Lens adapters have done a wonderful job of allowing people to take their favourite optics to their current system. Those who prefer Leica M lenses, however, can use them only on Leica’s own cameras. With little option to adapt them to the mirrorless system, one may give up on the lenses altogether. But Megadap, a Hong Kong-based adapter specialist, has just announced a new solution: the world’s first autofocus adapter that lets Leica M be used on Canon RF cameras. Here’s a look.
First reported by Leica Rumors, the adapter is called M2RF, and Megadap calls “true autofocus on any Leica M lens.”
This claim is pretty huge, given that Leica M lenses are entirely manual by design, and they do not have any electronic communication whatsoever. However, this has been done with companies like Techart in the past to our pleasant surprise. To achieve AF with Canon, the company has created a motor-driven helicoid inside the adapter itself. In other words, the adapter physically moves the lens to achieve the focus automatically, rather than using any electronics in the glass.
The M2RF not only delivers autofocus, but it can also use Canon’s full Dual Pixel AF system. The company states that features such as Eye Detection, Subject Tracking, Face Priority, and continuous AF (AF-C) can work well with Leica lenses. It also means that a photographer can mount a classic Leica Summicron on a Canon R5 and track a moving subject, just like they would with a native RF lens. This is what makes the adapter such an innovative technology of its time.
Some other challenges it can address are fixed with the addition of electronic contacts — which add information for EXIF data and an aperture selector. There is also a quick toggle between MF and AF modes, as well as a dedicated macro/infinity focus switch. There is also a mount for stability for vintage glass, and it is compatible with adapter stacking. This means users can attach EF, F-mount, or other systems on top of the M2RF and still retain full AF functionality.
The price is not yet confirmed, and this means users who want Summiluxes, Summicrons, Voigtländer Noktons lenses can now use the adapter with Canon’s leading cameras to build a nice cosystem. This will certainly be helpful to portrait photographers, who want that extra bokeh that Leica M lenses are known for. As for the launch date, the M2RF will ship in May 2026.