p.3 #1 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
naturephoto1 wrote:
My TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code was delivered earlier today, much earlier than anticipated. This is my copy directly from TTartisan. I have a second one in transit from an eBay auction that is someplace in the USA, but I have no idea where.
Here are my initial experiences with the adapter. First, the adapter is very tight when mounting my Leica M, Voigtlander, Zeiss, and Minolta M mount lenses. As a result, the front surface of the adapter is getting marked up from mounting and unmounting the lenses. Second, my 2 Leica 6 bit encoded lenses- 24mm f3.8 Elmar Asph and WATE are recognized and the EXIF information is saved with the photo files. I tried to encode 5 Voigtlander and Zeiss M mount lenses. Of the 5, I only got 2 correct so that the adapter would read and save the EXIF information. These were my Zeiss 35mm f1.4 Distagon ZM (encoded as a Leica 1.4 lens) and my Voigtlander 90mm f2.8 Apo-Skopar (encoded as a Leica 90mm f2.8 Elmarit lens). I did not get the coding correct for my Voigtlander 28mm f2 Ultron II VM (which I wanted encoded as the Leica 28mm f2 Asph lens. I also did not get my Zeiss 85mm f4 Tele-Tessar ZM lens (I wanted to encode it as the Leica 90mm Macro lens), nor my SK Grimes modified Voigtlander 12mm f5.6 Ultra Wide Heliar VIII (I wanted to encode it as a Leica 18mm lens since I have none) to be recognized by the adapter. Finally, I have 2 additional uncoded M-mount lenses that I did not encode- my Minolta CLE 40mm f2 M-Rokkor lens (there is a screw in the mount that interferes with the coding) and my very old Leica 135mm f4 Tele Elmar V1 lens.
It has been extremely frustrating trying to use the lenses with the adapter that are uncoded. I have found that the best way at least normally to mount the lens (at least those that are 6 bit coded) on the adapter and to then mount the combined lens and adapter onto my Kolari Vision UT sensor modified A7rII (at this point it is my only Sony body that I have been using). In order to switch lenses, as Bastian had mentioned, you can unmount the adapter from the camera and turn it all the way to the side without removing it from the camera body. Then, to switch lenses, normally you would mount the lens to the adapter and then complete remounting the adapter onto the Sony camera body.
My big problem has been trying to set the focal length for the lenses that are incorrectly coded and totally uncoded. I have been having generally good success setting the 28mm for the 28mm f2 Ultron II VM lens. With all of the miscoded or uncoded lenses, it seems best to try to set the focal length on the wheel of the adapter and then mount the lens. I am not sure at this point as to how successful I was initially trying to set the focal length of these lenses but now I am having a bit of some success doing this setting the 35mm focal length for the 40mm M-Rokkor lens. However, I am unable to get any focal lengths in the 90mm an 135mm focal length settings to work with the 85mm and 135mm lenses. I get extremely screwy focal lengths of 21mm, 24mm, 50mm (most often at least for the 135mm lens), etc. At times, I have been able to set the 85mm lens as a 75mm lens, but it is not consistent. I have gone back and forth with these lenses trying to mount the lens to the adapter first or to mount the adapter to the camera and then the lens to the adapter. I just am not getting any consistency for this.
I am going to be forced to try to contact TTartisan about these issue via e-mail and find out what they will say. I am not sure if this is going to be a issue with just my adapter or others as well and to find out how TTartisan wants to deal with this. I am particularly concerned as I have a second adapter coming as well as a used Novoflex 6 Bit coded Leica R to Leica M adapter so that I can at least record my f stops for images taken with my Leica R180mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt, Leica R 80-200mm f4 Vario Elmar, and my Leica R 28mm f2.8 Super Angulon PC lenses.
Hi Rich,
Are the lenses not recognized by the TTA adapter also not recognized on the Leica M? If the adapter is too tight with your lenses, you may be able to tweak the spring metal sections in the back.
p.3 #2 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
Fred Miranda wrote:
Hi Rich,
Are the lenses not recognized by the TTA adapter also not recognized on the Leica M? If the adapter is too tight with your lenses, you may be able to tweak the spring metal sections in the back.
Hi Fred,
I don't have a Leica M body to check the lenses. I probably either have an error in my coding or didn't cover the areas adequately. My coding does not look nearly as nice as what you have shown. I may try to reaply the Testors paint to remove and then reapply the coding. As to the 2 lenses without any coding, I am not sure why I am having an issue, but will contact TTartisan.
p.3 #4 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
I received the adapter this morning from Shoten Kobo (Japanese distributor). I have no 6-bit coded lenses and I don't plan to code my lenses so I intend to use the adapter with the focal length selection wheel and only with lenses that match the supported focal lengths.
