EOS 5D Mark 2 hacked to Leica M mount [Archive]

eleskin

01-18-2011, 18:12

I came across this on Leica Users Forum. It seems someone hacked an EOS 5D Mark 2 to take Leica M lenses.

You have to give whoever did this credit. hell, they have more creativity than the usual bunch of camera makers. Maybe this is a trend where people recycle cameras and make what they really want instead of waiting for years (life is too short) for camera makers to come up with what they really want.

I would love to try this hacked Canon with a Noctilux!!!!

I would love to see photos taken with this thing!!!

keytarjunkie

01-18-2011, 18:16

What the...

Okay this seems absolutely pointless. There's no mirror, so the viewfinder isn't going to show anything. How can you shoot with a noctilux without some kind of usable rangefinder or reflex viewfinder? It's basically a digital MD-1 that uses batteries and is like five times the size.

I mean, they might as well have done it with a 5D mark i, it would have saved them a grand. Instead, they took a camera I could have used (!) and turned it into a brick!

Edit: okayyy so you could use the LCD screen. I forgot about that. They could've used a Sony NEX and stuck with the crop factor and saved a ton of $$ though. Doesn't Live View have a huge delay with DSLR's though? It does with my D300.

eleskin

01-18-2011, 18:17

God!!!

A Noctilux Attached!!!!!!!!

Fascinating!!!!!

dovevadar

01-18-2011, 18:18

hmm... it seems like it can shoot normal mode with M-lenses due to the scrapping off the body. but no VF . lol

eleskin

01-18-2011, 18:19

Macro?

Look at the front end and the recessed lens mount!!!!!!

This thing can focus to "INFINITY AND BEYOND"!!!!!!

eleskin

01-18-2011, 18:21

Well, it must be used in live view mode. Not perfect, but much better than a NEX!!!!!

digitalintrigue

01-18-2011, 18:26

A lot of work just to see color shifts and degraded corner resolution. I doubt it can meter, either.

eleskin

01-18-2011, 18:28

I would use it for 35mm and 50mm. I would imagine that would be fine!!!

Hell, I suspect the Nokton 35 f1.2 would be great!!!!!!!!

eleskin

01-18-2011, 18:54

This is with the 21mm Summilux ASPH

PatrickT

01-18-2011, 18:55

Holy....

Shoot it in live view...I'm sure it'd be fun! Curious what the images look like.

Any link to the thread?

gavinlg

01-18-2011, 19:28

Very interesting, though for the eos system you've got these native lenses:

14mm f2.8L
24mm f1.4L
35mm f1.4L
50mm f1.2L
85mm f1.2L

And they're all really good. Some are equal and possibly even better than the equivalent leicas... So I have to wonder why? Admittedly it got my attention though!

PatrickONeill

01-18-2011, 19:39

imagine using the noct for video work... mmmmm

jlindstrom

01-18-2011, 20:20

two things..

1) DSLR + Leica == Leica R-lenses
2) Full Frame + Leica M-lenses == Leica M9

This excercise is mildly interesting as technical experiment, but other than that it's just utterly useless and technically inferior to the real alternatives mentioned above.

//Juha

Ps. for solutio 1) use the Leitax adapters.. several choices for digital body then

ampguy

01-18-2011, 20:24

See the crazy shiz people do when they don't have a Nex?? ;)

awaw

01-18-2011, 20:48

keytarjunkie

01-18-2011, 21:05

I think it is fantastic with these people who can see beyond, what we others can´t. They seem to think that nothing is impossible. What would the world be without these innovators. That EOS camera might put the M9 back to stonetime.

I don't consider someone who cuts off the front of a camera an "innovator," it seems more like "well I can't afford an M9 so I'll just hack away at this $2000 camera until it fits my other lenses." I would consider someone who designs a camera to fill such a niche an innovator (for example, this new fuji X100 if it lives up to the hype). I can see beyond...the BS :rolleyes: what can they do with those amazing leica m lenses that they REALLY couldn't do with their lowly EOS L lenses? It's a fantastic project for sure, but it's not like their photographs are tremendously improving because they rubbed down the front of a camera.

retow

01-18-2011, 21:29

Pointless exercise. Maybe just to say: "we can".

