Customer Reviews

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,

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I bought this adapter for a CV Nokton 40mm f1.4 on a GF1.
Compared to the original Voigtlaender adapter (I rented it together with a Nokton 50mm 1.1 from LensRentals.com) it is a little harder to fit on both the camera and the lens.
The metal is different (cheaper?), and the look of the release button is horrible.
But it works perfectly fine.

If I had multiple m-mount lenses I would buy one for each lens, I would be worried if I had to screw and unscrew the adapter all the time.
Can't pretend more from a 40 bucks piece of metal.

Both the 40 and the 50mm Noktons over-focus at infinite, but the same happened with the original Voigtlaender adapter.
From what I read it is a feature, not a defect, to allow a small tolerance for individual lens or adapter or camera differences.

I bought the adaptor for my E-P2 with little expectation worried that it might be made plastic being the cheapest of adapters. What can I say, it metal and it work well with my 50mm summicron. It is what it is, a simple device. Its cheap enough that I may get another one to attach to a voightlander lens. Its easier to use the camera's lens release then the one on the adapter. I haven't used any of the brand name adaptors and I can't do a comparison.

The adapter works, the quality is well below my expectation, with the Leica lenses it works fine, doesn't work with my Konica Hexanon 28mm (too tight, i'm afraid i would damage the lens).
Focusing is easy as on my M8.

I was very happily surprised by the quality of this adapter. It is well machined, fits perfectly to my various Leica M lenses and allows me to critically focus my Noctilux on my Oly EPL-1. Get this adapter. It is great quality for a great price.

Really liked this adapter. Never tried the more expensive models, but it seems that this one does the job pretty good.

The build quality is "OK" for the price. The adapter to camera mount is fine. The M lens to adapter interface is a little stiff, may loosen up with use but so what. It works and lets me use my M mount lenses on my Olympus e-pl1. What a joy! Aperture priority gives you auto exposure. Full manual control with fill flash exposure compensation is also easy. I use the 40mm F2 (80mm equivalent in 35mm format)for portraits, indoor low light photograpy. This lens with iso 3200 on the e-pl1 for theater/church avialable light photograpy is fantastic. Used my 90mm F4 (180mm 35mm equivalent) with a monopod for a track meet and photographing a bicycle pace line (hand held). The in body IS stablizes these lenses! Imagine shooting a 180mm hand held on a moving target at 1/250th! Focusing on the screen works fine. For precision focusing, one touch on the zoom button brings up the focus magnification screen (7x to 14x, your choise)another push toggles back to compositin view. In bright light an external viewfinder is avialable.


Update 1/28/2011:

Have been using this adapeter for eight months now. The "M" side did loosen up and now is almost as smooth as the u 4/3 side. The plating on the release button is wearing off and shows some brass but so what, we take it on and off a lot and switch between two M lenses regularly. At this price buy one for each of your M lenses and get proper rear u 4/3 caps for each adapter. The supplied ones fall off easily.

In spite of the misgivings expressed by other reviewers, the Leica M mount to MFT lens adapter I purchased worked for me as well as the other Fotodiox Pentax-K mount adapter I have. The Leica M adapter is much thinner than SLR adapters because back of M mount lenses is closer to the focal plane, and hence it requires a bit more dexterity to install. Otherwise, the operation is no different than that of SLR mounts and allows me to enjoy my Summilux lens on my Panasonic DMC-GF2 camera.

There is a deluxe version possibly more refined and easier to operate. For my intended purposes the product as is works just fine. For the asking prices of some of the more expensive offerings, I'd consider purchasing a native lens instead.