Leica R bayonet

The Leica R bayonet mount is a camera lens mount system introduced by Leitz in 1964. The R mount is the standard method of connecting a lens to the Leica R series of 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras.

History The mount is descended from those used for the Leicaflex (1964), Leicaflex SL (1968), and Leicaflex SL2 (1974) SLR cameras, but differs in the cams used to communicate lens aperture information to the camera. 3 cam lenses are compatible with all of the Leica SLR cameras, while R-only lenses have a slightly different mount shape that will not fit on the earlier cameras.

On 5 March 2009, Leica announced plans to cease production of its R-Series manual focus SLR and lenses.

Technical

The flange focal distance between mount and film is 47 mm.

Looking at the camera body from the front, the bayonet locking pin is at the 8 o'clock position alongside the stepped plunger button. At the rear of the lens, the corresponding locking slot is at the 4 o'clock position. The automatic diaphragm lever is next to the locking slot, Cam 1 is at the 12 o'clock position, and Cams 2 and 3 are at the 6 o'clock position.

R Mount camera bodies

Leicaflex Image Name Year Exposure modes Notes M A S PLeicaflex1964–1968 The first R mount SLR cameraLeicaflex SL1968–1974, TTL "SL" standing for selective lightLeicaflex SL21974–1976, TTL More sensitive exposure meter and changes to the mirror hinging for wide angle lenses

Leica R Image Name Year Exposure modes Notes M A S PLeica R31976–1979 Developed in cooperation with Minolta.

Based on the Minolta XE.Leica R41980–1986 Based on the Minolta Minolta XD-7.Leica R51986–1991 Automatic TTL flash exposure measurement Leica R61987–1996, TTL Mechanical shutter, relied on battery power only for the built-in light meter.Leica R71991–1996 Complete flash automation.Leica R81996–2002 Intended as a clean break from the previous generation of Leica R cameras and designed in house. Flash pre exposure measurementLeica R92002–2009 Electronic changes included the ability to tune the sensitivity of matrix metering. Flash pre exposure measurement

R mount lenses R-mount lenses feature up to three mechanical cams which engage levers in the camera body. The earliest style of lens, also known as 1-cam or single cam, uses a single sloped cam which communicates the aperture setting to the camera, which is used by the original Leicaflex. Single cam lenses were discontinued in 1968 when the SL (and later SL2) were released; a second sloped cam was added to the lenses which communicated the aperture setting to the through-the-lens meter, while the first cam served to display the aperture setting in the viewfinder. 2-cam lenses were made until 1976.

With the introduction of the R series cameras (R3, R4, etc.), a third stepped cam was introduced just inboard of the second sloped cam; usually, the lens had all three cams, but the R series cameras used only the third cam. 3-cam lenses were made until 1988, with the introduction of R-only lenses, and ROM contacts were introduced in 1996, which replaced cam 1 with a series of electrical contacts.

+R mount lens variations Lens style Years Features In-camera meter compatibility Notes Cam 1 Cam 2 R-cam ROM Leicaflex SL/SL2 R3–R7 R8/R91 cam 1964–1968 rowspan=3 , full aperture colspan=2 rowspan=2 The original Leicaflex 1 cam lenses have a single sloped cam that communicates aperture setting to the camera. They can be used on later SL / SL2 and R-series cameras in stop-down metering mode only. Leica do not recommend that 1 cam lenses be used on R8 or R9 cameras because of possible damage to the cameras' ROM contacts. 1 cam lenses may be fitted with later 2 cams, 3 cams, or R cam + ROM contacts (replacing the sloped cams).2 cam 1968–1976 rowspan=2 , full aperture 2 cam lenses have two sloped cams for the Leicaflex SL and SL2 with TTL metering and are fully compatible with the original Leicaflex. They can be used on R series cameras with the same limitation and warning as 1 cam lenses and may also be fitted with later cams.3 cam 1976–1988 colspan=2 rowspan=2 , full aperture 3 cam lenses were introduced with R series cameras and have the earlier sloped cams and a third stepped "R-Cam" that communicates aperture information. They will work with all Leica SLR models since they have all three mechanical connections.R only 1988–1996 colspan=2 rowspan=2 , not compatible These lenses only have the stepped R-cam and only work on R-series cameras. The mount is deliberately slightly incompatible with Leicaflex models and will not fit. They may be converted to ROM by a technician.ROM 1996– , full aperture , full aperture + ROM data These only have the stepped R-cam plus electrical contacts communicating focal length to the camera. This is only supported on the R8/R9 although the lenses are fully compatible with all R-series cameras. The additional information is used in flash metering and communicated to the flash unit where it can be used to set power and flash zoom correctly and also to the optional Digital Module allowing lens focal length to be recorded with other image data.

