Leica R Cine Conversion - aprox $8000 high quality 7 lens prime set in Canon EF

[Nick Morrison]

Wow Jay, I love your set! I'm thinking about going the Allstar mount route myself. Any complaints? I'd love to put together a similar set someday. Thanks.

I have a similar set to you guys, but in Contax...Leica R's biggest competitor back in the day! I'll be using them on Allstar as well. Happy filming!

I think these cinematically mechanical still lenses are a great way to start shooting breathtaking footage on primes on the Scarlet, etc.

I envy your kits! My Contax primes are like the jealous neighbor next door! His house is on your block, just not quite as nice! Haha. Nah, I actually love my Contax glass, there is something blue collar about them. Leica is more refined, which is good. Zeiss, more matter of fact. Is that fair? Zeiss renders. Leica paints?

But I owe my Contax everything, I'm like a protective father around his children, so I can't speak too ill of them. I love them, almost too much...

 

[Jay Kim]

Wow Jay, I love your set! I'm thinking about going the Allstar mount route myself. Any complaints? I'd love to put together a similar set someday. Thanks.

The only complaint is I had to wait two months to get Allstar Leica-R mounts. Other than that, it is all good. I think he couldn't keep up with the order for the leica-r adapters.

By the way, I was able to fix the FF-3 handle I got from you with FF-2. It wasn't that easy to fix it but now it doesn't have any play and works just fine. Thanks.

 

[Jay Kim]

I think these cinematically mechanical still lenses are a great way to start shooting breathtaking footage on primes on the Scarlet, etc.

Yes. And they cover 5k and beyond. Perfect for the year of Dragon :wink5:
Nick, contact me when you have your scarlet delivered. I will bring Allstar Epic/scarlet mount and Allstar Contax Zeiss adapter so you can test with your lenses.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Yes. And they cover 5k and beyond. Perfect for the year of Dragon :wink5:
Nick, contact me when you have your scarlet delivered. I will bring Allstar Epic/scarlet mount and Allstar Contax Zeiss adapter so you can test with your lenses.

Will do. We should compare the Leica R's to the Contax's too, will be interesting to see them side by side. I wouldn't be surprised if the Leica's won out, but I also am curious at how the Contax's hold up. There is a lot of forgotten magic there.

 

[Patrick Grossien]

Is your 50mm the latest version? above sn 3794XXX

Hi Greg, this got me confused. In his book, puts mentions that the new 50mm started 1998. From his serial list, the 1998 summilux - R II starts at #3820625 so what am I not getting? Or how do I know which one is which? Which serial # table do I refer to?

Thanks a ton!
Patrick

 

[Justen Nguyen]

Hey guys I've got R lenses for sale, as well as an A mount.
Here's the Post.
This is definitely a great set up. I'd still like to use it personally.
But unfortunately not everyone I work with thinks the same as I do.

 

[Greg M]

Hi Greg, this got me confused. In his book, puts mentions that the new 50mm started 1998. From his serial list, the 1998 summilux - R II starts at #3820625 so what am I not getting? Or how do I know which one is which? Which serial # table do I refer to?

Thanks a ton!
Patrick

Is the front diameter E60?
If so its the newer lens.

 

[Ryan De Franco]

+1 for the Zeiss Contax. "Blue collar," sure, if blue collar means badass hard-working lenses that bleat out sharp human images that feel like a focused eye. Leica poetry and Zeiss realism, they're two different perspectives, not competing but speaking different languages...

Matt, care to do a side-by-side test of the Zeiss and Leica? We're both in New York, some cloudy day for even exposures...

 

[Dave Blackham]

Yes, my set is quite similar - 19 f2.8, 24 f2.8, 28 f2.8, 35 f2, 50 f2, 90 f2, 135 f2.8 all with Nikon mounts.

David, thanks for the tip concerning True lens Service. I will look in it. I actually think that they are the makers of the Genus Superior follow focus which is simply rebadged. Just one question concerning the matte box - how does it deal with the Leica R lenses lenses extending when focusing? Is there a flexible bellows unit availalble?

Ive not seen a set of bellows, I am calling them tomrrow to ask and will mail here when I know. it sits on a fixed mount on the 90mm or 15mm bars and has a normal hard dohnut, we use the 80mm size. You can clamp it or not as needed. There is a new swing away adaptor that can also use the clamp to the lens if needed via the dohnut ring. Our 80mm front rings just move in and out of the dohnut ring. The 100mm Macro extends too far to use a matte box though. I believe TLS do manufacture Genus products. Their machining is first rate.

