Leica R to EOS adapter = Finally to use LEICA legendary high-performance lenses

[Sanjin Jukic]

If the future Birger EOS mount will allow to attach Leica R for EOS adapter all that means we could finally be able to use LEICA-R legendary high-performance lenses that cover focal lengths from 15 mm to 800 mm. These are one of the best MANUAL STILL photo lenses ever made. Also don't forget that no any cine lens can mach the picture quality of Leica photo lens. Have a look at

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/r_system/lenses/


http://www.leica-camera.us/assets/media/img2211.jpg

Big Sur Coast shot with Leica Summilux-R 35mm f/1.4

[Mike the beginner]

Nah they will never be good enough, Tell you what, i will give you £50.00 and you can post me over all your lenses:biggrin:

I dont have one lens! I will find a use for them somehow:wink:

Mike the beginner

[Simon Blackledge]

Maybe.. but I can't judge off a 480x something jpg!... lol

[ColinSmith]

If the future Birger EOS mount will allow to attach Leica R for EOS adapter that means finally to use LEICA-R legendary high-performance lenses

I don't see any reason to think there would be a problem with the EOS mount + adaptor + Leica R...... at least on true EOS bodies the only issues on 3rd party lenses seem to be mirror clearance, and that is one thing that will not be a problem for sure...

[Sanjin Jukic]

It is just one more lens option like an idea for the RED. Next year at NAB we shoud know more what are good and bad still photo lenses to use with the RED 4K. Also it is about a brand new digital 4K acquisition that should be something totally different then shooting 35mm film. A quality of the movie images is going to be changed with a new 4K grainless cinematography in upcoming years.

[sully]

In the last century, when I shot film, Leicaflex R lenes gave great results on my Aaton Super 16mm war horse. The Leica lenses focused in the correct direction and they intercut nicely with Zeiss Super Speeds and the Cooke 10-52mm zoom. It would be very nice to have a dedicated R to Pl adapter for Red. Using Leica zoom lenses with a dedicated adapter might also be more accurate than jury rigging a Canon and R to Pl mount.

[Evin Grant]

It may be smarter to retrofit a Red Nikon or Canon FD mount, the distance is only .5mm different. I say that because the idea of an adapter makes me nervous for professional rugged shooting. It would be fine for studio, but out in the field?
Shouldn't be that hard to convert. I love the idea of using Leica glass though.
:biggrin:

[Alberto Caprioglio]

greatest

[Steve Sanacore]

It's been my plan from the beginning. I've been using Leica R lenses on my Canon's for years. Same goes with Nikon mount Zeiss lenses.

I wonder if RED could make a simple mechanical Nikon to PL mount adapter too. Not sure about the differences in back focus between the two.

Great shot by the way..!



If the future Birger EOS mount will allow to attach Leica R for EOS adapter all that means we could finally be able to use LEICA-R legendary high-performance lenses that cover focal lengths from 15 mm to 800 mm. These are one of the best MANUAL STILL photo lenses ever made. Also don't forget that no any cine lens can mach the picture quality of Leica photo lens. Have a look at

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/r_system/lenses/


http://www.leica-camera.us/assets/media/img2211.jpg

Big Sur Coast shot with Leica Summilux-R 35mm f/1.4

[Steve Sanacore]

It may be smarter to retrofit a Red Nikon or Canon FD mount, the distance is only .5mm different. I say that because the idea of an adapter makes me nervous for professional rugged shooting. It would be fine for studio, but out in the field?
Shouldn't be that hard to convert. I love the idea of using Leica glass though.
:biggrin:

The mechanical adapters on my Leica R lenses for the EOS cameras are very small and rugged. There would be no problem of durability with the same design for Leica to PL. Each of my R lenses has an adapter permanently on it. You would not want to keep changing the adapters from lens to lens.

The question is one of mount to film plane distance on the PL mount. The reason Canon EOS cameras can use Nikon, Leica, Contax-Zeiss, Olympus etc... is because it's mount to film plane distance is less than all the other designs which leaves space for the adapters. Lucky for us Canon users!

[Michael Hastings]

It may be smarter to retrofit a Red Nikon or Canon FD mount, the distance is only .5mm different. I say that because the idea of an adapter makes me nervous for professional rugged shooting. It would be fine for studio, but out in the field?
Shouldn't be that hard to convert. I love the idea of using Leica glass though.
:biggrin:

Adapters ... ok for now. I honestly believe that once there is confidence the RED design is set in stone it will be easy to make all of these direct mounts.

It is baffling to anyone with machining experience how the RED Nikon mount should take this long to make unless there are other reasons for delay.:turned: (do we have an icon for paranoia?

[Joe Carney]

After learning about the Zeiss F mounts, I'm actually less excited about the birger. They're priced similar to the Canon L series primes.
Since I'm looking at a wireless focus pulling system anyway and with RED supporting multiple outputs...may be the way to go for me at least.

Here is an interesting reiview of the bartech system over at freshdv...

http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html
There is also a video podcast available.

[Sanjin Jukic]

After learning about the Zeiss F mounts, I'm actually less excited about the birger. They're priced similar to the Canon L series primes.
Since I'm looking at a wireless focus pulling system anyway and with RED supporting multiple outputs...may be the way to go for me at least.

Here is an interesting reiview of the bartech system over at freshdv...

http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html
There is also a video podcast available.

I just download the video.

Amazing.

Probably one of my next purchases.

[Michael Hastings]

After learning about the Zeiss F mounts, I'm actually less excited about the birger. They're priced similar to the Canon L series primes.
Since I'm looking at a wireless focus pulling system anyway and with RED supporting multiple outputs...may be the way to go for me at least.

