot.

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Original post:

Got the 5D2 and was disappointed that the Leica 19mm (latest) did not clear mirror (as expected) I guessed i was hoping for a miracle.

I could mount and focus but couldn't take any picture &^$^%$#^ ! Do you know the pain?

With the mirror up in liveview (LV), i could not mount the lens as the shrould interfered with the mirror (in up-position).

Definitely need a surgery on either the mirror or lens...... which i'm not willing to do..... so i sat down and stared at the camera then the lens then the camera then the lens ...... *loong sigh*

If you are going to keep using Canon for the forseeable future, I would adapt the lens to the camera. If you are contemplating chasing a FF digital Leica R eventually, I would adapt the camera. I have adapted a few of my (less expensive lenses than the Leica, but still quite a bit of money) like the Contax 35-70, 35/1.4, Nikkor 35/1.4 and Contax 85/1.4 to not hurt my 5D or 5D2. Mostly sanding down a rear lens protector pin or an edge touching the mirror etc. Maybe thatīs what needs to be done here as well? A rear lens protector pin is worthless anyway if you are careful with your handling of the lens.

We're lucky to have a Leica service centre here in Western Australia who have experience as fitters and joiners and make custom mounts for universities mounting cameras on telescopes/microscopes etc. When my 19/2.8 arrives I will be giving it to them to precisely machine the shroud and retaining ring down sufficiently to fit my 5D2 and get them to refinish/paint the machined part so it is not noticeably modified.

I truly feel for you, nothing like having two very expensive toys and having to modify one. I am more afraid of botching the mirror job than anything, I have plenty of faith in these guys to be able to modify the lens for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

Maybe you can make trade of your unaltered copy against one which already has been modified

Just modify the mirror. The 19 is awesome, but with VERY tight tolerances that can get buggered royally if ANY gunk from adapting the lens gets in there.

A one-time grind of the mirror costs anywhere from nothing (DIY) to US$300 (Pham Min Son). A new mirror install from Canon when you go to sell is ~US$300 if you want to restore it first.

The cost of modifying every lens will quickly add up. Then there is the risk of a screw-up on a costly piece of glass.

Modifying a lens may also result in slower re-sale as people get nervous when buying 'modified' lenses if they don't know the rep of the person who did the work.

Lenses hold their value well, DSLRs - akin to a rock off a cliff. Modify the asset that depreciates the fastest....

I bought a copy modified for 1Ds2 (originally Guy Mancuso's) and still had to cut another millimeter to clear my 5D mirror.

I also had to trim my 28mm...that was a little more gut wrenching since it was a clean, nice copy.

Not sure if I'd do the modification again. There were times I thought I should have just chopped the mirror. But once I get my 5D2, I'll probably feel better about not having to modify it now (I hope )

Here's the pic of the 19mm before my additional shaving:

so when u guys test to see if a lens will clear the mirror you just slap it on and press the shutter and hope for the best? isint it kinda bad for the camera to have the shutter slam into the lens? or is it not hard enough to damage anything?

Before you know what will clear your particular camera, I don't think there is any other way. If you have a lens that barely clears, you can measure it against the lens you would like to test first. But essentially, once you decide to try it...all you can do is hope for the best. Personally, I worry most about damaging rear elements. Canon will replace a shutter for a fee, and I could live with that if I damaged one.

yea forsure, maybe theres something you could do to cover the rear element during testing

The swinging mirror really doesn't have enough force to damage itself and will graze/hit a rear element shroud *which most lenses have) vs any glass - and you'll get an error message. If so, turn off camera, remove lens, turn back on and mirror returns.

If no mirror message but you see a dark line at bottom of image (vignetting at bottom of image) - mirror is grazing the rear shroud just enough to slow down in it's return arc (the dark line you're seeing is the shutter capturing the mirror in the frame).

You can ask folks and check databases for lenses that are known not to clear any 5D/2 but other than that, unlike a 1series, every 5D or 5D2 will be different. A lens that clears yours will hang on the next guys and vice versa.

