Adapter guide
Leica R lenses on MFT
Yes, this works. Leica R has a 47mm flange distance and Micro Four Thirds has 19.25mm, so a 27.75mm mechanical adapter with no glass fills the gap and infinity focus is preserved. Focus and aperture stay manual.
- Leica R flange
- 47 mm
- MFT flange
- 19.25 mm
- Adapter thickness
- 27.75 mm
- Optical elements
- None required
Setting it up
Enable Shoot w/o Lens (Panasonic) or leave Release Priority on (Olympus and OM System), then enter the focal length for in-body stabilisation. The 2x crop doubles the apparent focal length, so a 50mm frames like a 100mm.
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 MFT
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 | Frames like (Four Thirds (2x)) | Years | Used value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8 | 90mm | f/2.8 | 180mm | 1964-1996 | $300 to $800 |
| Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 | 50mm | f/2 | 100mm | 1964-2009 | $350 to $900 |
Frequently asked
Do Leica R lenses work on MFT cameras?
Yes. A plain Leica R to MFT adapter works with no optics. Leica R has a 47mm register and Micro Four Thirds has a 19.25mm register, so the adapter is a 27.75mm 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 MFT?
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 MFT?
On Four Thirds (2x) MFT bodies (Lumix G, GH, GX; OM-D and PEN; OM-1 and OM-5) a 90mm lens frames like a 180mm 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