My adapter is a little tighter with regards to lens connections than my current favorite adapters (Rayqual and the new CV VM-E close focus adapter II), but not as tight as some other adapters I have so it seems OK in this regard. I measured the weight with my kitchen scale and it came out as 42g (exactly as advertised and same weight as my Rayqual adapter).
I did a quick test so far just to confirm if the focal length setting based on the control wheel is working well with my copy of the adapter. I connected the following lenses with the focal length wheel set to FLs that match the lens and each time the FL was shown correctly in camera. I always connected the lens to the adapter first and then connected them to the camera (my Sony A7C) and I turned on the camera afterwards (I don't like to expose the sensor while the camera is powered on).
- CV 28/2 VM II -- FL wheel set to 28mm
- MS-Optics Apoqualia 35/1.3 Slim II -- FL wheel set to 35mm
- CV 50/1.5 Heliar classic VM - FL wheel set to 50mm
- CV 75/1.5 VM - FL wheel set to 75mm
- CV 90/2.8 APO-Skopar - FL wheel set to 90mm
I don't have any 135mm lenses but I tried my CV 75/1.5 and my CV 40/2.8 Black VM with 135mm setting and CV 40/2.8 with 50mm setting as well and each time the FL shown on camera was same as I had set on the wheel. I also confirmed that if I change the FL setting on the wheel while camera and adapter have been connected to the camera already and camera has been turned on once, changing the fl setting on the wheel has no effect unless I disconnect/reconnect the adapter once. E.g. if I just turn off the camera and turn the wheel and then turn the camera back on, fl setting still doesn't change. On the other hand, if the lens+adapter combo is connected to camera and camera hasn't been turned on yet, I can successfully change the fl setting on the adapter before turning on the camera. The fl setting seems to get fixed camera is turned on for the first time after lens+adapter have been connected.
I wish I could set the aperture to f1.5 in camera as many of my lenses are f1.5, but there's no f1.5 aperture available on camera side so have to choose either f1.4 or f1.6 (when using 3rd stop aperture intervals and using half stop doesn't help here).
p.3 #5 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
Thanks for the report Juha!
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I received the adapter this morning from Shoten Kobo (Japanese distributor). I have no 6-bit coded lenses and I don't plan to code my lenses so I intend to use the adapter with the focal length selection wheel and only with lenses that match the supported focal lengths.
My adapter is a little tighter with regards to lens connections than my current favorite adapters (Rayqual and the new CV VM-E close focus adapter II), but not as tight as some other adapters I have so it seems OK in this regard. I measured the weight with my kitchen scale and it came out as 42g (exactly as advertised and same weight as my Rayqual adapter).
I did a quick test so far just to confirm if the focal length setting based on the control wheel is working well with my copy of the adapter. I connected the following lenses with the focal length wheel set to FLs that match the lens and each time the FL was shown correctly in camera. I always connected the lens to the adapter first and then connected them to the camera (my Sony A7C) and I turned on the camera afterwards (I don't like to expose the sensor while the camera is powered on).
- CV 28/2 VM II -- FL wheel set to 28mm
- MS-Optics Apoqualia 35/1.3 Slim II -- FL wheel set to 35mm
- CV 50/1.5 Heliar classic VM - FL wheel set to 50mm
- CV 75/1.5 VM - FL wheel set to 75mm
- CV 90/2.8 APO-Skopar - FL wheel set to 90mm
I don't have any 135mm lenses but I tried my CV 75/1.5 and my CV 40/2.8 Black VM with 135mm setting and CV 40/2.8 with 50mm setting as well and each time the FL shown on camera was same as I had set on the wheel. I also confirmed that if I change the FL setting on the wheel while camera and adapter have been connected to the camera already and camera has been turned on once, changing the fl setting on the wheel has no effect unless I disconnect/reconnect the adapter once. E.g. if I just turn off the camera and turn the wheel and then turn the camera back on, fl setting still doesn't change. On the other hand, if the lens+adapter combo is connected to camera and camera hasn't been turned on yet, I can successfully change the fl setting on the adapter before turning on the camera. The fl setting seems to get fixed camera is turned on for the first time after lens+adapter have been connected.
I wish I could set the aperture to f1.5 in camera as many of my lenses are f1.5, but there's no f1.5 aperture available on camera side so have to choose either f1.4 or f1.6 (when using 3rd stop aperture intervals and using half stop doesn't help here).
