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Archive 2021 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras

  
 
stgrove
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p.1 #1 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


Would like to hear which adapters people are having the most success with for this usage.

This would be for a high MP Sony A type camera and I am not sure if the ones that AF an M lens are any good for street purposes. Thanks.



May 01, 2021 at 11:24 AM
Slalom
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p.1 #2 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


The title says E mount, To Techart Make a focusing one by moving the LM lens(less than 600gram) to and fro.

Sony A would need glass in any adapter, whereas Sony E can have a empty tube.



May 01, 2021 at 02:49 PM
stgrove
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p.1 #3 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


Yes E mount like for the A7R4 or A1


May 01, 2021 at 03:37 PM
Bertrick
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p.1 #4 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


I use the Voigtlander Close Focus adapter for my Leica M mount lenses on my Sony A7iii. It allows for a closer focus on the M mount lenses by moving them away from the camera via rotating a ring on the adapter. It is very well made.


May 01, 2021 at 04:01 PM
sidaths
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p.1 #5 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


I've used the VM-E close focus adapter previously but ended up with the Novoflex adapter. It felt more robust and using the close focus functionality on the VM-E was a little clunky IMO.


May 01, 2021 at 04:11 PM
philip_pj
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p.1 #6 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


The Novoflex was highly recommended by Philip Reeve so I bought one, used it for years now. It's a fine piece of industrial kit, the best adapter I've seen, beautiful finish and it lacks shiny parts. Machining is first rate. I bet they sell for a fair bit used too, so retained value is likely to be good.

But you will need it for a long time, if you come to appreciate the CV-M and M lenses for what they do for your photography. The other respectable choices come from Voigtlander - a standard adapter and a close focus one.

It can depend on your personal priorities. I want light weight, high quality, robust and simplicity much more in such items than close focus. The Novoflex is a featherweight 36 grams, and it goes for around $200. The close focus Voigt item is 125 grams and a little over $300. For travel work, adding 125g to lenses around 200-250g is a big step backwards. Sony's LA-EA3 adapter is 110 grams for comparison, and its huge (for older D/SLR lenses).

You can cheap out as always and people report good results with some of them, Kipon seems to come to mind. Others will tell you soon enough.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1022002-REG/voigtlander_bd272a_vm_e_close_focus_adapter.html/overview

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/737896-REG/Novoflex_NEX_LEM_Adapter_for_Leica_M.html/specs



May 01, 2021 at 05:49 PM
LBJ2
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p.1 #7 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


I don't read many people commenting on this adapter or brand. I find it very well made, solid fit, still looks new after a few years of use.

SHOTEN Leica M Mount Lens-Sony NEX / α.E Mount Adapter LM-SE
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284814912430

Edited on Oct 30, 2022 at 03:22 PM · View previous versions



May 01, 2021 at 06:32 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #8 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


I have always liked the Hawk's factory close focus adapter. It is light (about 50g) allows adjustment of infinity focus, and has a nice helicoid for close focus capabilities. I have never used a AF adapter, so I can't really say anything about that, but I have used a lot of M lenses and there are number that do not perform well on Sony cameras, and a few that do perform well. You will need to do your homework about the specific lenses you are using and how they are affected by the sensor cover glass on Sony cameras. If you have specific lenses in mind you can search for examples of how they are affected and you can always ask for people's experience here.


May 01, 2021 at 06:45 PM
realVivek
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p.1 #9 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


stgrove wrote:
Would like to hear which adapters people are having the most success with for this usage.

This would be for a high MP Sony A type camera and I am not sure if the ones that AF an M lens are any good for street purposes. Thanks.


Wondering if this is Lou (“algrove”)?

Have you considered an L mount camera?



May 02, 2021 at 09:03 AM
LeeRatters
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p.1 #10 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


I have a standard & helicoid adapter. Both cheap. Never had any issues with either.


May 02, 2021 at 10:49 AM
stgrove
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p.1 #11 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


realVivek wrote:
Wondering if this is Lou (“algrove”)?

Have you considered an L mount camera?


Yes. it's me. IHow are you?

I had trouble for some reason to log in to "algrove" account and i never got a reply form anyone at FM on how to rectify the issue. The only gripe I have is that they auto- charge me for Buy/Sell on both accounts and since I cannot get into algrove I assume I will be auto-charged again without being able to use it! Does anyone ever monitor this site? Sent multi[le messages to FM himself, but never a reply. Guess he is too busy testing E mount lenses.

Not interested in an L mount. Only will use Sony for street/documentary whenever that starts again. For me I am not interested in shooting people with masks on their faces since it only reminds me how inconsiderate who ever started this "plague" has been to the world.