Roberto V.

01-18-2011, 21:33

I don't consider someone who cuts off the front of a camera an "innovator," it seems more like "well I can't afford an M9 so I'll just hack away at this $2000 camera until it fits my other lenses." I would consider someone who designs a camera to fill such a niche an innovator (for example, this new fuji X100 if it lives up to the hype). I can see beyond...the BS :rolleyes: what can they do with those amazing leica m lenses that they REALLY couldn't do with their lowly EOS L lenses? It's a fantastic project for sure, but it's not like their photographs are tremendously improving because they rubbed down the front of a camera.

He's shooting a Noctilux and has two 5D II. I wouldn't be so quick to assume that he can't afford an M9. A 21 'lux is pictured too, my guess is that this guy isn't short on money.

umcelinho

01-18-2011, 21:34

I've hacked my Cybershot into M-mount, but I still keep it as a secret, in case Sony wants to steal my project :)

leicashot

01-18-2011, 22:24

sorry gotta be honest, but what a silly thread

kully

01-18-2011, 23:01

Regarding this being 'pointless'. It is as pointless as anything anyone on this forum does, to wit, pointless to almost the entire human race.

Mister E

01-18-2011, 23:53

I love it.

rxmd

01-18-2011, 23:59

I guess it's this thread (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/161009-leica-m-mount-camera-full-frame.html), not very informative.

t.s.k.

01-19-2011, 03:49

My first reaction was that this person has a lot more money than sense. However, I tend to agree - innovation sees more failures than successes. Sometimes seemingly fruitless endeavors must still be explored. So more power to him.

Neare

01-19-2011, 03:54

The DIY'er should have at least put it on a Nikon body, it's the least they could have done. :(

mabelsound

01-19-2011, 03:56

Impressive! The corners must be awful, though.

Nikkor AIS

01-19-2011, 04:09

Now I am sick I sold my 5D2. Damn :bang:.

Andy Kibber

01-19-2011, 05:49

Hacking a 5DII body to take M-mount lenses seems to be an incredibly inefficient work-around. Like others have said, you can easily use Leica R or Canon L lenses.

I suppose there's more to life than efficiency though.

jsrockit

01-19-2011, 06:38

Sometimes people just do things for the hell of it or for fun... not because it is the best solution to a problem.

gdmcclintock

01-25-2011, 04:12

Fima at Panorama Camera in NYC modified a Steinheil Munchen Cassar 75mm to fit a Canon 5D II and I posted a photograph taken with this lens in the gallery. (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=145737&ppuser=25293)

Subsequently I asked Fima to modify a 1936 9cm Leitz Wetzlar Elmar for my 5D. He did a great job. Eventually I will post photographs taken with this lens.

eleskin

01-25-2011, 05:36

I really love the "can do" spirit people have in using things in new ways. I remember Kennedy's moon speech and "why we choose to go to the moon". I love thinking outside of the box and personal initiative instead of releying on the powers that be.

Immagine a world where photographers actually designed the cameras and what they would look like!

More power to people willing to take a risk and experiment! Just remember how Steve Jobs and Apple started!!!!

jaapv

01-25-2011, 06:55

If only I could see the point of doing this...???? Taking lenses that can be used far more conveniently on an M9 and going to great trouble to mount them on a camera that has less (albeit only slightly less) image quality and in this configuration abysmal ergonomics.:confused::confused:

ibcrewin

01-25-2011, 07:31

I don't understand the hate here. I mean sure the thing might be pointless clumsy etc, but he did it. Which to some people is a lot of fun. Some people could argue hiking is pointless, but we do it for fun. it's not nec the fastest way to get to where you're going but it's fun.

