Leica R lenses on Nikon SLRs

<p>Have you seen this: http://www.leitax.com/leica-lens-for-nikon-cameras.html<br /> The guy offers adapters for Leica lenses to fit Nikon cameras. He replaces part of the Leica bayonett and thus keeps the infinite focus. As former Leica user I am quite tempted. Anybody ever actually compared Leica R-lenses to good Nikon glass? Say, the Leica Apo-Macro 100/2.8 to the Nikon 105 micros or the 180/2.8 APO to the Nikon one?<br /> I post this here as in the Leica forum, they know this anyway and believe in their glass. I have a D700.</p>

<p>Yes I did. I converted a 60 mm f2.8 Elmarit macro to a Pentax mount and a 90 mm f2 summicron to Nikon F mount. I am waiting for a third mount so I can convert my 135 mm f2.8 Elmarit to Nikon F.<br>

The converted lens worked wonderfully. I really like the image quality.<br>

Here is a thread I posted with pictures of my conversion:<br>

http://forum.cogitech.ca/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=15</p>

<p>Not only have I seen this already, I ordered and received one bayonet to convert my Apo-Telyt 1:3.4/180mm to fit my Nikon DSLRs - D200 and D300. I sold the Apo-Macro 100/2.8 before I learned of the leitax bayonet - but the combination of stop-down metering, manual focus and macro doesn't appeal to me anyway. Can't comment on comparisons between Nikon and Leitz glass - have done some but to me advantages and disadvantages keep the balance.<br>

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/3175697274_3021a42010.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Apo-Telyt 1:3.4/180mm on Nikon D200</p>

<p>I've ordered two bayonet mounts & can't wait to screw the converted Summicron-R 90 onto my D700.<br>

I'm still thinking about if I should alter the Macro-Elmarit-R 60 or an Apo-Telyt-R 180 as next step.<br>

Too bad the Summicron-R 35 seems to work only with DX-bodies. <br>

David Llado had a really great idea and was - via eMail - fast and helpful. <br>

georg</p>

<p>There's been a lot of muted buzz about it recently. Last year I did some sharpness tests comparing Nikon, Canon FD and Leica glass I owned at the time. Since then I've sold some of the pieces based on the outcome of those tests and how the keepers would be used by me. As a general comment, Leica glass, in my experiments generally won out over similar Nikon glass but only by a hair - this was on film cameras, not digitals. My Canon glass (FD) generally was on a par with the Leica pieces I had at most apertures, although at f2.0 and below, Leica won out unless I was using Canon "L" glass, and then it appeared to be a dead heat. Had I been using a DMR, I'm not sure I would have reached the same conclusions. I thought about using the Leitax adapters and read all the instructions, but in the end decided to keep the Leica and FD gear for film and the Nikon gear for my DSLR (or for use on my film Canon). If you're into macros, you might want to try one of the old Kiron 105/f2.8 macro lenses (pay up if you get one engraved "Lester A. Dine") in a Nikon mount. IMHO they beat the 105/2.8 Micro-Nikkor...haven't tried the Leica offering (100/2.8 R APO) but the price just isn't in my league since I retired some time ago.</p>

<p>The better Leica glass will eat it for lunch providing the AA filter does not equalize everything.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I'd like to see that - make sure to get a picture of it when it happens.</p>

<p>As said above, I think David Llado of leitax had a great idea - but the reason why I decided to alter the mount of the Summicron-R 90 is not just sharpness.<br>

This lens - I own two copies of it and one will still be mated to a Leicaflex - just handles nice. I wouldn't be surprised if an old Ai-converted Nikkor 105/2.5 shows a slightly better sharpness wide open. But this Summicron has something special - it renders a still-life or a portrait a bit different compared to other lenses. It's minimum focus distance (70cm) is a nice feature too. <br>

If I change the bayonet of the Macro-Elmarit I will compare it with my Micro-Nikkor 3.5/55 but both are great lenses - and if the Leica is sharper - fine, but otherwise no drama for me. For me it's just fun to use older lenses - and I like older Nikkors too.<br>

The Canonists are adapting Nikon-, Zeiss- , Olympus- and Leitz-glass for over a decade now - and thanks to „leitax“ the Nikon- and Pentaxcrowd is now able to play this game too. <br>

Happy shooting everyone - regardless if thru a lensbaby, the latest AF-S Nikkor or an Apo-Telyt, georg.</p>

<p>Thank-you for the link and info. The 180/3.4 and 100 Macro have always intrigued me.</p>

<p>As Georg said, it is not only about the sharpness.<br>

I like to adapt lenses from one brand to another brand camera because, it is also about how a lens handles, how a lens renders colours, contrast, flare, volumes and last but not least, out of focus areas or bokeh.<br>

But the stop down metering requires patience that not many find suitable for their shooting style. For large format users, it is not a problema at all.</p>

