Photo: Leica Store Miami
For many years owners of
Leica R cameras and especially the Leica R lenses have felt neglected by
Leica. Ever since the Leica R9 was discontinued, they have asked for a digital alternative to use their lenses
with.
The digital back for the
R8 and R9 cameras never got any nominal traction, mainly because it was not
really able to compete with the digital offerings from Canon and Nikon.
An adapter to use Leica R
lenses on the Leica M cameras has been available for a long time. But that was never a viable solution since
live view was not an option on the Leica M8 and M9. Finally, with the introduction of the Leica M
Typ 240, Leica offered a camera that was able to accommodate the R lenses,
especially when equipped with the digital Visoflex finder. That solution got even better with the
introduction of the Leica M10. But many
of the former Leica R users never warmed up to that solution since these
cameras are primarily rangefinder cameras.
Leica R lens on Leica M240
Enter the Leica TL and the new Leica TL2. These cameras offer
an adapter to accept the Leica R lenses, and with the electronic viewfinder,
operation is not unlike what was the case with the Leica R cameras. In addition the Sl and SL2 cameras are very compact
and therefore quite easy to carry.
However, they are not full frame cameras and therefore do present
another compromise that many of the old R users reject.
Leica TL2 with 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-R
The best answer came with
the introduction of the Leica SL, the first professional mirrorless camera to
reach the market. This camera is capable
to use almost all of the Leica R lenses, although with an adapter. Criticism that the Leica SL doesn’t have an
optical viewfinder is unfounded because its electronic viewfinder is the most
advanced unit of this type to ever have been put into a camera. Its resolution is almost twice that of its
closest competitor and it functions as well as an optical finder on all levels.
But one major criticism
remained. In order to use the R lenses
on the Leica SL, it was necessary to stack two adapters, the M-Adapter T/SL and
the R-Adapter M. Not exactly an elegant
solution. This last problem was resolved
with the introduction of the Leica R-Adapter L.
With this adapter added to the Leica SL camera, the Leica R lenses can
be used as easily as on the old Leica R cameras.
As is the case with other
mechanical adapters, the camera will not be able to read the aperture setting
on the lens. Instead, with the use of an external secondary meter on the SL,
the camera will estimate the aperture based on the exposure settings and
ambient light reading. Focus assist is accomplished the same way as with all other lenses– one touch of
the rear thumb joystick brings up 100% view in the EVF.
Leica SL with 50mm f/1.5 Summilux-R
Note that the adapter is
only compatible with R lenses produced after 1976. Mounting an unsupported lens
could damage the mount. Still, Leica
should be commended on supporting over 30 years of legacy R glass, with 43
officially supported lenses.
Below is a full list of
supported lenses:
Super-Elmarit-R 15 mm
f/2.8ASPH.
Super-Elmar-R 15 mm f/3.5
Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16 mm
f/2.8
Elmarit-R 19 mm f/2.8
Super-Angulon-R 21mmf/4
Elmarit-R 24 mm f/2.8
Elmarit-R 28 mm f/2.8
Elmarit-R 35 mm f/2.8
Summicron-R 35 mm f/2
Summilux-R 35 mm f/1.4
Summicron-R 50 mm f/2
Summilux-R 50 mm f/1.4
Macro-Elmarit-R 60 mm
f/2.8
Summilux-R 80 mm f/1.4
Elmarit-R 90 mm f/2.8
APO-Summicron-R 90 mm
f/2ASPH.
Macro-Elmar-R 100 mm f/4
APO-Macro-Elmarit-R 100 mm
f/2.8
Elmarit-R 135 mm f/2.8
Elmar-R 180 mm f/4
APO-Telyt-R 180 mm f/3.4
Elmarit-R 180 mm f/2.8
APO-Elmarit-R 180 mm f/2.8
APO-Summicron-R 180 mm f/2
Telyt-R 250 mm f/4
APO-Telyt-R 280 mm f/4
Telyt-R 350 mm f/4.8
APO-Telyt-R 280 mmf /2.8
APO-Telyt-R 400 mm f/2.8
APO-Telyt-R 280 mm f/2.8
(Module System)
APO-Telyt-R 400 mm f/2.8
(Module System)
APO-Telyt-R 400 mm f/4
(Module System)
APO-Telyt-R 560 mm f/4
(Module System)
APO-Telyt-R 560 mm f/5.6
(Module System)
APO-Telyt-R 800 mm f/5.6
(Module System)
Vario-Elmar-R 21–35 mm
f/3.5–4 ASPH.
Vario-Elmar-R 28–70 mm
f/3.5–4.5
Vario-Elmarit-R 28–90 mm
f/2.8–4.5 ASPH.
Vario-Elmar-R 35–70 mm f/4
Vario-Elmarit-R 35–70 mm
f/2.8ASPH.
Vario-APO-Elmarit-R 70–180
mm f/2.8
Vario-Elmar-R 80–200 mm f
/4
Vario-Elmar-R 105–280 mm
f/4.2
For other articles on this blog scroll down in the column to the right to BLOG ARCHIVE
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