Adapters to use Nikon F lenses on M-body?

[Pirate]

Did I see this right? I thought I saw an adapter that lets you use Nikon F-mount lenses on a Leica M-mount body.

Correct? We can do this?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Yes- but the lens will not be RF coupled. Cameraquest has one that has its own coupled distance ring, use it like an uncoupled rangefinder.

Others do not have this feature and are scale focus only.

 

[Pirate]

Not familiar with the "coupled" term. What is it?

 

[1ScrewLoose]

In this case, what it means is:

Using the ring on the adaptor to "focus," you look through your RF and "focus" normally. But you won't have actually focused the lens. So when your subject is in focus, you look at the ring on the adaptor. If it says 15 feet, then you turn the ordinary focusing ring on the lens to 15 feet and you are good to go.

In the olden times, when a lot of cameras had "uncoupled" rangefinders, one did this on-camera by twiddling a focus knob or something to get the distance from the rangefinder, then setting the distance on the lens scale. Or, if one didn't have a rangefinder at all, one could buy an auxiliary rangefinder that sat in the shoe of the camera. Same principle. The adaptor is just using the RF built into the camera to do the same thing.

Fast, no. More accurate than eyeballing it (='scale focus'), provided your subject is sitting still? Yes.

 

[Pirate]

Got it. And provided your printed scale on the lens matches the actual distance the glass sees... Ok

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I bought a simple Nikon F to M adapter, mostly to use with wide-angle lenses.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91783

It is fine for distance shots, or stopped down. For close-up and wide-open, some care is required to get the distance right. The distance scale and actual focus agree on my $85 adapter. Having an adapter that could use the camera's RF to find distance would be handy for close-in work.

 

[Pirate]

I can't find the CameraQuest adapter on their site any more. Can anyone help me? It's not listed in their "Lens Adapter" link now.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I am not finding them either- I would suggest sending an EMail inquiring about them. Some of these adapters get a few runs made, and that is it. Several of the adapters are no longer offered.

Here is the one I bought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-lens-Leic...35514?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item5186a3d7ba

 

[rxmd]

I think the RF coupled SLR lens adapters that Cameraquest used to sell haven't been made in years.

 

[Pirate]

Darn. Thanks guys.