Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/06/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Today I happened across W. J. Markerink's interesting Web page in which he lists the registration for a number of camera and lens systems, and discusses when adaptation is and isn't possible (it's at http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mounts.htm). I had been familiar with the numbers for Leica M (27.95 mm) and R (47.0 mm) cameras, which make it clear why you can adapt R lenses to M cameras but not vice-versa without optical elements in the adapter. But what I thought was interesting was that the Pentacon mount for 6x6 medium format cameras has a registration of 74.1 mm. This means it would be possible to mount the Zeiss Jena medium format lenses on a 35mm Leica, providing one made up a suitable adapter. Medium format lenses don't typically have the same resolving power as 35mm lenses, but of course they tend to be better in the center than they are at the edges and you'd only be using the center. I don't know quite why I'm interested in trying this -- I guess it's because I'm a computer scientist and I have an affection for kludges. Has anyone in the group attempted something like this? -Patrick Sobalvarro