About Leica Thread-mount glass on an M3

[SolaresLarrave]

I'm awaiting for delivery of a nice Canon 50mm f1.2 (as some of you may recall), which, of course, requires a Leica adapter ring to be used on my M3 body.

I'm sure there's a YouTube video of this (but didn't bother to look up), but how does one install the adapter? Does it go on the lens? On the camera mount?

The last time I had one of these lenses it was a 1936 Elmar 90mm f4. I turned the adapter ring on the lens and cut my fingertips in the process, because the edges of the ring were SHARP ( 😱 ) as hell and it hurt a lot (which made focusing kinda painful for a few days). Later, someone mentioned something about placing the adapter ring on the camera body, and screwing the lens on it later.

What do you guys do? 😕 I don't want to cut my fingertips again...

Thanks in advance!

 

[david.elliott]

I bought my adapters from Stephen.

I just put the adapter on the lens, twisting it so it is secure with the cap that comes with the adapter. If I need to remove it, I use the cap for that too. My fingertips never touch the sharp bits at all.

 

[maddoc]

I usually screw the adapter ring onto the lens and mount that set-up onto the camera. Removing is the same, adapter goes with lens. If you are happy to own one of the old style M-mount rear caps from Leica, they have 4 notches to remove the adapter ring from your camera without cutting your fingers. 🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Thanks, folks! That first adapter was from Cameraquest, and came in an envelope. No cap at all. The one I just bought came from Fotodiox (adapter makers; they're based in IL), and came in a nice box and well packaged... but no cap. I guess I'll follow the cap procedure when the lens comes home... hopefully on Friday.

Your wisdom is quite highly regarded and appreciated! 🙂

 

[david.elliott]

Enjoy the lens!

The adapters I purchased came in little tiny boxes containing the adapter, the black cap, and maybe a booklet (cant quite remember for sure).

 

[Nikon Bob]

The adapters that I bought came with a little key/spanner gadget. I use the key to install the adapter on the body and screw the lens in. To remove the adapter I just unscrew the lens and use the key to turn and unlock the adapter from the body. No cut fingers yet.

Bob

 

[Roger Hicks]

Adapter on lens first -- with a handkerchief to stop sawing your fingers up!

Cheers,

R.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi, The old rear lens caps were black on the outside and light grey inside. The light grey bit of plastic usually failed; meaning the bayonet could turn round and round and never lock. So check first. I keep an old dud one for the adapter and use the cheapo (Chinese?) generic ones for rear lens protection.

Regards, David

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I took the adapter out of the box and plastic bag in which it came... and assessed the edges. They're sharp, but not enough to cut through skin. Since I don't have any type of tool, I'll try the handkerchief approach, and then will use a Leica M lens cap to tighten the adapter on the lens before it goes to my M3 body.

The suspense is killing me... But I have enough to keep me busy for now. Thanks for the additional replies! 🙂

 

[payasam]

Francisco, I had an M3 with five screw mount lenses and only three M adapter rings. After I cut my hand once, I was careful to use a couple of layers of fabric as protection. Besides, a bare hand cannot remove an adapter ring which is on a lens too tightly.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Handkerchief first. Always first...

I tried to remove a new voigtlander adapter from a screwmount lens with my bare hands. I almost turned the grasping area of my thumb and index finger into an M mount hand. All I needed afterwards was an L seal on top of the band aids to have an offical Leitz hand...