Novoflex releases Canon EF electronic adapter for Leica SL

Hold your horses chief. I bought the SL. Too much tied up with image of Leica - I own an M-P 240 and bought it for the experience. Progressed to SL after tired eyes made the rangefinder a bit hit & miss. Plus you often have to periodically align the glass to the sensor - constant maintenance. So the SL was a natural move. I think less about my image with SL in hand, more about image captured. Lack of glass (affordable) is my driver. I used a 21, 35 and 90mm M glass on the SL - which is fine, but all manual. + I can;t justify another 10k on lenses. I stretched to the SL for sublime EVF and robust build. Former Canon 5D II user with a collection of L-Glass. Hung on to it. 28-70, 2.8 - 70-210 IS II, 2.8 etc. I see no harm in being seen with Canon L glass on SL. Chasing the image, I'd put a beer glass on the end if I had to. Leica owners are not all posh losers with more money than sense.

Jul 10, 2016permalink

Machaon

That's simply not true.
Canon EF offers a range of lenses that are simply unavailable in the Leica stable, particularly the long whites.
There will definitely be a subset of photographers shooting with the Leica SL who will want to use telephoto Canon glass, and this adapter is for that niche.

Jul 31, 2016permalink

starwolfy

Most people think a Leica SL is "average" just because it has one stop lower performance at high iso compared to an A7R lol.

Also, they think all Leica bodies are "average" without considering the fact a camera company can evolve.

The Leica SL is an - expensive - but also excellent camera with the best EVF to date on the planet.

The Leica Q is selling like hot cakes.

The Leica M is the only digital rangefinder camera on the planet.

Leica bodies are average ? Let me laugh. Expensive yes. Overpriced - certainly. Average - technologically not anymore; if spec sheets was the only thing of interest for you.

May 29, 2016permalink

ttbek

Ah, right, the FF NX1 clone (the D500 being the DSLR NX1 clone), I forgot about this one for a while. Maybe I should go with this instead of the 1DXII... I'll need to give it some thought. Many of their bodies were pretty average though as they transitioned to digital :P

Jun 1, 2016permalink

ttbek

Nevermind, the AF is not in the same class as the NX1 and 1DXII, "The SL is a barn burner, scorching Sony’s A7 models by delivering 11 fps at full resolution with focus fixed on the first frame. Even with continuous AF engaged, shooting drops down to about 6 fps. " -- http://www.pdnonline.com/gear/cameras/compact-cameras/Camera-Review-Hands-On-With-The-New-Leica-SL-15451.shtml

Jun 1, 2016permalink

Stephen787

may i know why they do not enter the market to compete with metabones mk4, but go to tiny little market for SL.

how many people have a SL.

May 28, 2016permalink

Robert Schroeder

Possibly because they're not quite up to it yet, if they only support "around 30" lenses and no IS, I could rather imagine Metabones modifying their technology for Leica SL in short time and kicking Novoflex out of the tiny little Leica SL market, too...

I wish Novoflex all the best, but to succeed they'd at least need an updateable firmware, with IS and broader lens support being added over time.

May 28, 2016*permalink

Kromann

Sounds like you think this is their first adapter. They have a full line of adapters - check the "adapter finder" on their website. Granted, they are IMHO not as good as MBIV but generally they are are somewhat cheaper.

May 29, 2016permalink

joe_leads

Their current adapters are all mechanical only, they have no electronic auto functions. The only adapter that involves some electronics is a reverse macro ring for canon, that allows to operate the aperture, which is more like a cable extension to the Canon mount.

May 29, 2016permalink

David Rossberg

As far as build-quality goes Novoflex is two divisions above Metabones. I know because I have numerous adapters from both (and other) brands.

May 31, 2016permalink

JensR

Robert, the difficulty might be on the Leica side of the protocol, not the Canon side. Although I would agree that the Metabones adapter seems more mature.

May 31, 2016permalink

Robert Schroeder

@David: I've only got one of each, but build-quality-wise I don't find Metabones below Novoflex at all...

