Canon 40/1.7 QL17 GIII converted to M

[splitimageview]

by MS-Optical...

89 grams.

12 aperture blades.

Miyazaki-san uses a generic barrel labeled 'MS-45', which I assume is for the Contax 45mm Planar, but he also uses it with other lens conversions.

Ergonomics are excellent for focus, with a tab. Aperture setting is a bit challenging as it's difficult to find the aperture ring as it's very narrow. Apertures are unmarked but red dots indicate 2, 4, 8, and 16.

Is RF coupled for all Ms, but will focus much closer for use on mirrorless.

Previous conversions had an M bayonet ring attached to the back of the lens, the new style has an integrated M bayonet as part of the barrel.

The exchange rate is very favorable for these conversions compared to a few years ago when they'd cost $300+ more.

 

[awilder]

Why bother???? The 40/1.7 Canon had just an OK lens, but as a camera it's was a great nice package considering features like QL, versatile focal length/lens speed, good close-up range, manual over-ride, etc. but you must stop down to at least f/4 before lens performance was reasonably decent across the field. The 40 Summicron was the best 40 ever made for a Leica. The 40/2.8 Sonnar RF was as good as the 'cron if you can live with f/2.8.

 

[Brian Legge]

Some people have attachments to particular optics - either visual characteristics or emotion connections. It's fantastic that there is someone out there providing the service.

 

[rfaspen]

splitimage, thanks very much for sharing the Canon lens conversion with us. I'm curious, is there a "click stop", or any stop, for the maximum aperture? That being 1.7.

I really liked my Canon QL17 GIII and its lens, but it was the Minolta Hi-matic E that blew me away. Another 40/1.7, but maybe a better performer? Still, I think the Canon 40 was so much better than quite a few SLR offerings of similar focal length. I quite understand why to convert it to M. Now, I'm very interested in converting my Minolta Hi-Matic E lens, and I know its a stellar performer. Be willing to put it up against any other 40, including the Summicron. That's how awesome that lens was. My Hi-Matic developed a film transport problem, so I haven't been able to enjoy that lens for quite a few years.

According to what I could find on the MS Optical website, even with the current exchange, the conversion for my Minolta lens will reach about $400USD. I think its worth it, but.....need to catch up with the recent spending first. Wonder how long it takes to do the conversion? I'm guessing I just send in the whole camera (Minolta Hi-Matic E)?

 

[splitimageview]

There are no click stops, although if the ring is turned all the way, there is a hard stop at f/1.7.

I sent just the optics, wrapped in football-sized bubble wrap, cost about $8 by first class international to Japan. But you could send the entire camera if you aren't up for doing some surgery on your Minolta. Took about a month there and back...

 

[mdarnton]

It's early in the morning and I'm still in the top inch of my coffee so forgive me for reading that this was a conversion of the QL17 body to a Leica M mount body (too sleepy to realize the shutter problem implied in that) and I was briefly really excited..... As for the other way around.... meh.

 

[B-9]

Looks good! Is there a thread for filters?

Ive been toying around with the idea of having the 28/3.5 lens in my Nikon Lite Touch converted... Pretty average lens, but you gotta have dreams right!?

 

[splitimageview]

39mm threads