Here is an interesting reiview of the bartech system over at freshdv...

http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html
There is also a video podcast available.

AT least $6300 for remote and two motors for iris and focus is quite a jump from $1450 for the same thing - and it seems like you have to have a second remote for iris so would be $8400 to control both focus and iris.

I'm coming from the video world so new to the whole follow focus thing - but also very familiar with remote focus, iris, etc. through manufacturing underwater housings for years.

My question would be - it seems like a lot of setup every time you change a lens, where at least in theory so far, the Birger mount is sending specific commands which I think are absolute - in other words if you need to focus at 7.5 feet, that is a specific, repeatable command based on the particular lens (which I believe there is or can be a profile stored in the firmware) so isn't necessary to do all of that calibration every time.

Again, I am not positive about all of this, just trying to spark the discussion so I can learn more myself.

Can someone that has more knowledge comment on this?

[Paris Remillard]

After learning about the Zeiss F mounts, I'm actually less excited about the birger. They're priced similar to the Canon L series primes.
Since I'm looking at a wireless focus pulling system anyway and with RED supporting multiple outputs...may be the way to go for me at least.

Here is an interesting reiview of the bartech system over at freshdv...

http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html
There is also a video podcast available.

I didn't realize that Superspeeds breathed as much as shown in that freshdv video. I'm actually more excited about the Birger mount now.

[Joe Carney]

AT least $6300 for remote and two motors for iris and focus is quite a jump from $1450 for the same thing - and it seems like you have to have a second remote for iris so would be $8400 to control both focus and iris.

I'm coming from the video world so new to the whole follow focus thing - but also very familiar with remote focus, iris, etc. through manufacturing underwater housings for years.

My question would be - it seems like a lot of setup every time you change a lens, where at least in theory so far, the Birger mount is sending specific commands which I think are absolute - in other words if you need to focus at 7.5 feet, that is a specific, repeatable command based on the particular lens (which I believe there is or can be a profile stored in the firmware) so isn't necessary to do all of that calibration every time.

Again, I am not positive about all of this, just trying to spark the discussion so I can learn more myself.

Can someone that has more knowledge comment on this?

You're right, it would be more setup time. On the other hand, that system is adaptable to different cameras and lenses. The base system for focus only is less than 5K. I'm referring mostly to non underwater use btw. My understanding is for a given shot, you don't change your Fstop unless you are transitioning to different lighting (outdoor to indoor ala "The Shield").

For underwater use, the birger is the way to go.
It may be the best period, for Canon oriented lenses, and I'm not ruling it out. Since I haven't placed an order yet, and won't until it gets tested in the field, I'm looking at a considerable wait, at least thats' what it appears to be, so I'm keeping my options open.

[Finner]

In the last century, when I shot film, Leicaflex R lenes gave great results on my Aaton Super 16mm war horse. The Leica lenses focused in the correct direction and they intercut nicely with Zeiss Super Speeds and the Cooke 10-52mm zoom. It would be very nice to have a dedicated R to Pl adapter for Red. Using Leica zoom lenses with a dedicated adapter might also be more accurate than jury rigging a Canon and R to Pl mount.


Hi Sully

Did you have a PL mount on the aaton? How did you mount the leicaflex R on that camera? What lens adapter system?

Thanks

[Finner]

After learning about the Zeiss F mounts, I'm actually less excited about the birger. They're priced similar to the Canon L series primes.

Where did you see info on these F-mounts?


Since I'm looking at a wireless focus pulling system anyway and with RED supporting multiple outputs...may be the way to go for me at least.

Here is an interesting reiview of the bartech system over at freshdv...

http://www.freshdv.com/2008/02/bartech-remote-follow-focus-system-review-and-setup.html
There is also a video podcast available.

Curt at View Factor studios has a great wireless system that is nearing completion. I have worked with every wireless on the market and Curts is looking like it could be one of the best at a fraction of the cost. Check it out here.

http://viewfactor.net/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=e7332e1d03f6416e95763a0745d839 87&topic=14.0

[Sanjin Jukic]

This Curt's stuff sounds and looks very good too.

But they are still in a stage of computer drawings.

[Finner]

No, They have motors and other hardware done.

[Michael Hastings]

You're right, it would be more setup time. On the other hand, that system is adaptable to different cameras and lenses. The base system for focus only is less than 5K. I'm referring mostly to non underwater use btw. My understanding is for a given shot, you don't change your Fstop unless you are transitioning to different lighting (outdoor to indoor ala "The Shield").

For underwater use, the birger is the way to go.
It may be the best period, for Canon oriented lenses, and I'm not ruling it out. Since I haven't placed an order yet, and won't until it gets tested in the field, I'm looking at a considerable wait, at least thats' what it appears to be, so I'm keeping my options open.

I wasn't thinking just for underwater use, I thought he needed the remote capability - i.e. for a jib or something even more remote, and assumed you would also want iris control for that.

I like the Zeiss lenses too, I have a Zeiss 50mm f1.4 and a 300mm F4 (used last week to shoot the shuttle launch) both in Contax/Yashica mount (which is the best deal for used but fairly modern Zeiss lenses) which I am using with an adapter to EOS on the Birger mount, and they are very nice - long focus throws and in the right direction like he says with the Leica. I bought the 50 to have a faster lens option than my Canon L series 2.8s and also as a manual backup if I were to break a connector or something else on the Birger failed electronically. The 300 I bought because it was just a good deal on a longer lens than my 70-200 L series. Focus throw on the 300 is about 315 degrees., and about 210 on the 50mm.

Leica's seem very expensive and I question (opinions please) if they are any better than the Zeiss.

[Sanjin Jukic]

No, They have motors and other hardware done.

Great.