250swb

01-25-2011, 07:45

mto'brien

01-25-2011, 07:49

if nothing else, it's a testament to the quality of leica glass. a person willing to hack a camera that extensively to use it most likely as a movie camera with leica glass is ok in my book. you think this is a crazy waste? then you don't know much about hacking... there is someone right now somewhere in the world about to take a plasma cutter to something that is worth 100x the price of a 5D, trust me.

jaapv

01-25-2011, 08:04

Benjamin Marks

01-25-2011, 08:06

Hey. Guys. Make a little room for whimsy. Aren't you glad you can now say, "I once saw this nutso-hack of a $5,000 camera to take lenses designed for a totally different system?" Who cares what the guy's motives were. No one got hurt and the photography world is an incrementally more interesting place because of his efforts.

Jamie123

01-25-2011, 08:08

Why do it? Easy, video and shallow (or more radically adjustable) DOF. They make TV programmes with the 5DMkII such is the quality. All you then need are lenses that are in themsleves high quality, and quiet when focusing them.

But if its just to use for still images I can't see the point.

Steve

I don't quite see the point for video either to be honest. There are plenty of fast, shallow DoF lenses around for video work. High resolution lenses are not that crucial for video either as, at the slow speeds usually used for motion capture, any resolution advantage Leica lenses might have is negated by the motion blur. Also, the small size of M lenses might make it more difficult to mount a follow focus rig and the short focusing throw of rangefinder lenses aren't helping either.

All in all it just seems like a pretty useless idea. I've seen PL-mount conversions for the 5DII which I think make much more sense for video work.

if nothing else, it's a testament to the quality of leica glass.

Not really. It says something about the person doing it but very little about the actual lenses. If I decided to use a Leica lens as a door stop that wouldn't be a testament to the door-stop-quality of Leica lenses :)

mto'brien

01-25-2011, 08:33

I don't quite see the point for video either to be honest. There are plenty of fast, shallow DoF lenses around for video work. High resolution lenses are not that crucial for video either as, at the slow speeds usually used for motion capture, any resolution advantage Leica lenses might have is negated by the motion blur. Also, the small size of M lenses might make it more difficult to mount a follow focus rig and the short focusing throw of rangefinder lenses aren't helping either.

All in all it just seems like a pretty useless idea. I've seen PL-mount conversions for the 5DII which I think make much more sense for video work.

Not really. It says something about the person doing it but very little about the actual lenses. If I decided to use a Leica lens as a door stop that wouldn't be a testament to the door-stop-quality of Leica lenses :)

As far as I know a Noctilux is only available in M mount, so an R mount adapter, or any other of the many available adapters isn't really what this guy was after. To think that the hacker didn't consider that, doesn't give him enough credit.

Perhaps I should have said: testament to the character of leica glass, especially wide open. And frankly, I don't really understand your door stop analogy in context here, i thought we were talking about using lenses as lenses, and why this guy would want to do what he did, but a good fallacy here and there can be funny, too. :)

Jamie123

01-25-2011, 08:51

As far as I know a Noctilux is only available in M mount, so an R mount adapter, or any other of the many available adapters isn't really what this guy was after. To think that the hacker didn't consider that, doesn't give him enough credit.

Perhaps I should have said: testament to the character of leica glass, especially wide open. And frankly, I don't really understand your door stop analogy in context here, i thought we were talking about using lenses as lenses, and why this guy would want to do what he did, but a good fallacy here and there can be funny, too. :)

You made the (fallacious) argument that the mere fact that someone would do such a conversion is a testament to the quality of Leica glass. My analogy was obviously chosen so as to show the absurdity of that argument. Just because one person decides to do something doesn't mean it's a good idea.

But let's get back on topic. Sure the Noctilux is only available in M-mount but (beside the Canon 50mm f1.2) there are many fine f1.2 lenses around that would work just fine with an adapter. And there's even an EF 50mm f1.0 lens although it's been discontinued.

mto'brien

01-25-2011, 09:25

You made the (fallacious) argument that the mere fact that someone would do such a conversion is a testament to the quality of Leica glass. My analogy was obviously chosen so as to show the absurdity of that argument. Just because one person decides to do something doesn't mean it's a good idea.

