Kiev 4, and 15mm heliar.... possible?

[bellyface]

Hi folks, just wondering if it is possible to mount (via an adapter of course) a heliar 15mm LTM lens on a contax copy kiev body...

has anyone ever tried that or is the distance to film length too far for registration?

What, if any are the widest lenses possible for the contax mount?

thanks!

 

[RML]

IIRC there aren't any LTM to Contax mount adapters but I could be wrong.

For a full line-up of Contax lenses take a look at (it's getting boring 🙂 ) http://www.cameraquest.com .

 

[physiognomy]

I think you could... There was a CV 15/4.5 Heliar made for the Nikon SLR's that was adaptable to Nikon rangefinder mount... The differences between the Nikon & Contax mount don't cause any problems in lenses this wide...

Check the cameraquest site...

Peter

-edit- oops... sorry, now I see you mention adapting a ltm lens...

 

[hitmanh]

The widest lens I've seen is the VC nikon s/contax mount Skopar 21mm F4, but a quick look at the camera quest shows 12mm and 15mm lenses.

Drool, I wish I had some spare cash right now...

 

[VinceC]

You can't mount an LTM lens onto a Contax/Kiev/Nikon ... the Contax lens mount sits a bit further from the film plane, so the lens wouldn't be able to focus to infinity and wouldn't match up with the rangefinder or distance markings.

The 15/4.5 also exists in Nikon F mount. Cameraquest was selling CV adapters to put F-mount SLR lenses onto Nikon/Contax/Kiev rangefinders, but these are out of stock last time I looked at the website.

 

[bellyface]

F mount on a contax? mhh.... obviously some major focusing issues I assume.

 

[rxmd]

F mount on a contax? mhh.... obviously some major focusing issues I assume.

Why? With a 15mm wideangle you don't have to focus at all.

 

[bellyface]

ah yes, of course, but mounting standard F mount lenses on a contax/kiev... I can see some possibilities...

 

[VinceC]

Is the 15/4.5 coupled to the rangefinder in LTM?
I know lots of folks are fond of the uncoupled 25/4 Skopar in LTM, which is also uncoupled. With the 15mm lens, depth of field is enormous.

 

[RML]

Is the 15/4.5 coupled to the rangefinder in LTM?
I know lots of folks are fond of the uncoupled 25/4 Skopar in LTM, which is also uncoupled. With the 15mm lens, depth of field is enormous.

The CV 12, 15 and 25 are all 3 NOT rf coupled IIRC.

 

[rolleistef]

wasn't there any Nikon RF lens on Cameraquest? No that's right, only an adapter. Here's the link.
http://www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm

 

[Xmas]

Cameraquest and Robert White only have the LTM adopters left... wonder how many contax adopters Mr K made?

Noel

 

[rolleistef]

anyway is it really worth mounting a 400$ lens of a 60$ body? You'd rather buy a more serious camera, for ex. a bessa R2 or a bessa L for that... it will much more interesting, both techically and financially!

 

[JonP]

This should stir things up a bit.

Steph,

The camera is only a light-tight (hopefully) box.

 

[Xmas]

Now now - as well as a Kiev the adopter will fit on a Contax or Nikon.

They may be collectors pieces already...

Noel

 

[RML]

anyway is it really worth mounting a 400$ lens of a 60$ body? You'd rather buy a more serious camera, for ex. a bessa R2 or a bessa L for that... it will much more interesting, both techically and financially!

Not really. A camera is little more than a light tight box. All the rimram that comes with it is nice but hardly necessary. I rather buy a $400 lens to stick on my $60 Bessa L than that I buy a $60 lens to stick on my $400 Bessa R2. Though in the case of the J8 I made an exception to the rule. 🙂