Earlier 1, 2, or 3 cam lenses may be upgraded to ROM but this entails removal of both sloped cams, meaning that the lens will no longer be compatible with Leicaflex series cameras.

Use with other cameras The flange focal distance of 47 mm is fairly large, meaning that few other systems' lenses can be adapted to fit on a Leica R and retain infinity focus, but R lenses can be converted to other systems. The distance is only 0.5 mm larger than the Nikon F-mount, which is not sufficient to make a workable adapter, however, at least one Nikon camera has been modified with a Leica R bayonet mount to take R lenses, and at least two manufacturers make replacement mounts, allowing many Leica R lenses to be used directly on various camera systems, such as Nikon F mount cameras. For this purpose, the cams need to be removed, which is not always possible (e.g. early Elmarit-R f/2.8 35mm). The mounting flange may then need to be machined to allow free movement of the remaining cam. Sometimes, it is wise to refit the inner black anti-reflection ring, to avoid reflections within the focus mechanism (e.g. Elmarit-R f/2.8 90mm or Elmarit-R f/2.8 135mm). A further point of consideration is whether the protrusion on the rear lens block will engage with the mirror of the target SLR. For some Nikon cameras, this may be an issue.

Chips can also be attached to provide focal length and maximum aperture recognition in the camera body, which provides Exif in digital cameras.

A number of manufacturers have produced adapters to allow Canon EOS cameras to take R lenses, these operate only in stop-down metering mode but function well when rapid operation is not required.