But let's get back on topic. Sure the Noctilux is only available in M-mount but (beside the Canon 50mm f1.2) there are many fine f1.2 lenses around that would work just fine with an adapter. And there's even an EF 50mm f1.0 lens although it's been discontinued.

You are right, I am guilty of overstatement. This is more along the lines of what i should have stated:

it is a testament to his belief in the character...

Point being he wanted to mount a Noctilux (and other M glass) on a 5DII, and he did it. Good idea? only for him to decide. Many interesting ideas are killed by the one guy on the committee that says it's a dumb idea. That's why a lot of innovators work alone. ~99% of innovation leads to a dead end or fails. Our hacker here actually succeeded. Taking this idea to market, however, would be a dumb idea. No right minded person would argue against that.

That there are other options is also beside the point. He did this because the option he wanted did not exist yet. Now it does. I think it's cool. Our opinions differ, nothing more.

eleskin

01-25-2011, 09:31

i Listen, I have a Noctilux and really love what it does in its unique way. I love this lens so much, that I wish I had other ways to use it. Yes, it works fine on a rangefinder, but are there not times when you would want to use SLR type focusing at f1.0 to make absolutely sure you were in focus?

Hacking a camera for this purpose alone is understandable, and you can see the person who made this camera has a Noctilux on it.

I just adjusted my M8 for my Noctilux and it took some time. What if i were in the field and my focus went out (camera or lens) and I had as a backup another way to use the lens?

I am really waiting for a full frame camera that will have a mount short enough to accomidate M lenses with an adapter. Even if the wide angle lenses would not work well, I would buy the camera for the Noctilux! alone!

Another point: Why can't Leica incorperate a small LED in the viewfinder for focus confirmation in addition to the Rangefinder? This would be benificial to those of us who use f1.0, f1.2, f1.4 etc,,, frequently.

Jamie123

01-25-2011, 09:35

You are right, I am guilty of overstatement. This is more along the lines of what i should have stated:

it is a testament to his belief in the character...

Point being he wanted to mount a Noctilux (and other M glass) on a 5DII, and he did it. Good idea? only for him to decide. Many interesting ideas are killed by the one guy on the committee that says it's a dumb idea. That's why a lot of innovators work alone. ~99% of innovation leads to a dead end or fails. Our hacker here actually succeeded. Taking this idea to market, however, would be a dumb idea. No right minded person would argue against that.

That there are other options is also beside the point. He did this because the option he wanted did not exist yet. Now it does. I think it's cool. Our opinions differ, nothing more.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have no problem whatsoever with someone hacking a 5DII in order to use Leica lenses. There are plenty of 5DIIs around and $2k is not that much to invest into a hobby project. All I was trying to say was that, even from a videographer point of view, this is not exactly practical and there are easier ways to achieve comparable resulst.

mto'brien

01-25-2011, 09:42

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have no problem whatsoever with someone hacking a 5DII in order to use Leica lenses. There are plenty of 5DIIs around and $2k is not that much to invest into a hobby project. All I was trying to say was that, even from a videographer point of view, this is not exactly practical and there are easier ways to achieve comparable resulst.

I totally agree ^^^

I'll choose my words more carefully in the future to avoid misunderstanding. And don't get me wrong, the door stop analogy was good one.

Gabriel M.A.

01-25-2011, 11:57

See the crazy shiz people do when they don't have a Nex?? ;)

My first reaction was "G...zEs wept". :eek:

But now it's LOL. :D

I'd rather wait for a second-hand M9 than literally hack a Canon 5D.

Nikkor AIS

01-25-2011, 14:42

I actually had the Canon 5D2 and the 50 1.0 AF. I sold them both for Leica gear :p. I can tell you that the Canon 50 1.0 AF is a fantastic lens and while both are F1, the Noctilux has a completely different signature than the Canon 50 1.0.

I would love to be able to use my 50 1.0 Noctilux on the Canon 5D2 even if others scoff at the idea. If I still had the camera, I wouldn't give a second thought to modifying it.