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

This thread really got me looking for this glass. All the tests and examples. I got really lucky and came across a great deal on a 24 2.8 that I'm buying from someone local, turns out he also has a 35 2.0, and 50 2.0. He's giving me a great deal on them. From reading what everyone has posted this is a direction I'd like to go. Maybe someone can take a look at these pictures in this set for me and make sure everything looks right with them since my knowledge on them is only from what I've read in here. If the lenses, years made and all are ok? I'd appreciate it! I also plan on picking up the 80 1.4 from him in the coming weeks.



http://gallery.me.com/thecapellos#100492

 

[Mick van Rossum NSC]

This thread really got me looking for this glass. All the tests and examples. I got really lucky and came across a great deal on a 24 2.8 that I'm buying from someone local, turns out he also has a 35 2.0, and 50 2.0. He's giving me a great deal on them. From reading what everyone has posted this is a direction I'd like to go. Maybe someone can take a look at these pictures in this set for me and make sure everything looks right with them since my knowledge on them is only from what I've read in here. If the lenses, years made and all are ok? I'd appreciate it! I also plan on picking up the 80 1.4 from him in the coming weeks.



http://gallery.me.com/thecapellos#100492

50 and 80 look fine. If you you are in a hurry you'd pay 300-400 for the 50, and 1500-2000 for the 80. The 24 is not my favorite, neither is the 28 (old type), also I still have the 35 but swapped it for a 1.4. Was a bit dissapointed. Look if there is any play in the mounts, of all the 8 leica-r's so far half of them had to go for a service to get everything clean and fixed again. If you have the time, you can collect for decent prices, but you have to be patient. Even now with all the leica prices through the roof in the 6 months that I am setting up a set I've been lucky and unlucky (missed a 35-70/2.8 for 3500 US, but won a 280/4 for 2000) All the info is on the net, serial numbers, Erwin Puts's book and pdf's and experienced users like Greg M from DigitalFX. Hope that helps.

 

[Dave Blackham]

They appear to be earlier lenses but absolutely should be fine. Check glass is clean clear dust and fungus free, no oil marks and scratch free. Check mechanics are OK, no slack or tight points and free rotation. The 28mm is an earlier version also but may be a prefered lens than the 24mm.

The 135mm is an inexpensive lens also, not stellar but still very useful and lots of good examples around.

Id buy an A mount and an adaptor to mount them unless you go the Leitax route.

 

[Bill Sepaniak]

While I am no expert with respect to Leica lenses, I have bought many used CY Zeiss lenses, and I agree with everything that Dave has said about what can possibly be "bad" when buying a "vintage Lens." The unfortunate thing is that you really can't see much from the pictures that were posted. Unless you are buying from a trusted seller or from a commercial source like KEH, the old saying, "caveat emptor," really applies. Hopefully, you will be able to examine them in person before making a decision.

____________________________________
SO # 6931 “Betty Page” Canon AL Package
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

While I am no expert with respect to Leica lenses, I have bought many used CY Zeiss lenses, and I agree with everything that Dave has said about what can possibly be "bad" when buying a "vintage Lens." The unfortunate thing is that you really can't see much from the pictures that were posted. Unless you are buying from a trusted seller or from a commercial source like KEH, the old saying, "caveat emptor," really applies. Hopefully, you will be able to examine them in person before making a decision.

____________________________________
SO # 6931 “Betty Page” Canon AL Package
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8

I will be able too.

 

[Nick Morrison]

+1 for the Zeiss Contax. "Blue collar," sure, if blue collar means badass hard-working lenses that bleat out sharp human images that feel like a focused eye. Leica poetry and Zeiss realism, they're two different perspectives, not competing but speaking different languages...

Matt, care to do a side-by-side test of the Zeiss and Leica? We're both in New York, some cloudy day for even exposures...

PS Ryan I'm in NYC too. Be happy to bring my Contax to any shoot out.

 

[Jon Nash]

2 x 50mm Summicrons up for grabs.
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?73545-Leica-R-50mm-Summicron-f2

 

[Dave Blackham]

Unless you are buying from a trusted seller or from a commercial source like KEH, the old saying, "caveat emptor," really applies. Hopefully, you will be able to examine them in person before making a decision.

Bill is quite right about this. Every lens is an individual (A good friend has taught me this lesson well) go and check the lenses out if you can. If possible get them on a projector you may have to buy a number and pick the best examples if you are out for prefection. One thing about Leica is their QC is very high so you will know its had a good start in life, what has occured to the lens during its life so far may not be known.

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

Hey so I thought I'd share here...I got a chance to play with the Leica R 50 2.0 on my Scarlet. I actually bought this lens with a 24 2.8 as well from someone locally in Colorado. I'm also picking up the 80 1.4, 28 2.8 and 35 2.0 from him for a Very good price. I have to say I have finally found a lens I enjoy on the Scarlet outside the 70-200 2.8L IS II.

Here are some results of shots I got that I'm using to pitch the idea for a short film. They're nothing spectacular. The beautiful stand in is my wife

These are all 4K scenes with the 50 2.0. I'll be testing the rest of the lenses this week in NY!

 

[Matt Uhry]

Those shot's look great Jeffrey.

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com

 

[Alvise Tedesco]

Hei all. I just bought a 24. There is a minimal image shift I can notice magnifying. I'm asking myself if it is my copy and I should send it back or it is normal for the 24 (if I remember correctly it wasn't designed by Leica).
Can you tell me about your 24??
Cheers
Alvise