May 02, 2021 at 12:14 PM
stgrove
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p.1 #12 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


LeeRatters wrote:
I have a standard & helicoid adapter. Both cheap. Never had any issues with either.


Lee
Kindly indicate the brands of adapters. Thanks.



May 02, 2021 at 12:16 PM
realVivek
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p.1 #13 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


Lou, hope all is well with you. The reason I asked about the name was I clearly remember having had this very discussion (Leica M adapters for Sony) elsewhere, years ago. I thought you had Sony E mount cams already?

If you still have all your high end Leica M lenses, of course, Novoflex is the adapter to get.

Good luck!



May 02, 2021 at 03:58 PM
seanderson
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p.1 #14 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


Has anyone used the Urth adapters? Seems like an interesting brand even if it ends up being just greenwashing.

I inherited a Minolta CLE and a couple M-Rokkor lenses when my grandfather passed away a few years ago and I realized I should at least put the lenses to use. If anyone is looking to part with their adapter, I'm all ears.



Oct 30, 2022 at 09:36 AM
Grenache
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p.1 #15 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


I have both the Novoflex and the Voigtlander VM-E. Both work well. Note that not all M mount lenses play well with Sony sensors…in fact, most do not play well. 50mm and more tele are essentially all fine, as far as I know. However, wider than 50 is tough, with many lenses smearing colors and/or blurring away from center. The WATE 16-18-21 is a rare exception.

Jim



Oct 30, 2022 at 01:28 PM
naturephoto1
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p.1 #16 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


seanderson wrote:
Has anyone used the Urth adapters? Seems like an interesting brand even if it ends up being just greenwashing.

I inherited a Minolta CLE and a couple M-Rokkor lenses when my grandfather passed away a few years ago and I realized I should at least put the lenses to use. If anyone is looking to part with their adapter, I'm all ears.


If you have the Minolta 40mm CLE MC f2 M-Rokkor, it plays fairly well with a stock A7r or other A7 series camera. Though it will perform better on an Ultra Thin Senor Modified Sony body. The 28mm M-Rokkor does not perform as well on a stock Sony body, but again improves on an Ultra Thin Sensor Modified Sony body. The 90mm should perform relatively well on a stock Sony body.

As to the Urth adapters, I only have one that I purchased just a short time ago, and have no experience with their Leica M to Sony adapter. But, my Urth adapter was purchased to use my recently purchased Laowa 20mm f4 shift lens in the Canon EF mount. I have found that that Urth adapter is quite short for using the Laowa lens on my Sony bodies. Using the Laowa lens on the Sony bodies at a distance approavhing infinity, the lens was registering a distance of about 7 feet on the lens distance scale.

Rich




Oct 30, 2022 at 01:43 PM
wzok
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p.1 #17 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


LBJ2 wrote:
I don't read many people commenting on this adapter or brand. I find it very well made, solid fit, still looks new after a few years of use.

SHOTEN Leica M Mount Lens-Sony NEX / α.E Mount Adapter LM-SE
https://www.ebay.com/itm/144013403079?hash=item2187de23c7:g:cEEAAOSwfBNgcmDk


I have this adapter in the +6mm extension range.

Shoten L.M - S.E MACRO

Brian Smith wrote about this adapter a while back:
https://briansmith.com/shoten-leica-m-sony-e-mount-close-focus-adapter/

I bought for the macro extension capability. I also added an M39-L/M thin adapter to use with LTM vintage lenses, which typically only have 1m close focus. As Brian points out the VM-E has +4mm extension while the (more expensive $254-295) L.M -S.E Pro version has +6mm extension, while there is a lower cost +5mm versions.



Oct 30, 2022 at 02:08 PM
seanderson
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p.1 #18 · Suggestions for Adapting Leica M lenses to Sony E mount Cameras


naturephoto1 wrote:
If you have the Minolta 40mm CLE MC f2 M-Rokkor, it plays fairly well with a stock A7r or other A7 series camera. Though it will perform better on an Ultra Thin Senor Modified Sony body. The 28mm M-Rokkor does not perform as well on a stock Sony body, but again improves on an Ultra Thin Sensor Modified Sony body. The 90mm should perform relatively well on a stock Sony body.

As to the Urth adapters, I only have one that I purchased just a short time ago, and have no experience with their Leica M to Sony adapter. But, my
...Show more

Thanks for the insights here... I'm new to the world of adapters. I do have the 40mm and 90mm and will be using it on a stock A7R III.

I might go for the Novoflex or one of the other mentioned cheap alternatives, just so that I know that at least some people find them useful.



Oct 30, 2022 at 03:38 PM





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