Jun 1, 2016permalink

Kiril Karaatanasov

One would not be wise to put such hideous cheap thing on their Leica. Just look how many letters it has inscribed on it. Is this the surgeon general's warning of impeding health hazards when using adapters?..and this price of barely 500 Euro sort of tells that the materials used are likely carcinogenic and way below Leica manufacturing standards. It should have been priced and manufactured to the standards of SL i.e. cost around 5000 Euro and be made of high quality precious metals. I also wonder which Canon lenses are built to such standard to deserve place on your Leica SL body?

May 28, 2016permalink

A canon 1200mm L lens, maybe?

May 28, 2016permalink

Either this is ironic and extremely funny or it is serious and extremely repugnant.

May 28, 2016*permalink

You're being a little silly and a little snooty. I have a Lieca SL and some Leica glass. I would have no issue using my old 2.8 L glass. The image is the important thing. There would appear to be no end of people deriding the adapter option and beating Leica users around the head. I pity the people who engage in such meaningless dialogue. If you're a true photographer, you will use whatever tool you can to obtain the desired image. Period.

Jul 12, 2016permalink

paul cool

Not interested in the adaptor because I do not own an sl or canon lenses but the tripod looks cool.

May 28, 2016permalink

John _ Finn

Oh dear. Imagine the social disgrace when one is found to have fitted one of these ... adapters (ugh!) ... to one's Leica. One emerges from one's Bentley (Rolls Royces are strictly for the noveau riche) with the red-dot body around one's neck and then ... the gasps around the yacht club as the whisper spreads: "Peregrine can't afford a Leica lens ... he is using an adapter to fit a Canon! Haw, haw, haw". Really, it's enough to make one gag on one's Dom Perignon, it's such a ghastly prospect, darling. What *were* Novoflex thinking?

May 28, 2016permalink

Kris Sky

That killed me.

May 28, 2016permalink

Since Leica doesn't make any optics with current technology longer than 280mm, I fear that temptation will just be too much and a flourishing market starts for black silk, golden-stitched, red-dot marked lenses covers.

This, in turn, will start a new urban social street game: "Uncover That Douch" :)

May 28, 2016permalink

Reactive

Exactly. Even at the absurd price, I do not understand how these companies identify such odd niches and still decide it can be profitable.

May 31, 2016permalink

Lawn Lends

Pardon me, do you have some Grey Canon?

Jun 1, 2016permalink

tpf1952

Okay, it's been a year and a half, but I dig your pun on Grey Poupon. Nice job.

Jan 2, 2018permalink

Lawn Lends

Well, thanks! Happy New Gear!

Jan 3, 2018permalink

M02

"Just bought a Leica SL but can't afford to buy a Leica lens to put on it? Don't worry - German manufacturer Novoflex has just the thing for you."

What if I can't afford a Leica SL in the first place?

May 28, 2016permalink

You could buy Leica lenses and adapt them to your Canon camera :)
Just about to pick up my third Lens now.
All three cost less than any Canon L lens.

(used R-lenses, obviously, but the quality is right up there with Zeiss.)

May 28, 2016permalink

AngryCorgi

The funny thing is that The SL is a compromise body to begin with. You overpay for a very average body in the hopes that Leica will make some amazing glass to pair with it. This proposed combo is essentially the worst of both worlds. I like a lot of Canon glass, but if I would ever be ridiculous enough to pay $7500 for $1800 worth of camera, I wouldn't immediately turn and cast aside the primary advantage for that over-investment.

May 28, 2016permalink

That's correct. Worst idea ever. With the $7500 you could buy a 5Dmiii and an arsenal of Canon glass without the need of those annoying adapters. Even my A7 looks ridiculous with the 40mm pancake + adapter and works like crap.

May 28, 2016permalink

Ellis Vener

Even better than a 5D mark IIII: buy a 5DS or 5DSR.

May 28, 2016permalink

I'd get a used 1Dx with used 200/2L IS USM, 85L, 50L and 135L for some portrait fun.

May 28, 2016permalink

Yes, you are right, the 5DSR + 50mm L 1.2 and still have lots of cash for more glass.

May 28, 2016permalink

Machaon

What do you consider average about the Leica SL body?

Jul 31, 2016permalink

fatdeeman

sorry, my Leica doesn't shop at Canon.

