LEICA-R Lens Usability List for Sigma DSLR

This list is expected to grow as the user base grows and cooperation and feedback increase.

The list is not only restricted to Leica lenses , but also to other oustanding brands that catered to the Leica-R lens line up ,

please scroll down to see a description of common Lens/Filter interference problems and possible solutions:

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GENERAL NOTES:

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☛LEICA-R lenses are ,without doubt , the lenses that exhibit the most Synergy with Foveon Sensors and the resulting Image Quality usually exeeds most expectations.However some early Leica production might require some Trimming of their rear "Light Shields" to avoid interference with the Infra Red/Dust filter

 

☛Additionally some older lens versions might not mount due to slight evolutionary differerences in Leica's mount design over the years, compared to the original mount. Fixable with slight grinding or filing of either lens Bayonet or camera mount. There might be a production point were no trimming is necessary, so please take this list as a starting point and not as a base for making purchase decisions.



☛Our Mount Replacement kits are designed for original original German and Canadian Leica-R lenses . Other lenses such as as those made for Leica in Japan , or French Angenieux ,Paris or Kinoptik lenses in Leica-R Bayonet , might or might not mount and have not been reported yet. Same is also true of "ADAPTALL" or similar adapters that are outside of our design and may or may not work or might require some modification.

☛Our Mount Replacement kits have provision for some limited user adjustment to compensate for lens wear. Use a small, thin ,flat screw driver to open up the slits of the mount to increase Gripping Pressure to reduce lens play . A little bit goes a long way.

Green means tested by myself luis@sigmacumlaude.com

 

       "?" Means "Usability Not Determined Yet"

         Means NO ISSUES

      Means "Usable , but require Trimming

 

 

