Leitax is the most solid albeit reversible option if you don't mind messing around with the mount (10 minute surgery, max; I have converted 5 Leica R's. The first was admittedly nerve racking, the others were a breeze).
Cameraquest makes solid adapters and haven't heard of those being poorly machined or slipping off unexpectedly (http://cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm).
j.liam wrote:
Cameraquest makes solid adapters and haven't heard of those being poorly machined or slipping off unexpectedly (http://cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm).
Depends on the lens. If it's a heavy lens (i.e. APO-Summicron 180mm or heavier), even those well-machined adapters can give way. I'm speaking from personal, horrifying experiences. Novoflex adapter is better for heavy lenses. Cameraquest and most other Leica R - Canon adapters are designed so that the lens can be taken off with the adapter still on the body. That convenience feature is the Achilles' heel for these adapters using heavy lenses. You cannot dismount a lens from a Novoflex adapter while it's still on the body. I suspect Leitax would be better than either of these, but I still use my Leica lenses on a Leica body, so that is not an option for me. Regardless, any of good quality adapters would be fine for a 50mm summicron.
On the latest Novoflex adapters you can remove the lens while it's mounted.
The newer ones have a tab at the side like most others, I understand the earlier ones were different though.
Even so, I'd recommend the Novoflex for Leitax and have happily used both.
johnahill wrote:
On the latest Novoflex adapters you can remove the lens while it's mounted.
Really?? I've several Novoflex EOSLER, older and newer ones, and all have a tab but it is blocked as long as the adapter is on the body. Moreover, despite of the unbeaten precision of the Novoflex (they are made of original Leica parts) the release mechanism is pretty fiddly and fingernail killing.
Nevertheless, knowing most of the high quality alternatives, I also recommend the Novoflex adapter, especially, as PSquared63 pointed out, with heavy lenses. I’d recommend at least adapters with springs (like Novoflex) instead of slots, which make quite a difference with heavy stuff.
I just installed my first two Leitax adapters (first OM to EOS and second Leica R to EOS). Had I read the instuctions it would have been a breeze. The Leitax mount goes on top of the native mount. Very interestng things happen if you try to replace the native mount.
I also found it useful when installing the Leitax screws to do opposite sides and gradually and progressively tighten them.
With mission accomplished on the Oly 18/3.5 and Leica R 180/ 2.8 APO, I prefer the Leitax over the Novo or Fotodiox Pro even for the smaller 18mm.
Anyone can post some pics by R 21/4? I heard the color was nice so I've been thinking about getting it for a while, but am not sure what the bokeh will look like, considering there are only 4 aperture blades. Thanks!
freaklikeme wrote:
Lovely shots as always, sebboh. "I took the mirror out..." That phrase is going to take some getting used to. Is the VF is hybrid?
it's just an evf actually (i have yet to find a cropper with an optical viewfinder that is decent), the mirror is only for autofocus. i don't have any autofocus lenses though, so i just removed it to gain back that extra half stop and remove any optical degradation it may or may not cause. the evf has much worse color than an optical viewfinder but it shows real dof and allows zooming in for much more accurate focus. it's awesome for lowlight shooting as well since it gains up. haven't tried to track anything faster moving than a duck, so not sure how that will work out - not really that into BIF shooting anyway though.
just looked at my shots on a real monitor, those greens on the last two are radioactive! guess i'll have to modify my default curves for the new camera (though shooting into the sun probably didn't help).