It would also be very interesting to use my 12 4.5 ASPH for video as this focal length isn't available in a Canon mount.

t6un

01-25-2011, 15:47

Given the lack of micro lenses on the Canon sensor compared to a M8 or M9, this only really precludes the use of older lenses with deep protruding rear elements.
- this is a misunderstanding. All camera sensors have microlnses. Leica's innovation weren't the microlenses themselves, it was offset microlenses at the corners of a sensor.
That said, RF lenses have been tested to work surprisingly well with Canon's full frame sensors: http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/15mm_test1.html

ampguy

01-25-2011, 20:34

IMHO, the fF thing is overblown. The nex has none of the wonky color weirdness of the M9 with wides.

My first reaction was "G...zEs wept". :eek:

But now it's LOL. :D

I'd rather wait for a second-hand M9 than literally hack a Canon 5D.

Gabriel M.A.

01-25-2011, 23:40

IMHO, the fF thing is overblown. The nex has none of the wonky color weirdness of the M9 with wides.

I've been strongly considering a NEX 5. I looked at the Olympus PEN. Meh. Then considered the GF1; still pondering that one, because its actual handling looks far better than the NEX 5. But the APS-C sensor trumps the 4:3 sensor (which makes less and less sense ever since more FF 35mm sensors show up in the market).

While I agree that the "FF thing" is overblown, it is still hugely important to those of us who really like their lenses and have been mentally visualizing and framing with certain fixed focal lengths in mind.

Those who don't/can't/won't understand how that is don't/can't/won't understand the importance of FF. Nothing wrong with that. But it's wrong for them to state as The Truth that "it's not important" (or, my favorite, "who cares!").

And they're in the majority. IF they weren't, the 4/3 marketing bonanza would have never taken on (it's always good business when you have new customers buying a whole new system, or old ones migrating).

There are a few of us who are not religious about brands nor systems. Everything has its applications. The Cyrillic alphabet works extremely well in Russian literature; not so sure it works well for Haikus in Japanese. Yet, there will be those who will swear that the only thing that will ever work is the Latin alphabet. Like, "ever". Just look at that keyboard you're using. ::shrug::

jaapv

01-26-2011, 01:25

I am really waiting for a full frame camera that will have a mount short enough to accomidate M lenses with an adapter. Even if the wide angle lenses would not work well, I would buy the camera for the Noctilux! alone!

M9 ? :confused::confused:

jaapv

01-26-2011, 01:33

Another point: Why can't Leica incorperate a small LED in the viewfinder for focus confirmation in addition to the Rangefinder? This would be benificial to those of us who use f1.0, f1.2, f1.4 etc,,, frequently.

It would be benificial to those with a bad eyesight,but as such it could never be more accurate that the RF mechanism itself.

Gabriel M.A.

01-26-2011, 06:03

Immagine a world where photographers actually designed the cameras and what they would look like!

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/blogon/upload/2010/02/tichy_camera.jpg

http://www.streettech.com/storypics/camera.jpg

User interface design is overrated.

nightfly

01-26-2011, 06:27

That Tichy exhibit was great. One of my favorite parts was that they were very scared of bringing bugs into the gallery where they were displaying all his home made cameras. His living conditions were apparently less than sanitary. That one probably cost him under 2K. Probably under $2.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/blogon/upload/2010/02/tichy_camera.jpg

http://www.streettech.com/storypics/camera.jpg

User interface design is overrated.

ferider

01-26-2011, 06:36

Leica's innovation weren't the microlenses themselves, it was offset microlenses at the corners of a sensor.

NOT Leica's innovation; Kodak Eastman's and already used in the M8 sensor.

ampguy

01-26-2011, 07:18

You should check out a NEX, but definitely try before you buy. If you're really used to pressing a brick like thing up to your forehead, and squinting through a tiny hole, you have to ask yourself if you can really adjust to the NEX big screen, and if you really want to focus that accurately.

I'd pass on the GF1, go with a Nikon D40 with 35/1.8 lens, they're about the same size, and you'll get infinitely better images with the D40 and NIkon F lenses.

