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Basically no, the distance between the flange and film (sensor) of the M cameras is far too short to accommodate a SLR mirror. If you have older M-lenses (65mm or longer) some might be detachable for use with the Visoflex mirror viewfinder; these should be adaptable to current SLRs. Given the quality of present days optics, I doubt if it's worth the bother though...is there an adapter or a solution to use M lenses on a canon EOS system (full frame 5d)?
So then I'm confused. Doesn't adjusting focal length with a corrective lens make up for the altered FFD? Using a concave lens (Barlow) should move the focal length back to match the FFD, no? Isn't that how glasses and eyeballs work? Someone who is near-sighted has a focal length that is too short to reach the retina due to the geometry of the cornea and lens, and glasses are used to adjust the focal length backwards (negative diopters).It is not a matter of focal length (FL) but of flange focal distance (FFD) as mentionned in your diagram. Problem is the FFD of RF lenses is shorter than that of SLR cameras. Optical doublets are used to correct chromatic aberrations usually but i don't know if they can modify FFD in any way. Failing which, an adapter should protrude into the SLR's body which would let little room for the lens if any and would require a permanent lockup of the mirror. FFIW.
Yes, it can be done optically. Such adapters with corrector elements already exist for some lens mount combinations. But often the reason for wanting to adapt lenses across systems is to take advantage of distinctive optical characteristics that those lenses offer. Adding glass to an adapter will necessarily change those characteristics, almost always for the worse, defeating the purpose of adapting the lens.It sounds like you are suggesting that the lens needs to be moved to match the FFD.... instead, can't this be done optically, with "glasses" for the Canon EOS to correct near-sightedness with the Leica M-mount lenses?