Do you think it is possible that the Heliar 12mm or 15mm would fit on a R3? Certainly you have to use an adapter but is such a thing avialible for a R3?

-- (doublestroke@gmx.net), May 14, 2002

Answers

The CV 12 and 15mm lenses mount too close to the film plane for them to be adapted to an SLR body and still focus at infinity.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), May 14, 2002.

Only as extreme macro lenses. The rear element of the 15 is about 17mm from the film plane at infinity and about 19mm from the film focused at .3 meters. The R3 and other Leica SLRs, because of the mirror, won't let the lens get closer to the film than about 40-45mm - regardless of adpater used.

I just tried mine on my SL body - set at infinity it focuses on objects roughly as far away as the front lip of the built-in lens hood.

In theory you could get the 12/15 lenses remounted somehow for use on a body with mirror lock-up (original Leicaflex, Nikon F, Canon F1), just like the original Super-Angulon 21. But with a 15mm the lens would probably be INSIDE the camera, and the lens mount ring itself would vignette the corners to a circular image.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 14, 2002.