May 28, 2016permalink

I doubt you own one.

Jul 12, 2016permalink

Kiwisnap

How come no one ever does these for Nikon?

May 27, 2016permalink

FuhTeng

I think it has to do with the aperture mechanism in the Nikons, but yes, I agree. It's taken ages for the first Nikon to Sony E-adapter.

May 27, 2016permalink

Jekabs

Fully electronic adapter is impossible for all but very recent Nikon lenses, because just like Sony A-mount they use mechanical lever in the body to control the aperture. So the adapter would also need mechanical aperture control, making it more complex. I guess this mechanical linkage, and perhaps a more complex communication protocol is what's holding adapter manufacturers back.

May 27, 2016permalink

noirdesir

Except for the few recent 'E' lenses, Nikon lenses need a mechanical lever to close the aperture to the pre-set value. Canon lenses (and the new 'E' lenses) have an electric motor in the lens that controls the aperture blades. Thus to control Canon lenses you only need electrical contacts whereas Nikon lenses would need additionally a finely calibrated and controlled mechanical lever in the adaptor.

May 27, 2016permalink

rubank

Becuase Nikon lenses for the most part use 1950´s technology: mechanical aperture.

May 28, 2016permalink

Novoflex clearly has failed to read the Leica crowd.
They could very well be asking $999 for it....better still, they could have gone with an agreement with Leica over it, slapped a red dot and ask $1,599 for the darn thing.

May 27, 2016permalink

I'm a Leica fan, buying used at good prices and highly valueing the craftsmanship over Sonys plastic toys.

May 28, 2016permalink

Good for you...

Just a piece of advice, in a "public announcement" spirit: Being a "fan" of a brand, any brand, might be detrimental to Photography, as a creative medium.

May 28, 2016*permalink

Oh, right..

Call me a "happy member of the Leica crowd" if you want.

I should probably also mention, that I own glass by:
Zeiss, Zeiss Jena, Asahi (Pentax), Olympus, Ricoh (Tomioka), Fujifilm, Nikon, Canon, Leica, Yongnuo, Samyang (Rokinon), Helios

and I did some extensive testing with all of said lenses (see my Blog) to find my personal favourite.

May 28, 2016permalink

Again, excellent for you.

As for reading your blog, given the input here, I think I'll pass thank you.

I don't like B&W that much, specially as an argumentative stance.

May 28, 2016permalink

Who said that the Leica turned out to be my favourite?
Up until today I didn't even own a Leica 50mm lens, so they weren't in the field of competitors to begin with. :)

The Zeiss Planar 50/1.4, despite performing quite well in my tests, failed to impress me in the field for example. On the other hand, I really like the old but faulty Helios 44 58mm f/2 or the radioactive Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f/1.8 (in B&W especially).

May 28, 2016permalink

shigzeo

@PhotoKhan:

"I don't like B&W that much, specially as an argumentative stance."

You mean like: "Novoflex clearly has failed to read the Leica crowd... darn thing."

Where you build up a Leica owner straw man as being stupid enough not to recognise the value/worth of something, _and_ as a result, purchasing something due only to brand, or perceived brand bias - this is exactly the sort of B&W 'fan' bias you accuse @photominon of- except that in your case, it is an 'anti-brand' bias.

May 30, 2016permalink

Well, black and white DO exist...With a lot of shades in-between.

Then, there's color, with its wonderfully, almost infinite pallets.

Like it or not, there's a significant number of Leica owners that own them for status, for the sheer price of the brand's products. If the exact same gear was available for 1/4 of the price (...which, in many cases, would still make them bad price/performance proposals...), they wouldn't touch them with a 10-yards pole.

If I told you a surreal experience I once had, first-hand, with one of those users, you would be hard-pressed believing it happened.

No, they do exist...and in large numbers.

In that wide chromatic and tonal spread , let's just call them "gray"... ;)

May 30, 2016*permalink

shigzeo

@PhotoKhan:

Re: Leica owners and price: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Anecdotal claims require zero evidence.

What is true is the following: people with greater stores of dosh can afford things that require greater stores of dosh. It doesn't mean that only people with lots of dosh buy expensive things, nor does it mean that expensive things are owned solely by people with money.

