Adapter guide
Leica R lenses on Sony E
Yes, this works. Leica R has a 47mm flange distance and Sony E-mount has 18mm, so a 29mm mechanical adapter with no glass fills the gap and infinity focus is preserved. Focus and aperture stay manual.
- Leica R flange
- 47 mm
- Sony E flange
- 18 mm
- Adapter thickness
- 29 mm
- Optical elements
- None required
Setting it up
Enable Release w/o Lens, set the SteadyShot focal length by hand so in-body stabilisation matches the lens, and use focus peaking or the magnifier for manual focus.
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 Sony E
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 (1.5x)) | Years | Used value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8 | 90mm | f/2.8 | 90mm | 135mm | 1964-1996 | $300 to $800 |
| Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 | 50mm | f/2 | 50mm | 75mm | 1964-2009 | $350 to $900 |
Frequently asked
Do Leica R lenses work on Sony E cameras?
Yes. A plain Leica R to Sony E adapter works with no optics. Leica R has a 47mm register and Sony E-mount has a 18mm register, so the adapter is a 29mm 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 Sony E?
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 Sony E?
On full frame Sony E bodies (a7, a7R, a7S, a7C, a9, a1, FX3) the focal length is unchanged: a 90mm lens frames as a 90mm. On APS-C (1.5x) Sony E bodies (a6000 to a6700, ZV-E10, FX30) a 90mm lens frames like a 135mm 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