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I like buying lenses new, but in all honesty I have only rarely purchased new Leica lenses due to the prices they get for them. One joy of the A7 for me is that I can buy used Leica R lenses at fantabulously low prices ... The ten Leica R lens kit I've assembled, if purchased in new lenses in the late 1990s, would have cost me well over $30,000, with more valuable $ than today. As it is, what I've acquired cost me (well) under $5000, all in premium condition. That's about on par with a single new Summilux-M 50mm.Yeah, I guess the R100 and the Macroplanar are both the best of breed here, while the Zeiss is still produced, the Leica is not, and some of the Leica Adapters are hard to come by. I never bought a used lense before and I would be reluctant to do so in deed, except perhaps I know from where it comes.
Thanks all for opinions.
I've never had problems buying new or used from Tamarkin.com. Dan and his crew are good folks to work with. Tamarkin.com has both new and used gear on hand.Thanks Godfrey, good points.
I also figured that there are some professional dealers that sell used glass, which might be a little safer option than buying from private.
Louis, I found my Metabones Leica R-E mount adapter very tight and had to disassemble it and adjust (slightly flatten the spring angle) the leaf springs. That was unlike my other Metabones EF-E adapter which was impossibly tight. It was a little better after spring adjustment but still tight and tended to bind. I discovered with the leaf springs removed it was still tight. The problem was due to the back edge of the adapter bayonet ring fouling the rear lips on the lens mount. I solved the problem by removing a few microns from the rear of the adapter lens bayonet ring (removed plating down to the brass). Considering the cost of these adapters I'm rather disappointed with their mechanical tolerances.Received the 60/2.8 Macro-Elmarit R and a Metabones adapter. Not entirely impressed by the adapter - nicely made no doubt about it - but mounting the lens it feel very tight. Not like my Novoflex adapter for M lenses.......................
Ahhhh! Had not thought of that, thanks.Difference in DoF between the A7 and APS-C clearly visible there!
I use the Novoflex NEX/LER adapter. I tried a couple of Metabones and returned them - poor quality control. Most of my lenses would not work on them while all of my lenses work perfectly on the Novoflex.
G
Useful tip. I will have a go when I have a spare hour or so! Thanks for the information.Louis, I found my Metabones Leica R-E mount adapter very tight and had to disassemble it and adjust (slightly flatten the spring angle) the leaf springs. That was unlike my other Metabones EF-E adapter which was impossibly tight. It was a little better after spring adjustment but still tight and tended to bind. I discovered with the leaf springs removed it was still tight. The problem was due to the back edge of the adapter bayonet ring fouling the rear lips on the lens mount. I solved the problem by removing a few microns from the rear of the adapter lens bayonet ring (removed plating down to the brass). Considering the cost of these adapters I'm rather disappointed with their mechanical tolerances.
If you do disassemble your adapter for any reason, make sure when you undo the screws with the supplied hex key that the key is seated into the screw heads with firm pressure. The key material is rather soft and easily damaged.
Bob.