LazyHammock
Well-known
I bought a beautiful Contax IIa a couple of years ago (it is out for service at the moment). With the Contax came a Nikkor 85/2 and 35/3.5, both in mint condition. I have a few questions:
I would like a portrait lens for my M3, if I bought an Amedeo adapter (Nikon to Leica), would it focus accurately wide open? I would assume so but I would like to hear your experiences.
I know the Nikon lenses have a slightly different helicoid than the Contax lenses, my guess is that wide open, the Nikkor 85mm will not focus accurately on my Contax IIa (the lens does not have the "C" marking) - is this correct?
Finally, If I bought the Amedeo adapter would I be able to also use my Nikkor 35/3.5 or would the rear element require the non-rangefinder coupled WA adapter?
I realize a couple of these questions could be easily addressed by the manufacturer but I would like users' take.
Thanks,
Nick
I would like a portrait lens for my M3, if I bought an Amedeo adapter (Nikon to Leica), would it focus accurately wide open? I would assume so but I would like to hear your experiences.
I know the Nikon lenses have a slightly different helicoid than the Contax lenses, my guess is that wide open, the Nikkor 85mm will not focus accurately on my Contax IIa (the lens does not have the "C" marking) - is this correct?
Finally, If I bought the Amedeo adapter would I be able to also use my Nikkor 35/3.5 or would the rear element require the non-rangefinder coupled WA adapter?
I realize a couple of these questions could be easily addressed by the manufacturer but I would like users' take.
Thanks,
Nick
Chris Bail
Regular Guy
I think this would be iffy. I recently tried this with my Helios 103 and Jupiter 8 in contax mount and neither focused perfectly at close distances using the Nikon Amedeo adapter on my M8...therefore I never bothered trying it on the M3. I can attest to the quality of the Nikon adapter for nikon lenses though. Absolutely perfect.
I believe the question about the 35/3.5 has been answered in another thread....though I don't recall what the answer was. There was a list of wide angle Nikkors that can and can not be mounted on an M body with the Amedeo adapter.
I believe the question about the 35/3.5 has been answered in another thread....though I don't recall what the answer was. There was a list of wide angle Nikkors that can and can not be mounted on an M body with the Amedeo adapter.
LazyHammock
Well-known
Both lenses in question are Nikons so it sounds from your experience they would perform well wide open with the Nikon to M Amedeo adapter?
I searched RFF for this but didn't find anything on the 35/3.5
Thanks for the feedback Chris
Nick
Both those lenses should work ok on a Nikon to Leica Amedeo adapter. I've used an S-mount Nikkor 85/2 mounted on a M-mount Zeiss Ikon via an Amedeo adapter with excellent results. I've also used a 35/2.5 successfully. The 35/3.5 has a smaller diameter rear element than the 35/2.5 so should work just fine. It's the Nikkor 35/1.8 with its large rear element that's the problem.
The Nikkor 85/2 won't focus properly on your Contax. Infinity will be ok, but you'll get more and more of a focus error the closer you focus. At MFD you'll need to stop down to about f/5.6 to get the focus point within the DOF.
FYI the standard Amedeo adapter brings up the 50mm framelines.
See this thread for lens/Amedeo adapter compatibility.
The Nikkor 85/2 won't focus properly on your Contax. Infinity will be ok, but you'll get more and more of a focus error the closer you focus. At MFD you'll need to stop down to about f/5.6 to get the focus point within the DOF.
FYI the standard Amedeo adapter brings up the 50mm framelines.
See this thread for lens/Amedeo adapter compatibility.
LazyHammock
Well-known
Excellent! Just what I needed to hear, and that is just the thread I was hoping to find. Just to double check, shooting the 85/2 wide open on your ZI focuses correctly?
Thanks again,
Nick
Yes my adapter/lens combo focused correctly wide open. Focus should be fine as long as the thickness of the adapter is correct.
Most users have no problems with their Amedeo adapter, but I have heard of a couple of cases where users have had focus problems. Not sure if he sent out a new adapter or remachined the old one, but in each case Amedeo rectified the problem.
wjlapier
Well-known
If your Nikkors are for Contax they won't focus properly on the M3 with a Nikon>Leica M adapter. You'd need a Contax>Leica M adapter which I believe Amedeo made at one time--might still make them. I think the wides are ok, but anything beyond 50 and the focus is off.
I think...
I think...
wjlapier
Well-known
LazyHammock
Well-known
No, the Nikkors are for Nikon rangefinders not Contax. The Contax has a 50/1.5 Sonnar.
wjlapier
Well-known
Then you are good to go. I have an adapter from Amedeo made for me. No chrome. Only brass with the engraved markings. The lens is a Nikkor 50/1.4 which is the only lens I use on it. I have the 85/2 but in LTM, and CV's 21/28/35 for my wides, all LTM.
Your 85 will be great on the M3. Enjoy!
marcr1230
Well-known
Nikon for Contax are stamped with a "C" on the barrel
The 85 will not focus properly on leica w a nikon to M adapter
If the nikon was made for Contax
The 35 should work fine as the DOF covers the focus mismatch
Not sure mechanically if the 35 presents any problems though
If used amedeo's Contax to leica spa dyers and mine works as expected
The 85 will not focus properly on leica w a nikon to M adapter
If the nikon was made for Contax
The 35 should work fine as the DOF covers the focus mismatch
Not sure mechanically if the 35 presents any problems though
If used amedeo's Contax to leica spa dyers and mine works as expected
Vics
Veteran
I bought the Contax-to-Lerica M adapter in order to shoot my Sonnar 1.5/50 on my M3. I also shoot my W-Nikkor 2.5/35 and it works fine. I've read that the 1.8 version won't work for some reason. I don't know about the 3.5 or about the longer lenses.
Chris Bail
Regular Guy
My fault. I misread the OP. I thought the question was regarding a Contax lens via the NIkon Amedeo adapter.
I'm glad you got an answer about your lenses after all.