Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter, Leica M Lens to MFT Micro 4/3 (Four Thirds) System Camera Mount Adapter, for Olympus Pen E-PL1, E-P2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, G2, GH2, GF1, GH1 G10,

by Fotodiox

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B002RJFD7C
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 4, 2009

Product Description

If you have a SLR or DSLR camera and other maker/mount lenses, the Fotodiox Mount Adapters allow you to use your lenses on the film/digital camera body. Sharing lenses has some distinct advantages. Certain prime lens just can't be replaced, and you save cost of purchase lenses. ­Fotodiox offers a range of adapter from large format to smaller format digital adapters. Adapting larger format lens, i.e., large format - medium format, medium format - 35mm, excellent edge-to-edge sharpness; and the smaller 24x36 mm image field helps minimize the effects of lens distortion and aberration.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works well for me, February 14, 2010

By 

Alan Wolf (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter, Leica M Lens to MFT Micro 4/3 (Four Thirds) System Camera Mount Adapter, for Olympus Pen E-PL1, E-P2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, G2, GH2, GF1, GH1 G10, (Electronics)

I don't have any other M to m4/3 adapters to compare this to. There may be sample to sample variations, but mine mounts easily on my GF1 and my M mount lenses mount easily and securely into the adaptor. I think the only reason I didn't give it full 5 starts was the metal that mounts into the GF1 is (I'm guessing here) aluminum, and brass would be better; and the button that acts as the lens release isn't the same stepped design as the CV adapters, which look (and may function) a bit nicer.

I will also have to add the blurb about how much fun I'm having using Leitz (and Voigtlander) glass on the GF1, and how totally spectacular the results are!

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Works But Not A Great Product, January 11, 2010

By 

B. Fuller (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter, Leica M Lens to MFT Micro 4/3 (Four Thirds) System Camera Mount Adapter, for Olympus Pen E-PL1, E-P2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, G2, GH2, GF1, GH1 G10, (Electronics)

I would rate this product at 3.5 stars so it was hard for me to decide 3 or 4. However, I decided on 3 because even at half the price (which is where I think it should be priced), I would give it 4 stars. So 3 it is.

Let me start by saying that it works. Also, the quality is not as bad as I thought after reading some other reviews. Until I received it, I was thinking I would not even attach it to the camera. However, it was better than I expected so I pressed ahead.

It is an all metal part so that is a start. However, the part that attaches to the camera is not stainless steel like the Voigtlander and Panasonic DMW-MA2M G Series Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount Adapter for Panasonic Leica M lenses NEW! adapters have. Unlike the Photodiox F mount version that I have, this one seems to mount to the camera pretty well. I don't like that it is not stainless steel but it does go on pretty easily.

Once the ring is on the camera, it is time to put the lenses on. On my F mount version I have, the lenses went on relatively well. This is not the case with this mount. It is very hard to get them to rotate into position. They mount just as any M lenses mount on a Leica which is to say, line up the Leica red dot with the red dot on the left side of the mount (when looking at it mounted on the camera) and rotate clock wise.

This variation between the two versions really makes me question the quality control on the construction of these adapters.

Once installed, I had no problem focusing and the adaptor performed fine. However, taking off the lens resulted in another problem for this adaptor. The little release mechanism is very poorly designed and due to how hard it is to rotate the lens, it was difficult to hold down the round knob with one hand and then try to rotate the lens off with the other. Also, I have the very small Leica lenses. If you have the larger ones then the lenses may block the release mechanism making it a 3 to 4 handed affair to get the lens off. This a big negative for me.

Overall, this product works but I am not satisfied with it. I will keep it until I can get the either the Voigtlander M adapter for 2.5 times or the Panasonic for 3.6 times the price of this. Please allow me to make a tangential comment about these adapters. I think all of them are outrageously priced. Nikon can sell a fantastic 50mm f/1.8 for $125 but these little metal tubes with no optics or contacts cost more than that. That is astounding to me. I feel the correct price of a very nicely constructed adaptor should be around $70-100. That is why I tired this adaptor because it is priced where I think this should be. However, this turned item turned out to cost about twice what it is worth and now I am going to have to double purchase this product.

Overall at 1/2 the current price this product would no longer be a ripoff but I am very picky about my camera gear so it still would not be the adaptor for me. This is an important piece of information about me to judge whether you think it is worth it or not. It works but it is a little like putting steel rims on a luxury car. They work but they are not optimal or stylish.

As a final note, I think it is definitely worth getting an adaptor and shooting with Leica Lenses. They are simply amazing on this camera. I can't even describe the magic but I like using them on this camera more than a rangefinder (heresy I know). All I can say is forget the $7000 M9, buy the G1 for $600 and put the other $6400 towards some Leica Lenses (28mm 2.8 = $1795 new 50mm 2.0 = $1995 new, 90mm 2.8 = $500 used). You really need the EVF to focus these so I think a GF1 is out (yes you can do it but it is not nearly as sweet). And yes there is a 2x multiplier so that 28 is 56, the 50 is 100, and the 90 is 180. But have you seen how big and expensive a 100mm F2 is or a 180mm f2.8. Look at a nikon 200mm f4 or for that matter the $4000 200mm f2.8 and compare that with the sweet sweet 90mm 2.8. Wow! Outstanding! Pure magic! I am really blown away.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Build quality not what I was expecting for the money., December 28, 2009

By 

LeicasRule (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter, Leica M Lens to MFT Micro 4/3 (Four Thirds) System Camera Mount Adapter, for Olympus Pen E-PL1, E-P2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, G2, GH2, GF1, GH1 G10, (Electronics)

I've been trying to decide on what a fair price would be for a quality adapter... something I could feel comfortable using with a Leica lens, unfortunately, at $80 this adapter is disappointing. First it's not exactly what I see in the picture. I must have received an earlier version because the locking button is different; the red paint that was on it I immediately scratched off because I was afraid it would rub off on it's own and end up inside the camera or the lens. Probably why they changed it to what's in the picture. Good luck getting a newer one. Second, there's no marker to line up the lens with when attaching it. I had to look at the tabs on the lens' mount and the recessions in the adapter to line things up. Lame. Third, the lens fits a little too snug. The way they manufactured it to create grip on the lens is cheap and looks like it could damage a lens if one isn't careful or if the adapter wasn't tested properly. Bottom line, this adapter seems to be of the same build quality as the cheaper adapters on ebay. It looks like I'll be paying $250 for the Panasonic DMW-MA2M adapter. It appears to have the same mount at my M7. My bad for trying out a less expensive solution.