Thanks for all the helpful responses, I appreciated them. Think I'll have to sleep on it for a while before deciding what to do.

By the way, the Leica 50mm(E60) works with its rear element protective rubber ring removed. The swinging mirror is just less than 1mm (more like 0.5mm) away from the rear element when the lens is at infinity focus.

thrice wrote:
We're lucky to have a Leica service centre here in Western Australia who have experience as fitters and joiners and make custom mounts for universities mounting cameras on telescopes/microscopes etc. When my 19/2.8 arrives I will be giving it to them to precisely machine the shroud and retaining ring down sufficiently to fit my 5D2 and get them to refinish/paint the machined part so it is not noticeably modified.

I truly feel for you, nothing like having two very expensive toys and having to modify one. I am more afraid of botching the mirror job than anything, I have plenty of faith in these guys to be able to modify the lens for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'll be very interested to know, thanks.

Just got the lens, and the mirror catches so that I get "half" pictures. I can turn on live view before mounting the lens and use live view with no problems though. Mine is the second optical formula, but it's the 3cam not ROM version.

Still going to get it cleanly lathed down tomorrow.

Enjoy - it is a sweet lens.

makron wrote:
Got the 5D2 and was disappointed that the Leica 19mm (latest) did not clear mirror (as expected) I guessed i was hoping for a miracle.

I could mount and focus but couldn't take any picture &^$^%$#^ ! Do you know the pain?

With the mirror up in liveview (LV), i could not mount the lens as the shrould interfered with the mirror (in up-position).

Definitely need a surgery on either the mirror or lens...... which i'm not willing to do..... so i sat down and stared at the camera then the lens then the camera then the lens ...... *loong sigh*


Hi,

I am thinking of getting the 5D MK II for my R lenses as well. Is your 19mm R a ROM lens? I was thinking of using Live View with this lens. It looks like this will not work.

N.S.

Mine is not the ROM, but it is the second optical formula (basically the ROM lens without the ROM connections). It works just fine in live view.

I have modified nearly half a dozen of the 19's. Ironically my current one was not modded, because I had a mirror-modded 5D.

The live view should work. The position the mirror rest is higher than the shroud's position when mounted.

Yep, on the markII there is a thick plastic retainer under the mirror, and this is what rests on the rear shroud, without obscuring the rear element.

I went to the service centre today and discussed a few options with their lead technician. He said given the condition of my 19 he would be very reluctant to modify it and because the shroud is not removable he would have to do it by hand which wouldn't be that pretty.

We decided instead that he is going to try and get a 5D mkII mirror from Canon and pre-mod the mirror then change it for the one currently in the camera. That way I should be able to RMA my camera should the need arise, however he will have to cut away a bit of the plastic under the mirror.

I suppose this makes more sense as it preserves the value of the lens which will undoubtedly outlast the camera. It also means no friends will ask to borrow my 19

EDIT: Lens won't reach infinity with this adapter, so that's probably why I don't have as severe mirror clearance issues as makron. I have a bunch of new adapters on their way so I'll be able to test more then, either way I'll need the mirror modified on my 5DII.

Here are a couple of quick & nasty shots I took in midday light down at the lake while walking my dog. It's about 35C and 100% humidity today, disgusting.

I shaved my 5D Mark II mirror Am I the first to do something so reckless?*

After 4 (YES 4!) attempts it finally clears the 19/2.8 Elmarit. After the 3rd try it was hanging on the return, but now it's perfect.

One thing I would suggest to others considering the same thing: shave the mirror (and plastic assembly holding it) evenly. Don't have more shaved off in the middle, because the mirror (in my case at least) hits the shroud on the sides, which lines up with the left and right edges of the mirror.

* to this camera

Here's a shot to illustrate the fruits of my labour. This guy doesn't like to stay still and focusing through the viewfinder is much quicker for me than using live view.