Vintage Lenses on Digital Body: Leica Summilux R 50mm f/1.4 on Fujifilm X-Pro 3
Fujifilm X-Pro 3 with Leica Summilux R 50mm f/1.4 (Photo taken with Sony A7C and Sony Zeiss FE 55mm f/1.8)
One of the best 50mm vintage lenses Leica ever made. Period. The contrast at full aperture is significantly higher than any 50mm f/1.4 I know - and i know many of them….The bokeh is creamy and out of this world. The focus is buttery smooth. For those without a Leica R body, the lens can be used on most digital bodies via a Leica R to X or so, adapter. Especially with the Fuji X-Pro3 the Leica Summilux 50mm R f/1.4 including adapter is very well balanced and you get the famous Leica 3D-Pop look!
Hint: The R-version of the Leica Summilux can be found cheaper on eBay than the M-version. In addition, the close-up range of 50cm is 20cm closer than the M-version with 70cm. Unfortunately the Leica R-adapters are larger than the M-adapters. My Summilux R is from 1980, exactly 40 years old and in top condition. I bought the lens for about Euro 800 on eBay from a dealer in Germany. Unfortunately I had to readjust the infinity sharpness at Leica Switzerland. This cost me another 100 Euros, which means that the lens cost me a total of 900 Euros. Still much cheaper than a current Summilux M 50mm f/1.4 at the new price of about Euro 3'800. Furthermore I can use the R-version with adapter with my Leica SL, Fuji X-Pro3 as well as my medium format body Fuji GFX50r.
The following pictures were taken with this combination: Leica Summilux R 50mm f/1.4 on Fujifilm X-Pro 3. Aperture used between 1.4 an 4.0 (Photographer: Roland Steffen - not to be used without my explicit permission).