A product is or is not worth its asking price based on the needs of the person purchasing it. To a person that prefers a different brand and is already satisfied, no other product is worth his or her time (or dime).

The SL costs in the range of the Dx/1D series, both of which could also be argued as overpriced by people that disagree with their market. Whether or not the SL competes on all feature fronts is immaterial if it somehow makes itself necessary to a certain market.

I do agree that Leica have their work cut out. Too few lenses. Laughable professional support.

May 30, 2016permalink

He's got a point..

People with deficits tend to buy expensive status symbols to compensate for their lack of... Who knows what that is?
They buy expensive watches for tens of thousands of swiss franks (even though you can get a swiss watch hand-crafted by a master watchmaker for 1 grand or less..) or they buy a Bentley, a Lamborghini, etc.

In the world of cameras, Leica takes on that role, and knowingly so, just look at their accessories (pens, keychains, etc) and the pricing.

But @shigzeo is right too, if you earn enough and like the craftmanship, or special character of Leitz glass, why not buy it?!

May 30, 2016permalink

DFPanno

Lots of silly responses here.

First off - the fact that Leica is charging $7,500 for this body does not make it worth that amount. It is not some sort of platinum standard for imaging - not by a long shot.

(I can guarantee that for 99.9 percent of the people here cannot produce better images with the SL than they can with a $3,200 A7R II)

Secondly Canon makes some fabulous lenses. In fact it makes many lenses that Leica will never make.

If this Novoflex adaptor works well it is a real bonus for SL shooters and a win/win for both companies.

May 27, 2016permalink

photomedium

I agree. People seem to read alot into this, the whys and the why nots. Novoflex is a company that makes adapters, so guess what? They like adapting stuff.
I personally think $7500 is reasonable for a camera these days only if it gives a happy ending massage and serves breakfast afterwards, so I won't be needing this adapter anytime soon but others might.

May 27, 2016permalink

ksharp

And fully 95% won't be able to produce better photos than with the original 5D.

May 28, 2016permalink

I have the original 5Dinosaur -and love it- still producing beautiful files for a $500 camera. I can spend the other $7000 in a massive collection of Canon glass.

May 28, 2016permalink

Andreas Stuebs

I would hazard a guess that 95% could not produce a better result than with a Kodak Brownie - with or without film inside. A Leica SL is to photography as a Rolex is to timekeeping.

May 28, 2016permalink

paul cool

did you know rolex timing is made by zenith although this no bad thing ,as they make the most accurate mechanical watch in the world .

May 28, 2016permalink

Ellis Vener

ksharp and Andreas Stuebs i like you are being wildly optimistic in your assessment of the numbers.

May 28, 2016permalink

DFPanno

@paul cool - that's not accurate.

May 28, 2016permalink

Rolex produces ALL their movements, the only non-Rolex movement was the one they use in their first Daytonas.

May 28, 2016permalink

aksclix

good to see some sane responses here.. I hope these photogs are as critical about the pictures they take as they seem to be with this adapter which appears to be a great piece of engineering!! Just got the SL2 and have a few Leica glass but I have the 85 f1.2 and the 50 f1.2 I want to use with SL2.. wondering if I should trade my Sigma MC-21 for this novoflex

3 days agopermalink

This is exactly what I was waiting for to use my 50mm 1.8. Now I just need to get $7500 to get the body + adapter.

May 27, 2016permalink

PorscheDoc

You need $500 more as the body itself is $7500 ;>)

May 27, 2016permalink

The nifty fifty is worthy the extra! :)

May 27, 2016permalink

May 28, 2016*permalink

Richard Franiec

The point often missed is that thanks to the third party efforts, we can now enjoy freedom of choosing the lenses of choice across most of the offerings from every manufacturer.
Something what was unthinkable a decade ago.
I salute Novoflex and others for providing lens options (via adapters) beyond what Sony, Leica, M4/3 can offer.
I'ts a wonderful time for us, photographers.

May 27, 2016permalink

The Silver Nemesis

Oy! A bit strange.

May 27, 2016permalink

Absurd. Leica is all about glass, why would anyone (other than posers) would want to use Canon glass with the SL?