I'll do more testing later. Need to work today... ...Show more →
p.3 #6 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
I did some more testing. I tried connecting all my 28 rangefinder lenses to my A7C with the TTArtisan adapter by setting the focal length on the adapter before turning the camera on, after connecting the adapter + lens combo to the camera. I got expected results with correct focal length according to the FL I had set on the adapter with almost all of my lenses, but there were 2 exceptions and those 2 lenses were consistently recognized as some specific Leica lenses although they are uncoded.
My CV 50/2 Heliar classic is uncoded but the adapter recognizes it as a 90mm f4 lens, and then when I try to control the aperture setting on camera (for EXIF purposes), it doesn't go below f4. My Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2 is also uncoded and the adapter recognizes it as 18mm f3.4 lens, and again I can't then set the aperture to anything below f3.4 on camera (for EXIF recording purposes).
My other 26 rangefinder lenses worked as expected, they showed the focal length according to what I had set on the adapter (same as fl of the lens or closest match that I had selected) and there were no restrictions on aperture setting on camera. Of course with LTM lenses the LTM-M adapter ring is probably the key rather than the lens itself, but I have multiple M-LTM adapters and none of those presented any problems (they are mostly Voigtländer and Leica branded).
40mm (set to 35mm on adapter):
- Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2 --> recognized by adapter as 18/3.4 lens
- CV Heliar 40/2.8 VM Black
- CV Heliar 40/2.8 VM for VM-E close focus adapter
50mm:
- MS-Optics Sonnetar 50/1.3 Slim
- CV 50/1.5 Nokton II VM
- CV 50/1.5 Heliar classic VM
- Canon 50/1.5 LTM
- CV 50/2 Heliar classic VM --> recognized by adapter as 90/4 lens
- Topcor-S 5cm f2 LTM (2 copies, both "Panda")
- Tanaka Kogaku Tanar H.C. 5cm F/2 LTM
- Topcor 5cm f2.8 LTM
- CV 50/2.5 Color-Skopar LTM
- CV 50/3.5 Heliar VM
I have no Leica cameras or any other adapters that read 6-bit coding so I can't check if my CV 50/2 Heliar classic or Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2 are recognized as some other lenses by other tools, but I did use both of them on my Sigma fp before with a Leica L-M adapter that supported 6-bit codes and they were not recognized as other lenses at that time. I no longer have the Leica L-M adapter so can't try again now.
p.3 #7 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
One more interesting observation. I have Rayqual MD-LM V3 and PK-LM V3 adapters which I tried to use stacked with the TTArtisan adapter, so that I could use my Minolta MC/MD and Pentax-K lenses with FL set by the adapter. I tried both of these briefly and with Rayqual MD-LM V3 attached to the TTArtisan adapter, it got consistently recognized as 21/2.8 lens (although there's of course no 6-bit coding on the MD-LM adapter). Rayqual PK-LM V3 adapter was not recognized as any lens and it works fine stacked on the TTArtisan adapter so that FL can be set on the adapter and gets transferred to camera correctly.
p.3 #8 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
Some adapters and lenses have screws in the 6 bit code area and the screws are being recognized as 1 (black) which leads to false readings.
Painting the screws white might help, but I never tried that.
p.3 #9 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
BastianK wrote:
Some adapters and lenses have screws in the 6 bit code area and the screws are being recognized as 1 (black) which leads to false readings.
Painting the screws white might help, but I never tried that.
Yes, I guess something might be there on the 6-bit coding area on the affected lenses that might fool the adapter into recognizing it as a code. Anyway, I won't try to do anything about it as it's not so much of a problem for me and I will just avoid the problematic combinations of lenses and adapter. I wouldn't use my 40mm lenses with this adapter beyond the initial test in any case since 40mm FL is not available on the wheel so the issue with my Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2 is even less relevant. I have a lot of 50mm lenses too so not using my CV 50/2 Heliar classic with this adapter is also not a problem.
Might be interesting to find out what the bit codes for those 90/4 and 18/3.4 lenses are and whether I can spot something on the lenses that could have some resemblance to those codes.
p.3 #10 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
After reading Juha's observations/results of using his TTartisan adapter with his M-mount and LTM lenses, I went back this morning to check my 9 M-mount lenses with my first TTartisan Adapters which came directly from TTartisan. My second adapter from an eBay Auction, was last updated from Speedpak tracking was that yesterdsay, June 2 at 11:54 it Arrived at Regional Distribution Center Avenel, US | 07001 which is Avenel, NJ. I will test that adapter with my lenses again after receipt. Additionally, I sent 3 messages to TTartisan on June 1 regarding my issues. The first was sent to the TTartisan website for sales and I received an automatic response that he would be away till June 6. The second was sent to Cloe, Business e-mail on the TTartisan website and the third was through messenger to their Facebook webpage. I have yet to get any response.
