This is a listing of Leica-R lenses that reflect their suitability for the SD14-R camera .

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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Leica-R lenses --Green means part of my collection,

"?" Means "Usability Not Determined Yet"

         Means NO ISSUES

Means "Usable , but require Trimming or a Slim Filter"

 

 

• LENS	USABILITY	NOTES	COMMENTS	CONS
  Leitz Focotar 40 f2.8		Usable with Photar adaptor	10 Blade diaphragm-Flat Field Lens	FIXED FOCUS , REQUIRE BELLOWS
  Photar 12.5 f2.4		Usable with Photar adaptor	18:1 Magnification
  Photar 25 f2.0		Usable with Photar adaptor	8:1 Magnification	All Photar require a Special Photar-R adaptor
  Photar 50 f4		Usable with Photar adaptor	3,5 :1 Magnification
  15 mm f3,5 Elmar	?		There have been several incarnations of this lens by Schneider ,Zeiss,Minolta
  15mm f2.8 Super Elmarit	?
  16mm f2.8 Fisheye Elmarit		Usable with some trimming	Exellent Missapreciated lens , in SD14 becomes an Ultrawide 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	Info courtesy of Kong Mangkorkan
  19mm f2.8 Elmarit ROM ,Built In Filters		Requires Trimming or a Slim Filter"	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
  21mm f4 Super Angulon	?		Old , overrated formula , two versions--The 24 mm Elmarit possibly better .
  24mm f2.8 Elmarit German		Totally Usable	Extremelly nice lens. Very Sharp
  28mm PC Super Angulon-R	?		Image circle of 62mm permits an offset of 11 mm vertically and 9.5 Horizontally
  28mm f2,8 Elmarit		Totally Usable	Information courtesy of Edward Wilson, Principal Photographer ,BridePhoto Studio http://www.bridephoto.Net/
  35-70 f3.5 Vario Elmar		Totally Usable	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	?
  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	?
  35mm Summilux f1.4		Usable with some trimming	Amazing High Performance, Available Light lens , Super Sharp.	* Requires a Slim Version of the Dust Filter or trimming
  35mm f4 PA Curtagon	?		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/
  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	Amazing High Performance Available Light lens , Super Sharp
  90 f2 Summicron		Totally Usable	Information courtesy of Edward Wilson, Principal Photographer ,BridePhoto Studio http://www.bridephoto.Net/
  100 Macro Apo Elmarit f2.8		Totally Usable	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	?
  135mm Elmarit		Totally Usable	Very sharp Medium Telephoto
  180 Apo Summicron F2	?
  180 Apo Elmarit F2.8	?
  180 F3.4 Apo Telyt		Totally Usable	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	?
  180 F4 Elmar		Totally Usable	Information courtesy of Edward Wilson, Principal Photographer ,BridePhoto Studio http://www.bridephoto.Net/
  250 F4 Elmar	?
  280 F4 Apo Telyt		Totally Usable	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	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.!!

*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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zeiss

 

50 f1.4 Planar		Lens Requires removal or trimming of Aperture levers	Only with Contax C/Y SD14 Adaptor

 

 

 

Schneider Kreuznach

Componon-S 50 f2.8	Requires additional reducing adaptors	Dreamy Bokeh-Very Sharp

Rodenstock

Apo Rodagon N 50 f2.8	Requires additional reducing adaptors	Dreamy Bokeh-Very Sharp

 

 

 

Kinoptik, Paris

Angenieux ,Paris