I’ve heard good things about Metabones mount adapters so I didn’t have qualms about ordering this Leica R to Sony E-mount converter. I don’t yet have a camera to put it on (with luck the A7r will come next week) but have the lens, a versatile Vario-Elmar-R ROM f/3.5-4.5 28-70mm zoom[↩︎]. This particular item was manufactured in Japan in 1997 for the now-defunct Leica R single-lens reflex camera. It has Sigma optics and Leica mechanics. As a film-camera lens it full frame and will therefore match the big sensor of the Sony A7 (or, for that matter, of the Leica M). I am hoping it will be a good all-round and versatile zoom for the Sony. It is a fully manual lens, of course, with no autofocus. I prefer manual focus and am looking forward to testing it with the new camera.
The Metabones adaptor is very well made, substantial and surprisingly heavy at 160g. Together with the lens, the total weight is 670g. It’s also deeper than expected, adding a substantial 28mm to the length of the lens. It has a non-removable heel, equipped with tripod socket, to support heavier lenses. Obviously I haven’t been able to use it but I can say that the R lens fits precisely with a satisfying click. The finish complements Leica’s housing, complete with lateral ribbing to mimic the aperture, zoom and focus rings on the R zoom. I notice that there are no fewer than six retaining screws on the steel ring at the R end of things. Altogether this is a very high-quality product for the £65 it cost.
While I haven’t made up my mind on which M adapter to choose for the Sony, I am minded to go with another Metabones after seeing the quality of this item.
[↩︎] This is the relatively inexpensive R zoom that sells for around £500. The optically better and more desirable (but much heavier) Vario-Elmarit-R f/2.8-4.5 28-90mm now costs around £3,500 and rising. These R zooms are in demand since the introduction of the new Leica M and can only increase in value once Leica finally produce the R-to-M adapter.
Sorry wrong link !
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/METABONES-Leica-M-Mount-Lens-to-Sony-NEX-Camera-Lens-Mount-Adapter-Black-/171095858807?pt=USLensAdaptersMountsTubes&hash=item27d61b9e77
From the US site – But it cost an arm and a leg !!!
Well well. I think I also saw this when I was searching. Someone is having fun, I think, because the recommended price is around £70 (I paid £65 for the R adapter, by the way). Who would pay $500 I do not know. Perhaps it is an indication of the new scarcity of E-M adapters following the hoo hah over the A7. We can blame Steve Huff.
I am one of these owners of R glass (and a single M one I am afraid although I can rely on a couple of Zeiss 35mm and 50mm f2) and I have bought a used version of the R to E adapter from Novoflex on eBay for my Sony a7R. Very good stuff apparently, will see when the Sony lands which it has not yet unfortunately.
As far as M to E adapter is concerned the Novoflex one is great if you have +£200 to spare…Not my case so I have taken the risk to order a couple of cheaper ones…and the problem is that you get what you pay for !!! I need to convince myself that locking a +£1500 lens to a £8.59 adapter is stupid. So let us know when you have decided on the M to E adaptor, I may get to my senses and accept reality however expensive that may be.
Hi Frederic,
I agree on the quality of the Metabones R adapter. Unfortunately everywhere in the UK seems to be out of stock of the Metabones M adapter (the curse of Sony, I expect) so I had to spend twice as much on a Novoflex (£140) which arrived yesterday. I didn’t want to run the risk of being without an M adapter when the A7r arrives. Initially I thought the product I received was a plastic imitation but soon realised (after checking the Novoflex web site) that it is genuine. It is all matte black with absolutely no bright metal, hence it looks like a hard plastic until you feel the coldness of it. It isn’t even all that heavy (not like the Metabones R adapter which, admittedly, is twice as thick). It is strange to see the bayonet and the bayonet socket without any bright metal. I am now stuck with this and I hope it works well. I will report on it as soon as I have tried it with the camera. I must say, however, that the Metabones looks much better quality but appearances can be deceptive.
£140 is not too bad although not cheap. Last time I checked it was £218 so well done to you. I will watch this space when you can report on its use. cheers.
I also saw the figure of £200+ somewhere and that is what I had in mind when I started looking. However, I checked the Novoflex site and the official price is 149 euros, so my £143 was actually I bit over the odds (from Amazon). I crosses my mind that this could be a new, cheaper product. The lens fit is actually quite tight and needs firm pressure to click into place. Obviously I haven’t been able to try the Sony end. If I find a Metanobones (which is only £70) I will buy one as well. It will be quite useful to be able to leave an adaptor on a couple of lenses. I read somewhere that it is better to do this rather than leave the adaptor on the camera and swap lenses that way. I suppose, though, this is a good way of selling more adapters.