Leitax bayonet

[Rolf]

Hi,

bought last week 1 first Leitax bayonet for Leica R mount to Nikon. Today this bayonet received. Btw thank you very much David for the quick shipment.

I decided to convert the Elmar 4/180 which I planned to sell (but noone purchased this very fine lens ). I needed perhaps 10 minutes and everything was very easy and without any problem.

Due to the good experience I ordered today 3 additional bayonets to convert some other Leica-R lenses mainly for not common focal lenghts like 250mm or 400mm/500mm.

Below a first test shot to try out whether the system works or not (nothing special)

[Orio]

I really like this photo.

[Rolf]

Thank you

[poilu]

great conversion, now work both Nikon-Canon
& superb sample!

[Rolf]

Thank you Poilu. What did you said few days ago about NikonLand ? I believe you had right !

Here few new samples with this lens and Leitax bayonet.

[integrale]

Great shots that really show the potential of R-lenses on a Nikon body.

I have several Leitz/Leica R-lenses (35, 50, 90, 100, 135, 250, 500) converted with the Leitax solution and can only recommend this as a swift and reasonably priced way to get quality lenses on your camera.

My latest conversion is a Leica APO-Macro-Elmarit-R 100/2.8. I asked David Llado of Leitax to add the Dandelion chip to the mount because I have run out of available slots in the Non-CPU lenses menu in my D700

I dont understand why nobody wanted your R-lenses; they where priced VERY reasonable.

I have the 250/4 and it is (in many respects) a solid piece of glass. The 180 looks very good also. I already have a Nikkor AF-n 180/2.8 so unfortunatey, I was not a bidder for your 180.

[Rolf]

Thank you Jakob.

Perhaps you can help me. I found on page 210 the input for non-cpu lenses into the system (1-9) - but maybe that I´m to stupid but I didn´t understand the programming guide on the leitax side (or better the link to the Russion side with the programming explanation of this chip).

Do you have better information or links within the Internet ?

Many thanks in advance.

[integrale]

Hi Rolf

I had to e-mail David Llado to understand the advantages of the chip to users of "higher end Nikon DSLRs". The trick is, that on (presumably) "lower end" Nikon cameras (see footnote below!) there is no metering without the chip, so you're on your own metering vise.

On D700 (and also D300, I do not know about other Nikons) you can manually enter focal length and max aparture value in the Non-CPU lens menu and then just choose the lens when mounting it.

With the chip, you get transfer of this information automatically, so your D700 "recognises" the lens without the need to enter the info through the menus.

As a D700 user, this is a more convenient way and it eliminates the need to correct EXIF data when you forget to change the menu setting after changing the lens.

Footnote: the use of higher vs lower end is not in any way derogative; I use a D40 with great pleasure (and reasonable results...).

EDIT: PS: There is only 9 slots available in the D700 for Non-CPU lens profiles, and I have more than 9 non-CPU lenses, so the chip was obviously a nice addition for me

[Rolf]

Thank you Jakob, I found in the meantime the repective pages within the D700 handbook and I understand the differnces.

Anyway, I have problems with the explanation within the programming guide of the chip. When I will start programming in M-mode with 3 shots (1,5 or 6 and then again 1 sec.) nothing happened. So I have the first problem to start the programmig mode. Does this wotk on your cam without any problem ?

Thanks again.

[integrale]

"Does this wotk on your cam without any problem ?"

Flawlessly, it was the easiest set-up I have EVER tried...






Just kidding

No, it was a real pain to set up. It took me ages, and I really learned how to reset the chip! But in the end I succeeded, somehow! Don't ask me how, but I managed.

[Rolf]

Hi Jakob, the problem is solved. I made a mistake - unfortunately I didn´t know which one. But now it works without any error and I´m happy now. Maybe it is too hot here today and the brain is lazy and dry.

Many thanks for your assistance and best regards

[integrale]

My pleasure - I'm happy to be of some assistance

My experience (it sounds like you had same experience) was:

d***!!! .... d*****!!! .... d****!!! ... ... ... HEY it works ?!?

[Rolf]

Finally here few additional images

[Attila]

Stunning combo! Beautiful colors, sharpness !

[hexi]

Hi here

I'll try this conversion soon , on a 1.7/50 CY Planar ( ok i have a ZF already but hey ) the CY one is a beauty of a lens as well

i'm curious about the result, but seeing those samples, i think it's good. i also had adapter issues, so i'm taking no risks to see a lens fall by mistake

[Rolf]

As far as I know the conversion of a CY is more complicated than a Leica.

Like to see your shots soon and hear about your experiences with the conversion.

[hexi]

The conversion will be done by Mr Leitax himself : )

i don't want to to mess up something, this is a little beyond my skills and certainly nerves . i'll post pix when i got it back for sure

[Rolf]

[hexi]

Hello here

Just got my Leitax converted Planar.

First, David has made a great job and the conversion is perfect, the lens doesn't move whatsoever ( forget adapters ! ). the package contained the original C/Y mount as well in case of mind change : )


I used Zeiss on film, C/Y that is, but never on dslr.
I've done some quick shots ... looks promising .

Not the best subject, but i like the color rendition a lot, a bit warm, and accurate. The pic is a raw file, as is. If that's the way of spending less time on post production programs i'm all in !

For those hesitating, i highly recommend David's conversions. I think i'll give it another try with a .... new lens


here goes the test pic, oh so amazing. This is wide open @ 3200 iso on the D700.

[yinyangbt]

Beautiful results !

[Orio]

Hexi, you can not judge the colour performance of a lens when you took a tungsten lamp photo at 3200 ISO without balancing the white.
You need to do that, the fact that it's digital gives no guarantee that what you photograph in tungsten light is the correct colouration "out of the box".
Having said that, I agree that Leitax products are very high quality.

[xjjohnno]

I've done 3 Leitax conversions, a 50m Summilux, 90mm Elmarit and a Telyt 560. The Telyt 560 required filing down of the anti glare shade thingy at the bayonet end to get proper clearance. The other lenses were a very simple and easy operation.

[Lordcamel]

Same experience for me the conversions (50 + 90 mm Leica R) went smoothly.

The only one I ve had problem with is the conversion of a 50 mm 1.7 planar but it was my fault for not buying a MM version but a AE version.

I worked on it for 2 hours and almost disassembled the lens itself and then got stuck reassembling it and David told me I could send it to him and he will reassemble it free of charge ...

Really nice guy with high quality product !