Lens mount
Leica R mount
Leica R is the 1964 bayonet with a 47.0mm register used by the Leicaflex and R3 through R9 SLRs until 2009.
- Type
- bayonet
- Flange distance
- 47 mm
- Introduced
- 1964, Leicaflex
- Status
- Discontinued in 2009 with the Leica R9. Leica sells an official R-Adapter L for L-mount bodies.
About the Leica R mount
Leica R is the SLR bayonet Leitz introduced with the Leicaflex in 1964 and used until the R9 was discontinued in 2009. Its 47.0mm flange distance is the deepest register of any mount in this catalog. Lenses are described by their meter cams: 1-cam lenses served the original Leicaflex, 2-cam lenses the Leicaflex SL and SL2, 3-cam lenses (from 1976) work on every R and Leicaflex body, R-only lenses have the third cam alone and can damage a Leicaflex meter, and ROM lenses (from 1996) add electrical contacts for the R8 and R9. The optics inside a given design are the same across cam versions, which is why 3-cam and R-only examples of the same lens differ mainly in price.
Leica never built an autofocus successor to the R system (the R10 was cancelled in 2009), so R lenses moved wholesale onto mirrorless bodies. Leica itself sells the R-Adapter L for the SL and TL cameras. The 47.0mm register means a plain ring reaches infinity on every mirrorless system and on most DSLR mounts too, which made Leitax conversions to Nikon F and Canon EF common before mirrorless. Summicron-R and Elmarit-R designs are the most affordable entry points; Summilux-R and the 180mm and longer APO lenses trade far higher.
Aperture control
Automatic diaphragm. The lens sits at the set aperture when off the body, so the aperture ring works directly on an adapter.
Adapting it
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.
Leica R lenses in the catalog
| Lens | Focal length | Aperture | Years | Used value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8 | 90mm | f/2.8 | 1964-1996 | $300 to $800 |
| Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 | 50mm | f/2 | 1964-2009 | $350 to $900 |
Adapting Leica R to a modern body
Frequently asked
Can Leica R lenses be adapted to mirrorless cameras?
Yes. Leica R has a 47mm register, longer than any mirrorless mount, so a plain mechanical adapter reaches infinity on Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount. 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.
What is the flange distance of the Leica R mount?
The Leica R flange distance is 47mm. It is a bayonet introduced in 1964 on the Leicaflex. Discontinued in 2009 with the Leica R9. Leica sells an official R-Adapter L for L-mount bodies.
How much do Leica R lenses cost used?
The 2 Leica R lenses in the LensVault catalog range from $300 to $900 used. The least expensive is the Leica Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8 at a typical $480. Values are estimates from recent sold listings and dealer pricing, not appraisals.