Buying a Leica M camera, be it a film or digital model, has become a dream for many. There is immense pleasure in holding a little M rangefinder—it just oozes quality, and using it is one of photography's greatest pleasures. And let's be honest, that red dot gives you some serious street cred.
The problem many of us run into is that once we've scraped enough pennies together to buy a Leica, we then have the issue of buying glass for it. Leica lenses cost a small fortune, and owning two to three focal lengths is often just not financially viable.
Funleader has come up with an extremely good solution that can save you thousands. Collaborating with Mr. Ding, they have created conversion kits for Contax G lenses. Contax G lenses are made with high-quality Zeiss optics and were introduced in the mid-1990s for use on Contax G1 rangefinders. This camera was in direct competition with the Leica M6 at that time. Contax and Zeiss together developed one of the few rangefinder systems to achieve autofocus while maintaining traditional rangefinder handling.
They have an extremely good reputation for being incredibly sharp and are known for their beautiful rendering, high contrast, and strong micro-contrast. This adds up to a desirable "Zeiss pop." The T*-coated Contax G 35mm and 45mm f/2 Zeiss Planars, and 28mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon, are as good as any equivalent Leica lens. They've actually developed quite the cult following.
A Problem, Solved
The problem with Contax G lenses is they are autofocus, and there isn't a proper manual focus mechanism. Contax lenses sit out there on shelves collecting dust, with the incredible Zeiss optics trapped in old and somewhat unreliable bodies. It's a crying shame. At least, Funleader thought so, so they came up with a solution.
In 2019, they came up with a conversion kit for the Contax G 35mm, and then introduced a kit for the Contax G 45mm. Funleader has just announced a new kit for the Contax G 28mm.
The kits are basically a Leica-style housing for the Zeiss optics.
The New G28 Conversion Kit
First of all, as this is a conversion kit, you need to find an original lens with an optical lens group to convert. The kit is non-destructive, preserving the original optical lens structure. It's a rangefinder-coupled aluminum and brass housing with a beautifully dampened helicoid that allows manual focusing on a Leica. Visually, it's virtually indistinguishable from a Leica lens.
The self-conversion process requires a certain level of hands-on ability and patience, as well as the use of relevant disassembly tools. There are tutorial videos available, and it's not as daunting as you might first think!
Lens Features
The Funleader G28 Conversion Kit features a Biogon symmetrical optical design with 7 elements in 5 groups, providing a 75° wide angle field of view.
- Maximum aperture: f/2.8
- Minimum aperture: f/22
- Closest focusing distance: 0.5 m
- Filter thread: 46 mm
- Weight: 150 g
What sets the G28 apart is its remarkable barrel distortion control—a mere 0.3%, virtually negligible for a wide angle lens. Add to this the remarkably consistent edge-to-edge sharpness, with optimal performance around f/5.6.
In terms of rendering, the G28 delivers crisp, contrasty images with vivid color reproduction, particularly excelling with red tones and blues in low-light conditions—the signature Zeiss look. Even the bokeh from this wide angle lens proves surprisingly pleasing and smooth.
The G28's compact form factor and lightweight construction make this an instant favorite among street and travel photographers.
Native M Mount Zeiss Biogon T* 28mm f/2.8
Some Leica fans may be thinking: why convert a Zeiss 28mm Biogon G when I can buy a native M mount version? Good point, but it comes down to price, for one thing. The M version retails for $1,360. The Funleader conversion kit is currently on sale for $469. Yes, you need to get an old G lens, but they can be found for a couple hundred dollars online, or $400–$500 through used camera gear stores. So there's a saving there, particularly if you land a bargain on Marketplace. Of course, if you already own a Contax G lens, it's a no-brainer!
One other point to note: the new Zeiss Biogon T* 28mm f/2.8 has better coatings, giving you less flare and less character. Do you want more character, or a more optically perfect image?
Leica's 28mm f/2.8
The G28 housing looks very similar to Leica's Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. They are similar in so many ways, with the exception of the price. The Elmarit-M will set you back $3,100. As Leica prices continue to soar, it may be more by the time you read this.
Funleader informed me: "The team leaves open the possibility of developing conversions for other focal lengths in the future, continuing our mission to bring classic lenses to modern camera systems and keep vintage optics alive in the digital era."
This is wonderful news—breathing new life into such fine optics is a good thing. You can't beat high-quality vintage optics if you want some character in your photos.
1 Comment
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