In any case, I tried to peform a little better monitored testing. I first went back and tested my 2 Leica M encoded lenses, my Leica M WATE and my Leica M 24mm f3.8 Elmar Asph lenses. Both lenses recorded as they should with the adapter. Then I proceeded to the 2 lenses that I apparently properly coded, my Zeiss 35mm f1.4 Distagon ZM and my CV 90mm f2.8 Apo-Skopar lenses. The Zeiss 35mm f1.4 Distagon ZM recorded as coded for a Leica 35mm f1.4 lens and the CV 90mm f2.8 Apo-Skopar recorded as coded for a Leica 90mm f2.8 lens.
Next I went on to the other 5 lenses, 3 of which were apparently miscoded and the 2 uncoded lenses, my Minolta CLE MC 40mm f2 M-Rokkor and my very old Leica M 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar V1 lenses.
I found in my testing for these lenses, I would get the best results if I set the focal length of the lens as I mounted the lens to the adapter, but I would need to have the adapter not covered or attached even to a Sony E-mount rear lens cap.
When doing this carefully, I was getting my mis-coded CV 28mm f2 Ultron II to read as an f1 28mm Leica M lens.
My Minolta CLE MC 40mm f2 M-Rokkor lens which was set to 35mm and initially was recording as a Leica 35mm f1 lens but later was recording as a Leica 35mm f2 lens.
My SK Grimes modified CV 12mm f5.6 Ultra Wide Heliar VM VIII was supposed to have been coded for 18mm (I have no 18mm lenses) and the adapter was set to 50mm but was recording as a Leica 28mm f2 Asph lens. I definitely must have miscoded the lens, or it was being misread.
My Zeiss 85mm f4 Tele-Tessar ZM lens was supposed to be coded for Leica 90mm f4 Macro lens. I set the adapter for 75mm and one time it recorded as a Leica 75mm f1 lens but when remounted later after more testing it was recording as a Leica 50mm f2.0 lens.
My uncoded Leica 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar V1 was set to 135mm with the adapter and it was recording multiple times as a Leica 50mm f1.4 lens.
Finally, as previously mentioned, I had purchased a Novoflex 6 bit coded Leica R to Leica M adapter on eBay. After more than 96 hours after purchase, the seller who is in Hobart, Tasmania supposedly normally sends orders within 48 business hours still has not shipped the adapter. I will have to send him a reminder/query about this on Monday which is a week since my purchase. I will update how this works with my Leica R 180mm f3.4 Apo-Teyyt, Leica R 80-200mm f4 Vario Elmar, and my Leica R 28mm f2.8 Super Angulon PC lenses. According to a review article with both the Leica 6 bit R to Leica M adapter and the Novoflex 6 bit Leica R to Leica M adapter, my Novoflex ASTAT-NEX ring should fit the Novoflex adapter allowing me to support the heavy Leica R 180mm and 80-200mm lenses.
p.3 #11 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
Just received my TTA adapter today. As other reported, 'lens to adapter' is a bit tight.
When changing lenses, the adapter must be removed from the body for the 6-bit scanner or FL selector to work.
Most of my Voigtlander 6-bit coded lenses are working so far...
Some odd: With my Leica 135/4 Tele-Elmar, the FL selection does not work. (the lens is not coded)
However the FL selector works with my other uncoded Leica lenses like the Leica 75/1.4 Lux and Leica 35/1.4 Lux....Not sure why it would not work with the 135mm...
p.3 #12 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
Fred Miranda wrote:
Just received my TTA adapter today. As other reported, 'lens to adapter' is a bit tight.
When changing lenses, the adapter must be removed from the body for the 6-bit scanner or FL selector to work.
Most of my Voigtlander 6-bit coded lenses are working so far...
Some odd: With my Leica 135/4 Tele-Elmar, the FL selection does not work. (the lens is not coded)
However the FL selector works with my other uncoded Leica lenses like the Leica 75/1.4 Lux and Leica 35/1.4 Lux....Not sure why it would not work with the 135mm...
Hi Fred,
I am not sure why either of our Leica M 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar lenses are not working properly. Mine as mentioned is recording as a Leica 50mm f1.4 lens.
Also my last update for my eBay auction purchase of my second adapter is now as of 12:01 shown as has Departed from Regional Distribution Center, Bridgeport, US | 08085. That is Bridgeport, NJ and is only about 75 miles from Allentonwn. So, it should be delivered shortly, possibly as early as tomorrow.
p.3 #13 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
BastianK wrote:
Some adapters and lenses have screws in the 6 bit code area and the screws are being recognized as 1 (black) which leads to false readings.
