Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/03/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In message <9603061056.AC19836@a3>, Willem-Jan Markerink <w.j.markerink@a1.NL> writes >Come to think about it....M42 is the only other universal adaptor >for Leica besides Tamron, right? As I understand it, M42 lenses cannot be put on Leica R bodies with any sort of adapter because due to the large lens-flange-to-film-plane distance of the R body compared to M42 body, infinity focus is lost (although they can be put on Leica M bodies...). So as far as I have been able to ascertain, with a little research, the only lenses I can use on a Leica R body are (and please add to this if I've missed something!); (All of this is for Leica R4 onwards, the R3 & before is not something I understand well) # Leica R, # Angenieux with fixed Leica R mount, # Possibly Schnieder-Kreuznach with fixed Leica R mount (not sure) # T/T2 with separate Leica R mount, # Tamron adaptall with separate Leica R mount, # Various odd others such as Leica thread mount lens (heads only) on adapters + bellows *, # Leica Visoflex lenses on adapters *, # Other reflex-housing-type (Kilfitt etc) lenses on custom adapters *, # Any correct focal length and coverage but physically short lens like an enlarger lens, on an adapter + bellows *, # Certain other lenses specially converted, but not generally lenses designed to work on shallower bodies as infinity focus will not be obtainable, but then longer focal lengths can be "cut down" without sawing through lens elements, preset lenses relatively easy, also Aero Ektars and Aviars apparently if you don't mind radioactive coatings (!), # Certain other lenses if put on specially made converters, such as H- mount lenses (like T-mount but with 47mm thread, lots made by Hanimex and other independents in the early 60's), (not much incentive though), # The longer (say 180, 300mm) lenses on dual mount systems made for mounting on both Praktica and Pentacon 6, identified by conical adapter about 2" long held on with locking arrangement); lens can be put on specially made mount. * When used with adapters, may generally also need to include focusing mounts for head-only & viso etc lenses. Generally the adaptions and conversions revert to manual stop-down. Information largely from Ian Broomhead of SRB film services, Luton, UK. I have a Zeiss Jena 20mm Flektogon on an uncoupled Leica R mount that isn't a T-mount lens in the normal sense as the mount is fixed to the lens with 6 screws which go from the back of the mount, through into the rear of the lens, and have glue on their heads (!), at a slightly wrong rotational angle so the focusing reference point isn't quite at the top when the lens is on the camera. It works beautifully though as long as I don't mind turning the aperture ring to stop it down. Exactly which category this one comes into I'm not sure but it could be a customised T2; or something else. I suspect something else. Nobody has yet explained the origin of this odd-but-nice object. If anyone else has or has seen any other oddities I'd be fascinated to hear about them. No responsibility accepted for errors! joe b.