I've been strongly considering a NEX 5. I looked at the Olympus PEN. Meh. Then considered the GF1; still pondering that one, because its actual handling looks far better than the NEX 5. But the APS-C sensor trumps the 4:3 sensor (which makes less and less sense ever since more FF 35mm sensors show up in the market).

While I agree that the "FF thing" is overblown, it is still hugely important to those of us who really like their lenses and have been mentally visualizing and framing with certain fixed focal lengths in mind.

Those who don't/can't/won't understand how that is don't/can't/won't understand the importance of FF. Nothing wrong with that. But it's wrong for them to state as The Truth that "it's not important" (or, my favorite, "who cares!").

And they're in the majority. IF they weren't, the 4/3 marketing bonanza would have never taken on (it's always good business when you have new customers buying a whole new system, or old ones migrating).

There are a few of us who are not religious about brands nor systems. Everything has its applications. The Cyrillic alphabet works extremely well in Russian literature; not so sure it works well for Haikus in Japanese. Yet, there will be those who will swear that the only thing that will ever work is the Latin alphabet. Like, "ever". Just look at that keyboard you're using. ::shrug::

jaapv

01-26-2011, 08:52

NOT Leica's innovation; Kodak Eastman's and already used in the M8 sensor.

:confused:Joint development,joint patent.

Nikkor AIS

01-26-2011, 09:04

Does anyone know how I can contact the person who did this conversion? I would very much like to have one of these Canon 5D2s. As far as the huge battery pack :rolleyes:, when you shoot video it takes lots of power, and I for one was grateful to have the extra "juice" when shooting with the 5D2.

Furthermore, has anyone seen any video footage with the Noctilux 50 1.0 and the Canon 5D2?

Nikkor AIS

01-26-2011, 23:55

http://rogaltacdesign.smugmug.com/Other/New-2010/DSC7502/1092543430_EykT8-L.jpg (http://rogaltacdesign.smugmug.com/Other/New-2010/10821381_qKWWq#1092543430_EykT8-A-LB)

Leica 50 1.0 @ 1.0 on a Nikon D3 (using Live View to focus)

I shot this a while ago, holding my Noct up to my Nikon D3. Clearly I am very curious about using Leica M on DSLR :).

eleskin

01-27-2011, 07:06

Wow! I love the bokeh, tone, color, everything! This just shows what a beautiful lens a Noctilux is and how foolish it is to restrict that lens to just one type of camera. Don't get me wrong, I love my M8's but seriously, it is a better situation to have different types of bodies that do different things. The fact that it is possible to use a Noctilux and take advantage of some of the things that Leica is not doing well (high iso) with another camera makes too much sense to me. I never cared about the camera as much as the lenses. What all of this tells me is we are moving away from which camera and going towards which lens as technology advances. If we perfect the digital camera, lenses will be all the talk, and let me tell you, any of the classics , especially Leica gems like the classic Noctilux will be even more desirable. Kind of like a Stradivarius where the sound is unique when compared to other instruments. The same is true with the Noctilux and other lenses. So here, we will see more attempts at hacking other cameras because Canon, Nikon, cannot see what is happening or they just want people to just use their lenses only. As an artist myself, sticking to one brand is absurd! I am a pro photographer, but I do have a masters in fine arts and I made many paintings in my life. Different oils and brushes gave different results and look. Same is true with lenses. The ultimate camera solution for me would be a modular design where one could build a custom camera to fit ones needs. Here, we would have the worlds first full frame truly universal camera body for any lens ever made. The problem is who would make it?

eleskin

01-27-2011, 07:33

With all this talk, I think we need a new section on this forum for rangefinder lenses. I feel this is the future anyway and why not get it started here. The only rule would be only lenses designed for rangefinder cameras are to be used. It would be open go any camera, hacked, adapters, rangefinders, evf, dslr, etc, . It would encourage more experimentation with alternative lens camera combinations.

ampguy

01-27-2011, 07:42

I'm surprised adapter tubes aren't widely available (that of course don't go to infinity), or are they?

