[Leica] Fitting R lenses on M bodies..... Especially the 3 Cam and ROM versions.

[Douglas Herr]

Don Goldberg is a great resource for these kinds of modifications.  A number of years ago we worked out how to use select ROM lenses on Leicaflex SL cameras without loss of any function, and to modify the 14198 (1:1 extension tube for the 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R) to fit nearly any R lens with full-aperture metering for all except the Leicaflex Standard.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com


-----Original Message-----
>From: Frank Filippone via LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
>Sent: Apr 4, 2021 5:13 PM
>To: Leica-Users-Group <lug at leica-users.org>
>Cc: Frank Filippone <bmwred735i at gmail.com>
>Subject: [Leica] Fitting R lenses on M bodies..... Especially the 3 Cam and ROM versions.
>
>I am writing this so no one has to do repeat my research.
>
>The idea is to use Leica R (Leicaflex) lenses on a Leica M body.
>
>With the advent of an EVF ( sometimes called a Visoflex ) and the 
>digital Leicas ( M240, M10  and later models and variants) it is more 
>practical to use these legacy lenses on a modern body.
>
>Yes, there is NO electrical connections between lens and body.
>
>Yes, there is NO MECHANICAL CONNECTIONS.  You pretty much must use the 
>EVF or back LCD or zone focus to get correct focus. Setting the F-Stop 
>is a manual process.
>
>Yes, there is NO AF.
>
>So how do you accurately  focus?  Through the camera onto the digital 
>sensor and through the EVF or LCD.
>
>Now how do you adapt your R lenses to fit on  your M body?
>
>There are cheap Chinese adapters.  They probably work.  But I have some 
>reservations about ROM lenses.
>
>There is a Novoflex adapter.  I do not have this adapter to answer the 
>obvious question.  Does this fit 3 Cam and ROM Lenses?......
>
>There was a Leica 22228 and 22228/500934 adapter that was made for the 
>Leicina movie camera.  This will work with comments and exceptions.
>
>     All NON ROM lenses, with 1 or 2 cams will fit and work and focus to 
>infinity.  Some lenses will vignette ( or so goes the online info.) 
>Which Lenses?  Mostly the LONG lenses.
>
>     Why? Because the throat inside the 22228 adapter is not very large 
>in diameter.  Long lenses will cause vignetting with these lenses as the 
>light rays come in almost parallel to the sensor plane..... And thus, 
>vignette.   The adapter would work
>
>     fine with the same lenses on a Super 8mm film movie camera because 
>the film is so small.  (roughly 4x6 mm.)
>
>See this for some additional info:
>
>      " A note about the Leica #22228 R-M rings: they were all made 
>prior to the introduction of 3rd cam lenses, so they do not work with 
>3rd-cam only R lenses! The reason? Recent R lenses, because they only 
>have the 3rd cam, have a small collar
>
>       added to the lens mount ring to prevent you from trying to mount 
>them onto older (1st cam) SL and (1 & 2 cam) SL2 R bodies. The presence 
>of this "collar" unfortunately also prevents you from mounting these 
>lenses onto the #22228 adapter ring
>
>      as well! The only work-around it to machine a flange into the 
>front of the #22228 lens-mount ring (not too hard or expensive to do)."
>
>      3 Cam and  ROM lenses will NOT WORK.  They will NOT FIT. No, the 
>ROM is not the problem.  The 3 cam and ROM lenses have a step towards 
>the center of the the mounting ring that prevents these lenses from 
>fitting.
>
>    You need to have both a ROM lens and a non ROM lens  next to each 
>other to notice this.
>
>So now what?
>
>In the supplied description of the problem is part of the solution.... 
>The 22228 adapter can be modified to accept 3 Cam and ROM lenses. Don 
>Goldberg does the mods, and charges a very reasonable $35 fee for the 
>work and return shipping. Today is Spring 2021,  and I have sent my 
>22228 to him for the mods.
>
>( It took me over 2 hours to figure this story out)
>
>Finally, and made for the job is the adapter called the *R-Adapter M* 
>model # 14642 that was meant for this job, and has a 6 bit code ( BBWBBB 
>) that brings up a special list of R lenses that will allow you to 
>manually key in the lens for the EXIF file.  It is not terribly 
>expensive, about $450.  It SHOULD take all R lenses.  Any number of 
>Cams, ROM or not.  ( There will be exceptions.)
>
>This was written for those who ask the question of what works with what, 
>and to save folks the problem of buying the wrong part.
>
>
>-- 
>
>Frank Filippone
>BMWRed735i at gmail.com
>
>
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