<p>Thanks everybody for the discussion. I sold all my Leica stuff 3 years ago when digitalizing but now, I think I will get an APO macro 100/2.8 and may be even an APO Elmarit 180. As I am mostly into macro, I might just start with the 180 and fit an adapter on a Leica extension ring (I am aware that this is not reccomended for the 100 APO macro).<br>

Stop-down metering should not be such a problem in the times of live view (for macro, that is).<br>

Ronald, I 'd love to see some pictures (not the eating process, rather the results).</p>

<p>This is super mega news to me. Thanks so much for this thead. For years I wanted to shoot Leica through a Nikon.<br>

My dream is here!</p>

<p>As a former R and M user, there were some Leica lenses that I thought were special. But there is a current Nikkor 24-70/2.8G lens that I like as well or better than many of the Leica lenses that I had used previously. I am not so sure that I would want to go the adaptor and stopped down metering route these days.</p>

<p>I read once that Leica made lenses for Nikon bodies but maybe it was just the mount. Anyway, I too am intrigued by this. Is this a do-it-yourself kit, or a job for the local repair shop? I'm still on the fence as to if I really want to pick up a 50mm for my F2. This may make up my mind for me.</p>

<p>Marc, I vaguely remember Nikon contracting Leica to make a lens for them a long time ago. It must have been documented somewhere. You can read a little bit of Nikon history here:<br>

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/index.htm<br>

Check out the online instructions on the Leitax website. The most complicated conversion is the 60 mm Elmarit macro. You have to take off a bit of stuff to get to the plastic hood. The 90 mm f2 summicron is about the easiest. A total of unscrewing 10 screws and putting back 6. Just get yourself some good screw drivers and it is very easy do it yourself. No repair shop necessary. </p>

<p>My Leitax bayonets came in today - just in time for the long Chinese New Year holiday - and in just over an hour I changed all three of the R lenses that I have here in Hong Kong. Lost no screws - lost no ball bearings and didn't swear once. A very successful session. ;-)<br />There were no instructions for the 19mm Elmarit - so I followed what was posted on the Leitax website for the 21mm Super Angulon. It all went smoothly but it took me a couple of tries to get the new bayonet to seat properly - making sure that the ball bearing that controls the aperture click stops was in the right spot. Tomorrow I will venture out to try the 19mm in the real world.<br />The 90mm Summicron was as easy as indicated on the website. I tried to remove the third cam step cam but couldn't and then discovered I didn't need to take it off. This is not emphasized on the website but is implied by the picture of the parts that are taken out of the lens. Putting on the new bayonet was very easy - place ball bearing and screw down the six screws in a cross tightening pattern. I could get good at this!!<br />My 180mm Telyt APO is slightly different from the one on the website. It is the model at the end of the production run which takes a 60mm filters and it has a shroud which is not in the lens used to illustrate the installation of the bayonet on the website. You have to remove the shroud before you remove the bayonet. Other than that variation it is easy to make the change. Tomorrow we'll see how the lenses perform on the Nikon. Pictures will be posted, of course!!<br />Here are the lenses on my D700.<br /><br /><a href="http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/">http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/</a><br /><br /><br />Howard</p>

<p>

Here are a couple of pictures taken this morning on the beach in Hong Kong with the Elmarit 19mm R on the Nikon D700.

<br />

We have feral cows on South Lantau - nobody owns them and they just wander around eating gardens and grass and fouling the roads.

Here is one near the beach where we walk for exercise.

<br />

<a href="http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/FeralCow19EFilterw.jpg.html">http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/FeralCow19EFilterw.jpg.html</a>

<br />

<br />

The (professional) photographer from which I bought the 19mm Elmarit R had a UV filter on the lens and it causes vignetting.

Please see:

<br />

<a href="http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/19ECheungShaFilterw.jpg.html">http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/R+lenses+on+Nikon+D700/19ECheungShaFilterw.jpg.html</a>

<br />

<br />

With the filter off the vignetting is less and can be easily corrected in photoshop. For some reason (local busy broadband - it is the Chinese New Year holiday - or the Conficker Worm on the net) I couldn't upload the two photos - without filter and corrected. Will try again later.

<br />

Cheers

Howard

</p>

Howard, I had similar problem using Elmarit R19 on Canon 5Dmark ii, with. B+W 82mm uv filter. However, with a

 

JYC PRO1_D super slim. filter,the corner vigneting. As shown in your photo iv s gone.

This 82mm filter is really thin, after screwed into. Elmarit R19, the profile of it's rim is about 2mm

Leitz Elmarit R19 v I with JYC PRO1_D super slim. 82mm uv filter and Leitz snap in lens hood 12529

Hi,

I've owned and used Leica-R cameras and lenses as well as the Nikon system for years. I do not see any advantage of investing money to use these lenses on a Nikon body. The Sony sensors (even D810) won't see any difference between the lenses. I'd go with a Nikon 20mm f1.8g instead.

just my two cents

Another thread raised from the dead. Hallelujah, it's a miracle..... or something.

 

Can't we put a stop to this? It's too early for The Rapture, l hope.