dpredie

08-09-2011, 20:20

http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=854905&extra=&page=1

and video:

http://vimeo.com/groups/8432/videos/20703835

rxmd

08-09-2011, 21:53

mountainrivera

08-13-2011, 03:31

I don't consider someone who cuts off the front of a camera an "innovator," it seems more like "well I can't afford an M9 so I'll just hack away at this $2000 camera until it fits my other lenses." I would consider someone who designs a camera to fill such a niche an innovator (for example, this new fuji X100 if it lives up to the hype). I can see beyond...the BS :rolleyes: what can they do with those amazing leica m lenses that they REALLY couldn't do with their lowly EOS L lenses? It's a fantastic project for sure, but it's not like their photographs are tremendously improving because they rubbed down the front of a camera.

Good point but then I said to myself this guy owns a lot of expensive glass so $$ may not be the issue. :)

bugmenot

10-06-2012, 19:57

rxmd

10-06-2012, 20:06

Wait wait ... is THIS the same as the one from this link? http://72.32.6.157/~rbensonarch/blog/?page_id=247

I'm guessing maybe, though a little doubtful :/ ... It is getting quite the exposure on some blogs and other forums.

I'm not one to judge, but this is fascinating work, especially since everything is precision engineered by somebody with actual experience in such matters.

It's not the same. The one in the page you linked to does not have an M-mount, it has a 44mm screw mount.

In order to use Leica M lenses on it, you have to replace the mount on the lens by an M42 screw mount and use a 42-44mm step-up ring. I asked Robert Benson why he put a screw mount on it, instead of just using an M bayonet directly on the camera, but so far he hasn't answered.

Monochrom

10-06-2012, 20:08

Great! carry on with your surgery..next step is to cut away the VF housing and flatten the top...why not unbx the whole elecronics and custom box it!!!

Great!!!

Bye!!!

bugmenot

10-06-2012, 20:11

It's not the same. The one in the page you linked to does not have an M-mount, it has a 44mm screw mount.

In order to use Leica M lenses on it, you have to replace the mount on the lens by an M42 screw mount and use a 42-44mm step-up ring. I asked Robert Benson why he put a screw mount on it, instead of just using an M bayonet directly on the camera, but so far he hasn't answered.

Thank you for pointing that out. It seems odd that one has to modify his or her own lens to fit it on that 5DII modification (that is what I understand must be done, right?). Would have made more sense to just make it a bayonet mount ...

rastas

10-06-2012, 20:16

Great! carry on with your surgery..next step is to cut away the VF housing and flatten the top...why not unbx the whole elecronics and custom box it!!!

Great!!!

Bye!!!

I actually thought about cutting off the prism area to make it more rangefinder like. It's actually hollow in there, the glass prism has been removed. But I wanted to retain the flash functionality of the hot shoe so I kept it. Maybe next time I'll hack that off too..

Regarding "modifying lenses" there is none. All screw mount leica lenses screw right on this thing. But if I want to use a M bayonent mount lents, I have to instead put a screw mount adapter on it (in place of the bayonet mount). This is ALMOST as easy as changing a filter in front of the lens.....

Certain things inside the Canon Camera that had to stay interfered with the tabs on a leica bayonet mount, so I just made the thing a screw mount camera. Old school Leica!

rxmd

10-06-2012, 21:08

Regarding "modifying lenses" there is none. All screw mount leica lenses screw right on this thing. But if I want to use a M bayonent mount lents, I have to instead put a screw mount adapter on it (in place of the bayonet mount). This is ALMOST as easy as changing a filter in front of the lens.....

Do you place the screw mount adapter on top of the existing bayonet, or do you have to take off the bayonet flange off the lens and replace it by a screw mount?

The latter would seem a bit inconvenient to me if you have to do it every time you want to change between the 5D body and a Leica M body.

About the flash shoe - good point about keeping flash functionality. Could you just take the hot shoe, build a new flat top for the camera without the prism hump, and put the hot shoe on there? It's connected by a ribbon cable, there should be no problem.