Funleader is now selling the final batch of the Contax G45 f/2 lens for Leica M. This will be their final restock, as these are the last 200 original Contax optical lenses available. Pre-orders are now open at a discounted price of $999 instead of the original $1199 – scroll down this post for a coupon code:
Orders will be sent out next week. Some silver G45 lenses are still available, however, the last batch of G45 lenses will be only in black. Keep in mind that for $999, you will get the complete lens. The conversion kit is also available (without the optics) you basically have to source your own original lens and convert it (see the instructions further down in this post).
Here are a few pictures taken at a recent car show with the converted Contax G 45mm f/2 lens for Leica M-mount mounted on a Leica M9 camera (JPG straight out of the camera, lens detection off) – more sample photos are available after the break:
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Completely new housing
- Available in black and silver
- Smooth focusing and aperture rings
- Small and light design
- Limited availability
- Vintage Zeiss optics appeal
- Rangefinder-coupled
- Clicked aperture
- The lens triggers the 50mm frame lines
- The 50mm frame lines are working fine for a 45mm lens
- A good fit for the Leica CL film camera
- Nice metal front lens cap
- The lens can focus at 65cm (70cm according to the specs)
- Non-destructive conversion – the image quality was not impacted
- No barrel distortion
- No flare was noticed while I used the lens
- Excellent sharpness, especially in the middle of the frame, even wide open
- Colors and contrast are excellent
- Unique bokeh that could also be a con
- The original lens was made in Japan (back in the days when Japan still produced lenses)
- Viewfinder obstruction is almost non-existing:
Cons
- No lens hood (you can purchase from third-party vendors)
- No 6-but coding (but it can be added – there are markings on the mount)
- No focusing tab
Discount Code
You can use code LEICARUMORS for an additional 5% off:
Technical specifications
- Mount: M
- Focal Length: 45mm
- Frame: Full-frame
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.7 m (2.30 ft)
- Maximum Aperture: F2.0
- Minimum Aperture: F16
- Filter Diameter: 46mm
- Body Material: Brass, chrome-plated
- Weight: 332 g (11.7 oz.)
- Dimensions: 56 × 46 mm (2.20 x 1.81 in.)
- Lens Cap: CNC Metal
- The full technical details of the original lens can be found here:
Additional information
- Non-Destructive Conversion: When we convert the original Contax G45 lens for Leica M mount, we will not damage the lenses. It feels as good as the original Contax lens after conversion.
- Contax’s Original Optical Lens Group: With the original Contax G45 optical lens group, this converted lens fully demonstrates ultra-high-resolution ratio and beautiful colors that T* planar 45mm/f2 should have.
- Exquisite Retro Design: the focus ring with wave pattern design, the aperture ring with double ear design, and the small and exquisite red and white numerical scale show the ingenious balance between retro and modern.
- Easy to DIY: If you have a Contax G45 lens, it is easy to assemble the original Contax optical lens group into our converted helicoid. You can recover Contax G45 if you do not want to play.
The lens comes with a black plastic lens cap, but you can replace it with a silver metal rear lens cap for M-mount from Etsy:
Sample Photo
Full-size sample photos taken with Leica M9 camera (JPG straight out of the camera, lens detection off):
The full-resolution photos can be found on Flickr:
Full-size sample photos taken with the Leica M10-R camera (JPG straight out of the camera, lens detection off):
The full-resolution photos can be found on Flickr:
More sample photos provided by Funleader:
DYI Kit
You can also purchase only the conversion kit (listed under “Helicoid Lens Not Included”). The instructions for the conversion can be found here. The Helicoid will allow you to convert your own Contax G45 f/2 lens to a Leica M-mount version (the original G45 lens is available on eBay). The Helicoid conversion is much cheaper than the already converted lens – if you already have the original G45 lens and are looking for a DIY project, this one is for you:
Lens Pictures
Pictures of the silver version:
Pictures of the black version:
Other Funleader Products
Funleader has several other products for Leica cameras:
