Adapter guide
Leica R lenses on Canon RF
Yes, this works. Leica R has a 47mm flange distance and Canon RF mount has 20mm, so a 27mm mechanical adapter with no glass fills the gap and infinity focus is preserved. Focus and aperture stay manual.
- Leica R flange
- 47 mm
- Canon RF flange
- 20 mm
- Adapter thickness
- 27 mm
- Optical elements
- None required
Setting it up
Enable Release shutter w/o lens and turn on MF peaking. Canon APS-C bodies use a 1.6x crop rather than the 1.5x of other systems.
Automatic diaphragm. The lens sits at the set aperture when off the body, so the aperture ring works directly on an adapter.
Leica R lenses and their field of view on Canon RF
Effective focal length changes with sensor size. The lens itself does not change; the smaller sensor simply captures a narrower part of the image circle.
| Lens | Focal length | Aperture | Full frame | Frames like (APS-C (1.6x)) | Years | Used value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8 | 90mm | f/2.8 | 90mm | 144mm | 1964-1996 | $300 to $800 |
| Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 | 50mm | f/2 | 50mm | 80mm | 1964-2009 | $350 to $900 |
Frequently asked
Do Leica R lenses work on Canon RF cameras?
Yes. A plain Leica R to Canon RF adapter works with no optics. Leica R has a 47mm register and Canon RF mount has a 20mm register, so the adapter is a 27mm tube that puts the lens exactly where a Leica R body would. Plain adapter ring. Choose one with clearance for the meter cams and ROM contacts so nothing binds; Leica's own R-Adapter L and most current third-party adapters are fine.
Do Leica R lenses focus to infinity on Canon RF?
Yes. Because the adapter restores the native 47mm register, infinity focus is preserved and the full focus scale on the lens stays accurate. Adapters machined slightly short let the lens focus past infinity by a small margin, which is harmless; adapters machined long stop short of infinity, so buy from a maker with tight tolerances.
What focal length does a Leica R lens become on Canon RF?
On full frame Canon RF bodies (EOS R, RP, R3, R5, R6, R8) the focal length is unchanged: a 90mm lens frames as a 90mm. On APS-C (1.6x) Canon RF bodies (EOS R7, R10, R50, R100) a 90mm lens frames like a 144mm lens on full frame; the aperture and depth of field at a given distance do not change.
More on this mount: Leica R mount reference