Is like buying an iPhone 6S+ and get a Gowin charger.

May 27, 2016*permalink

DFPanno

There are lots of reasons.

Might I suggest that you take a look at Canon's offerings? You might see a lens or two that Leica does not make.

May 27, 2016*permalink

There are many great Canon lenses, the point is why someone wants an SL body if there are no native Leica glass for it?

May 27, 2016permalink

JeremiahL

Canon fills a lot of small niches with their lenses. They offer some lenses that other manufacturers just don't make.

Check out the 65mm MP-E, for example. Who else makes a 5x macro lens?

May 27, 2016permalink

Ellis Vener

DFPanno has it right: Leica will make an EF 8-15mm f/4L, 11-24mm f/4L, 17mm TS-E, etc.

May 28, 2016permalink

& you can afford all the Leica glass for the SL can you? Or perhaps you prefer the size of the SL glass? Not tired of manual M glass? Don't want to fill the gaps between focal ranges? 3-4K per lens. Don't already have an investment in Canon L-Glass. You really don't think through your point and that makes you rather foolish. Another Leica basher. Perhaps you should focus on your images.

Jul 12, 2016permalink

aksclix

I was going to write a long comment but I see @Mocquery already covered the exact same things I was going to say...

3 days agopermalink

sportyaccordy

HA HA

$7500 body, $50 YONGNUO lens. Can't wait!

All jokes aside, someone needs to develop an autofocus M mount adapter.

May 27, 2016permalink

sjredo

like this?

http://techartpro.com/

May 27, 2016permalink

sportyaccordy

Yes, but for the Leica SL 601.

May 27, 2016permalink

Daft Punk

Leica SL is the mirrorless camera Canon should be making. Great IQ and the worlds best EVF.

This is a nice combo. Great body matched with Canon glass. Among Canons huge lens range there are some special ones.

May 27, 2016permalink

The IQ comes from the lenses.

May 27, 2016permalink

BeaverTerror

Agree completely. I'm going to get some Leica lenses and tape them to the front of my head and enjoy the great IQ. Who needs a camera body?

May 28, 2016permalink

dmanthree

What's the point of spending all that cash for a Leica and then *not* using Leica lenses? Why not just get a Canon?

May 27, 2016permalink

vscd

Because Canon has really good lenses for reasonable prices. Don't forget Sigma Art lenses are (f.e.) EF-lenses, too ;)

May 27, 2016permalink

leonche64

His question was who spends $7,000 on a camera body and then needs to buy adapted lenses? I know this is how Sony brought their A7 series to market, but that is not the same as the Leica buyers.

May 27, 2016permalink

starwolfy

Long zooms, T/S lenses, cheaper but good glass anyone ?

May 27, 2016permalink

I have the A7 and trying to use my Canon lenses with adapters was a very mediocre experience. My 40mm pancake looks the size of a 50mm 1.4, the AF is completely useless, I should stick with a 6D instead.

May 27, 2016permalink

vscd

@leonche64
The problem with the Leica SL is that there are *NO* lenses out there, except of one zoom at the moment. So you have to adapt even homegrown leica-lenses anyway. Why not using a Canonadapter? It's not larger than f.e. a "Leica-R"adapter.

May 27, 2016permalink

Jim Evidon

Because the SL mount inventory of lenses is still quite limited on this new lens mount. Leica SL owners may want to use high quality lenses not yet available from Leica. I own a Leica T (same lens mount as the SL) and I just sent an inquiry to Novoflex to see if it is fully functional on the T. If so, it will be a welcome bridge product.

May 27, 2016permalink

starwolfy

I like it. I use my SL with M lenses to have a small-ish package and I'm glad I'll be able to use my SL with say a 100-400mm + 1.4x converter for birding/ safari : meaning a totally different use case.

May 27, 2016permalink

Tons o Glass 0 Class

I'm sure there will be at least a few people who will buy a $7500 camera body and a $555 adapter to gimp their Canon glass, just because they can.

May 27, 2016permalink

Paul Pasco

I think Canon makes at least a few nice lenses, no?

May 27, 2016permalink