LENS	USABILITY	NOTES	COMMENTS	CONS
Leitz Focotar 40 f2.8		Usable with Photar adaptor	10 Blade diaphragm-Flat Field Lens	FIXED FOCUS , REQUIREs BELLOWS and a Special Photar-R adaptor
Photar 12.5 f2.4		Usable with Photar adaptor	18:1 Magnification	FIXED FOCUS , REQUIREs BELLOWS and a Special Photar-R adaptor
Photar 25 f2.0		Usable with Photar adaptor	8:1 Magnification	FIXED FOCUS , REQUIREs BELLOWS and a Special Photar-R adaptor
Photar 50 f4		Usable with Photar adaptor	3,5 :1 Magnification
15 mm f3,5 Elmar	?	No info yet Requires Pro Mount	There have been several incarnations of this lens by Schneider ,Zeiss,Minolta	Very heavy , long, expensive & prone to flare. Better option is 19 f2.8 Elmarit
15mm f2.8 Super Elmarit	?	No info yet Requires Pro Mount		Widest lens in Leica stable .Same notes as above apply.
16mm f2.8 Fisheye Elmarit		Usable with some trimming of the skirt This lens was designed by Minolta for Leica . Some were made in Germany and some in Japan , but some exhibit a slight difference in the bayonet that prevent them from mounting on the current R mount. Please see the special annex on how to fix the lens Bayonet, here Requires Pro Mount	Exellent Missapreciated lens , in SD14 it becomes an Ultrawide semi Rectilinear of about 110 degrees of Angular Coverage.	Some older versions might not mount due to slight diffrerences of the contemporary Leica-R mount. Fixable with slight grinding or filing of either lens or camera mount. Some old versions require trimming of the Light Shield
19mm f2.8 Elmarit Old Style		Totally Usable Requires Pro Mount	Info courtesy of Kong Mangkorkan
19mm f2.8 V2 Elmarit ROM ,Built In Filters		Requires special Trimming done on a Lathe or the removal of the Camera I/R filter & an external Leica_13415_UVA_IR filter The Leica 19mm F2.8 Elmarit--R ROM V2 is probably the lens that has motivated the largest amounts of inquiries so I have included a special annex for it HERE.	FOR MANY THIS IS THE BEST RECTILINEAR ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE LENS ,PROVIDING 97 DEG OF VERY WELL CORRECTED VIEW ,DISTORTION 0.2%. , BUILT IN FILTERS , RESISTANT TO FLARE . UNOBTRUSIVE , SMALL ,LIGHT, One of the best wide angle on the market. R19/2.8 type II is one of few wide angles that can match the performance of Distagon 21/2.8 ,at a much Wider Angle of View. Very contrasty and sharper at f2.8 than older 19 at f5.6 Best Aperture f/5.6 80% MTF contrast from centre to corner . Maximum distortion is 2.5% dropping to 1% at the edge of the frame	Very desirable, most suitable for Full Frame camera. Extremelly good to make Sitched Panoramas using sequences of Vertical Shots. There is a special rectangular Hood that is a must have, but is over $250.   EXPENSIVE,VERY HARD TO FIND USED Requires special trimming on a Lathe or the removal of the Camera I/R filter & an external Leica_13415_UVA_IR filter
21mm f4 Super Angulon	?	No info yet Requires Pro Mount	Old , overrated formula , two versions--The 24 mm Elmarit possibly better .
24mm f2.8 Elmarit German		Usable with some trimming of the skirt. This lens was designed by Minolta for Leica . Some were made in Germany and some in Japan. Some exhibit a slight difference in the bayonet that might prevent them from mounting on the current R mount.Fixable with some filing. Please see the special annex on how to fix the lens Bayonet, here	Extremelly nice lens. Very Sharp and Rectilinear , small and light	Some older versions might not mount due to slight diffrerences of the contemporary Leica-R mount. Fixable with slight grinding or filing of either lens or camera mount. Some old versions require trimming of the Light Shield   Klaus Rademark reported his lens as totally usable with a serial number of 300xxxx . There might be a production point were no trimming is necessary . Mine, made in Westlar , is 2833272, is also fully usable.
28mm PC Super Angulon-R		Totally usable Requires Pro Mount	Image circle of 62mm permits an offset of 11 mm vertically and 9.5 Horizontally	THIS LENS HAS BEEN SHOWING SPECTACULAR RESULTS ON SD1
28mm f2,8 Elmarit		Totally Usable	Information courtesy of Edward Wilson, Principal Photographer ,BridePhoto Studio http://www.bridephoto.Net/	THIS LENS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS THE SHARPEST ON SD1
35-70 f3.5 Vario Elmar		Totally Usable Pro Mount Recomended	I own both the German and the Japanese , both are excellent and almost indistinguishable. The German may be a tad Sharper , but better filter size.
35mm Elmarit	?	No Info yet
