Nikon F on M2

[Kozhe]

Hi everybody,

so I´m still waiting for my M2 to arrive and I´m allready thinking about new lenses for it. Well kind of...

I have some Nikkor lenses (35 f2.8 and 50 f1.4) and also a 70-200 Vivitar which I love (the 50 is just sooo great) and I wonder how can I mange to put these on the M2.

I found some adapters but are quite expensive (150€). Any ideas on cheaper solutions? Also, is this gonna limit the M2 rangefinder somehow?

 

[Ken Ford]

The barkeep has a page on adapters if you haven't already seen it - lots of good information!

Check it out - http://cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm

 

[Atom]

Wouldn't it be hard to focus the Nikkors on the M body via an adapter? There will be no range finder coupling so a hyper focal method will have to be applied. Seems tough on a 50mm f1.4 at any aperture near wide open. Fun idea none the less.

 

[photorat]

SLR to M mount adapters exist but are only viable for use with wide to super wide angle lenses (due to scale focusing). I'd sell all that SLR gear and get yourself a nice classic pre-asph summicron. Once your M2 arrives, you're never going to pick it up again anyway. 😉

 

[ray*j*gun]

When I started with my M6 I got some inexpensive FSU ltm lenses and an adapter which is not an expensive way to go. The Jup 8 is a great lens on the M cameras.

Ray

 

[Kozhe]

Thank for the replies guys!

So not too much to do with my Nikkor´s... A lot to enjoy with the Elmar so far, isn´t it? 🙂

 

[payasam]

As photorat says, only wide SLR lenses make any sense on a RF camera. The only Canon SLR lens I used on my M3 -- via two adapters -- was a 24mm. I had no medium tele for the M3, so I tried to use the FD 100/2.8 I had: but it was too much of a hassle taking distance readings with one camera and transferring them to the other...

 

[Rob-F]

The 35mm f/2.8 might work OK, as scale focusing is acceptable with a slow 35mm lens. But I would not try this with a 50mm at f/1.4 or even at f/2, unless you want to put the camera on a tripod and measure the distance to your subject with a measuring tape! (They do that in Hollywood, though, so if you really want to . . .)

Having to use a zoom lens on an RF camera sounds to me like someone is really up for a challenge! Oh, I suppose you could determine which focal length settings exactly matches the M2 framelines at such-and-such a distance . . . and you could mark those settings on the lens . . . but I think you will take a lot more pictures with the M2 with a lens that is meant for the camera! I say, take the advice of the fellas above, and get the best lens you can afford, be it Leica, Leitz, Voigtlander, or Zeiss. Saaaay . . . what about getting a rangefinder Nikon lens, something in a 50/1.5, that might make you as happy as your SLR version does?

 

[peterm1]

Adapters can be problematic to find and some are pricey but there are some cheaper Russian options that I have stumbled on. I have no idea of the quality though. Try this website: http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/adapters.htm I could not see a Nikon to M adapter here but you could always try emailing them and if they do not have suitable ones you should then Google it.

The above firm has been around for a resonable period and my impression is that they are OK but have not dealt actually done so myself. You will also find adapters on eBay from time to time. I have seen and bid on a Nikon - Leica adapter but did not win it.

However, I own a quite nice Canon to Leica thread mount and M42 to Leica thread mount adapter - both bought on eBay. Both of these can in principle be used on an M camera with the further addition of a LTM to M adapter. However you should be aware that one of these adapters does not mount well on my M3 because of its large diameter which causes it to bind on the body of my M3. There is a possibility that the same arrangement might work fine on an M3 as its body is sleeker and the binding may not occur witht hat body - you would have to check. Of course theses arrangements do nto allow for any kind of rangfinder confirmation of the focus. This is not a problem if you are prepared to use scale focusing and smaller apertures on a wide angle lens, which I do all the time.

 

[Kozhe]

Thanks for the ideas. With no easy focus control I´ll let the Nikkors with the F2 and will get the screw to M adapter to give the russian lenses a try...