Painting the screws white might help, but I never tried that.
This happened to my Leica 135mm f/4 Tele-Elmar. It has a screw where the 6-bit scanner is located. The FL selector does not work with this lens.
However, my Leica 75/1.4 Lux has a screw on that location as well but it works...Not sure why one works and the other does not.
p.3 #14 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
Fred Miranda wrote:
This happened to my Leica 135mm f/4 Tele-Elmar. It has a screw where the 6-bit scanner is located. The FL selector does not work with this lens.
However, my Leica 75/1.4 Lux has a screw on that location as well but it works...Not sure why one works and the other does not.
Hi Fred,
I do not find any screws in the lens mount of my Leica 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar lens. The adapter, just will not read 135mm when the adpter is set to 135mm.
p.3 #15 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
naturephoto1 wrote:
Hi Fred,
I do not find any screws in the lens mount of my Leica 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar lens. The adapter, just will not read 135mm when the adpter is set to 135mm.
I have one of the V1 lenses of the Tele-Elmar lenses that can be removed from the mount and mounted into I believe a bellows. It was made I believe even before the date that was listed in lforum.com in 1964 and is scalloped with the red scale markings. The lens mount has no screws in the mount which is flat and can be seen to the far left in the photo of all 3 versions which is borrowed from the lforum wiki:
So, since we have 2 of the 3 versions of the lens, possibly the only Leica M lens to record 135mm with the adapter set to 135mm would be pre 6 bit coded Leica M135mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt lenses. I would presume that the 6 bit coded 135mm f3.4 and later coded 135mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt lenses would be recognized as this version of the lens.
p.3 #17 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
Fred Miranda wrote:
This happened to my Leica 135mm f/4 Tele-Elmar. It has a screw where the 6-bit scanner is located. The FL selector does not work with this lens.
However, my Leica 75/1.4 Lux has a screw on that location as well but it works...Not sure why one works and the other does not.
Oh, that’s not good news. I have the same version of the Tele-Elmar 135/4 as you and really only bought the adapter so I could use it with that lens on my A7R4. I guess having Leica convert it to 6-bit would be one way to solve the problem. Otherwise one can set the focal length in the camera so that at least IBIS will work.
p.3 #18 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
genji wrote:
Oh, that’s not good news. I have the same version of the Tele-Elmar 135/4 as you and really only bought the adapter so I could use it with that lens on my A7R4. I guess having Leica convert it to 6-bit would be one way to solve the problem. Otherwise one can set the focal length in the camera so that at least IBIS will work.
Unfortunately Leica does not 6-bit code our version of the 135/4 Tele-Elmar.
I've asked.
The weird thing is that yesterday I tried it again with the TTA adapter and it worked. Not sure what happened before because I thought I was doing everything right. I will test this further today to make sure.
I am starting to really like this adapter. I love getting auto IBIS when mounting a M lens to my R4. I wish it was not so tight though.
p.3 #19 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
naturephoto1 wrote:
Hi Fred,
I have one of the V1 lenses of the Tele-Elmar lenses that can be removed from the mount and mounted into I believe a bellows. It was made I believe even before the date that was listed in lforum.com in 1964 and is scalloped with the red scale markings. The lens mount has no screws in the mount which is flat and can be seen to the far left in the photo of all 3 versions which is borrowed from the lforum wiki:
So, since we have 2 of the 3 versions of the lens, possibly the only Leica M lens to record 135mm with the adapter set to 135mm would be pre 6 bit coded Leica M135mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt lenses. I would presume that the 6 bit coded 135mm f3.4 and later coded 135mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt lenses would be recognized as this version of the lens.
Hi Rich,
I've own the first version (the one on the left on your picture). It's a tremendous value and performs pretty much the same as my current version. (the one on the right)
I've tested it against the mighty Batis 135/2.8. See here:
p.3 #20 · TTartisan Leica M to Sony E adapter with 6-bit code
Fred Miranda wrote:
Unfortunately Leica does not 6-bit code our version of the 135/4 Tele-Elmar.
I've asked.
The weird thing is that yesterday I tried it again with the TTA adapter and it worked. Not sure what happened before because I thought I was doing everything right. I will test this further today to make sure.
I am starting to really like this adapter. I love getting auto IBIS when mounting a M lens to my R4. I wish it was not so tight though.
Here’s hoping then. If I can get the TTA adapter to work with my 135/4 Tele-Elmar, I’ll just leave it permanently attached.