35mm Summicron, German		Usable with some trimming	Oustanding lens, Incredibly Sharp , easily rivals the Summilux 35. The Leica 35mm Summicron is a favorite of landscape photographers and photojournalists.  The focal length of this lens, combined with its amazing optical quality, will produce absolutely amazing photos of any type imaginable.	Requires trimming of exit pupil Light Shield
35mm Summicron,Canadian	?	No info yet
35mm Summilux f1.4		Requires special trimming on a Lathe or the removal of the Camera I/R filter & an external Leica_13415_E67_UVA_IR filter	Amazing High Performance, Available Light lens , Super Sharp.	* Requires special trimming on a Lathe or the removal of the Camera I/R filter & an external Leica_13415_E67_UVA_IR filter
35mm f4 PA Curtagon	?	No info yet	Image circle of 57mm permits an offset of 7 mm vertically and 7 Horizontally
50mm f2 Summicron		Usable after trimming the Light Shield	Information courtesy of Edward Wilson, Principal Photographer ,BridePhoto Studio http://www.bridephoto.Net/	Requires trimming of exit pupil Light Shield
50mm f1.4 Summilux		Usable with some trimming	A Classic lens for Available light	Some old versions require trimming of the Light Shield
60mm f2.9 Macro Elmarit		Totally Usable	A wonderfull ,super sharp, fast ,hand held Macro lens up to 1:1
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80mm f1.4 Summilux		Totally Usable Pro Mount Recomended	Amazing High Performance Available Light lens , Super Sharp
90 f2 Summicron		Totally Usable Requires Pro Mount	Information courtesy of Edward Wilson, Principal Photographer ,BridePhoto Studio http://www.bridephoto.Net/ Information ratified ,courtesy of  Walter Kramer , Australia walter.kramer@iinet.net.au
100 Macro Apo Elmarit f2.8		Totally Usable Requires Pro Mount	A must have ,Magnificent lens for Macro, Possibly the best Bokeh available anywhere.	A bit heavy and hard to balance , lots of turns to go from Macro to Infinity
100 F4 Elmar	?	No info on it yet .		There is also a Bellows ONLY variety NOT USABLE on camera
135mm Elmarit		Totally Usable Pro Mount Recomended	Very sharp Medium Telephoto
180 Apo Summicron F2	?	No info yet probably OK Requires Pro Mount
180 Apo Elmarit F2.8	?	No info yet probably OK Requires Pro Mount
180 F3.4 Apo Telyt		Totally Usable Requires Pro Mount	Legendary Super Achromatic lens corrected for 4 Spectral lines , Covers UV to IR due to Fluorite Glass without need for refocusing	Old style Filters
180 F2.8 Elmarit	?	No info yet probably OK Requires Pro Mount
180 F4 Elmar		Totally Usable Requires Pro Mount	Information courtesy of Edward Wilson, Principal Photographer ,BridePhoto Studio http://www.bridephoto.Net/
250 F4 Elmar	?	No info yet probably OK Requires Pro Mount
280 F4 Apo Telyt		Totally Usable Requires Pro Mount	DIFRACTION LIMITED LENS!! This lens has NO Optical aberrations whatsoever , reaches 500 line-pairs /mm	HEAVY-EXPENSIVE-OUT OF PRODUCTION AND ALMOST NON AVAILABLE . The replacement for this lens is the Modular System that starts at US $16,000 used. If you find it, buy it. In practice requires Pistol Grip and Shoulder Stock .
500 MR Telyt F8		Totally Usable Requires Pro Mount	CATADIOPTRIC LENS. Incredible lens and my most treasured one . Sharp . contrasty , no color fringing , no chromatic aberrations and reaches Macro ,Hand Held.!!	If you cannot buy the 280F4 Apo Telyt and you happen to find one of these ,also discontinued lenses ,buy it ,they are almost unavailable. Fully usable Hand Held.!!
70-210 f/4.0 Vario Elmar-R		No issues, The rear element of this lens is flush with the mount and does not move with focussing or zoooming. Requires Pro Mount	Information courtesy of  Walter Kramer , Australia walter.kramer@iinet.net.au
80-200mm f4.0 Vario Elmar-R		No issues Requires Pro Mount	Information courtesy of  Walter Kramer , Australia walter.kramer@iinet.net.au
KINOPTIK-R, PARIS ANGENIEUX-R, PARIS

*Some older models of lenses , and most Wide Angles ,have a baffle or "Light Shield" at their exit pupil that needs to be trimmed off:

This is not hard to do since it is very soft brass a small hand saw can be used or even a good serrated knife. Of course some padding is needed to prevent dust falling to the inside of the lens I use paper tissue and Gaffers Tape. Just mark the baffle with a pencil and take your time cutting. Finish of with a small file. Best results can be obtained with a Dremmel Tool.
In general newer lenses don't have that baffle , but some ,like the one shown here , because they have an unusually large Diameter of the Exit Pupil can still interfere with the Filter and will need some grinding or a Custom Slim Version of the Filter that we have at the Design stage at the moment. You can see its initial prototype installed on the SD14 in the last photograph