+Leica R mount lenses Name FL Ap. Const. Min. focus Angle Filter Years Φ×L Wgt. Code Notes Fisheye and ultra wide angle lenses Super-Elmar-R 15 13e/12g ° built-in 1980−1996 1121311315-ROM Zeiss design Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16 11e/8g 180° built-in 1974−2009 1122211327-ROM Minolta design Elmarit-R 19 9e/7g ° 82 1975−1990 11225 Retrofocus 12e/10g built-in 1991−2009 1125811329-ROM Super-Angulon-R 21 8e/4g ° Ser.8 1964−1968 11803 Schneider design, Leicaflex only (requires mirror lock-up) 10e/8g Ser.8.5 1968−1994 11813 Schneider design, retrofocus Wide-angle lenses Elmarit-R 24 9e/7g ° Ser.8 1974−2009 112211125711331-ROM11333-ROM Minolta design Elmarit-R 28 8e/8g ° 48 1970−1994 1120411247 8e/7g 55 1994−2009 1125911333-ROM PC-Super-Angulon-R 12e/10g 67EW 1988−2009 11812 Schneider design Vario-Elmar-R 28~70 11e/8g ~° 60 1990−2009 1126511364-ROM Sigma design Summilux-R 35 10e/9g ° 67 1984−2009 111431114411337-ROM Summicron-R 9e/7g E48/ Ser.7 1972−1976 11227 6e/6g 55 1977−2009 11115 60 1997−2009 11339-ROM Elmarit-R 7e/6g Ser.6 1964−1974 11101 48/ Ser.7 1974−1979 11201 55 1979−1996 1123111251 PC-Curtagon-R 7e/6g Ser.8 1969−1996 11202 Schneider design Vario-Elmarit-R Asph 35~70 11e/9g ~° 77 1998−2001 11275-ROM Vario-Elmar-R 8e/7g 60 1983−1988 11244 Minolta design 8e/7g 67 1988−1997 11248 Minolta design 8e/7g 60 1997−2009 11277-ROM Normal lenses Angenieux-Zoom-R 45~90 15e/12g ~° 67/ Ser.8 1969−1982 98000 Angenieux design Summilux-R 50 7e/6g ° Ser.7 1969−1978 11875 55 1978−1998 1177811777 Also sold as R-only 8e/7g 60 1998−2009 11344-ROM Summicron-R 6e/5g Ser.6 1964−1976 11228 6e/4g 55 1976−2009 112151121611345-ROM Macro-Elmarit-R 60 6e/5g ° Ser.7 1972−1980 11203 55 1980−2009 112121125311347-ROM Portrait lenses Vario-APO-Elmarit-R 70~180 13e/10g ~° 77 1995−2009 11279-ROM Vario-Elmar-R 70~210 12e/9g ~° 60 1984−1996 11246 Minolta design Vario-Elmar-R 75~200 15e/11g ~° 55 1978−1984 11226 Minolta design Summilux-R 80 7e/5g ° 67 1980−2009 118801188111349-ROM Vario-Elmar-R 80~200 12e/8g ~° 60 1996−2009 1128011281-ROM 14e/10g 55 1974−1978 11224 Minolta design Summicron-R 90 5e/4g ° Ser.7 1969−1987 11219 55 1987−2009 11254 Elmarit-R 5e/4g Ser.7 1964−1983 1122911239 4e/4g 55 1980−2009 1180611154 Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100 8e/6g ° 60 1987−2009 1121011352-ROM Macro-Elmar-R 4e/3g 55 1978−1995 11232 Macro-Elmar 55 1969−1997 1123011270 Requires bellows Vario-Elmar-R 105~280 13e/10g ~° 77 1996−2009 11268-ROM Elmarit-R 135 5e/4g ° Ser.7 1964−1968 11111 55 1968−1999 11211 Telephoto lenses Apo-Summicron-R 180 9e/6g ° Ser.6 (slot) 1994−2009 1127111354-ROM Elmarit-R 5e/4g 72/ Ser.8 1968−1979 11919 5e/4g 67 1979−1998 11923 Apo-Elmarit-R 7e/5g 67 1998−2009 11273-ROM Apo-Telyt-R 7e/4g 60 1975−1998 1124011242 Early lenses take Ser.7.5 filters Elmar-R 5e/4g 55 1976−1995 11922 Telyt-R 250 6e/5g ° 72/ Ser.8 1970−1979 11920 7e/6g 67 1980−1994 11925 Apo-Telyt-R 280 7e/4g ° 112 1984−1992 11245 Ser.5.5 1992−1996 11263 8e/7g Ser.6 1996−2009 11846 Modular system Apo-Telyt-R 7e/6g 77/ Ser.5 1993−2009 1126111360-ROM Telyt-R 350 6e/5g ° 77 1980−1994 11915 Apo-Telyt-R 400 11e/9g ° Ser.5.5 1992−1996 11260 10e/8g Ser.6 1996−2009 11847 Modular system Apo-Telyt-R 9e/7g Ser.6 1996−2009 11857 Modular system Telyt-R 2e/1g Ser.7 1968−1971 14154 1971−1990 1196011969 1990−1996 11926 MR-Telyt-R 500 (fixed) 6e/5g ° 77 X 11243 Minolta design Apo-Telyt-R 560 11e/8g ° Ser.6 1996−2009 11848 Modular system Apo-Telyt-R 9e/7g Ser.6 1996−2009 11858 Modular system Telyt-R 2e/1g Ser.7 1968−1971 14155 1972−1996 11865 1990−1996 11927 Apo-Telyt-R 800 11e/8g ° Ser.6 1996−2009 11849 Modular system Telyt-S 3e/1g Ser.7 1973−1996 11921 MR-Telyt-R 8e/7g 1976−1978 Minolta design Teleconverters Apo-Extender-R 1.4x 1.4× +1 5e/4g same approx. ÷1.4 11249 Compatible with most lenses ≥280mm Apo-Extender-R 2x 2× +2 7e/5g same approx. ÷2 rowspan=2 rowspan=2 11269 Compatible with most lenses ≥50mm Extender-R 2x 5e/4g 11236 Compatible with most lenses ≥50mm

+Leica Apo-Telyt-R module system 2.8/280/4001×(5e/4g)Cat.11843 4.0/400/5601.4×(6e/4g)Cat.11844 5.6/560/8002×(6e/4g)Cat.11845 280/400/560(3e/3g)Cat.11841 280 8e/7gCat.11846 400 9e/7gCat.11857 560 9e/7gCat.11858 400/560/800(5e/4g)Cat.11842 400 10e/8gCat.11847 560 11e/8gCat.11848 800 11e/8gCat.11849

Leica R bayonet

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