Contax Rangefinder Mount to F-mount adapter

[BokehBurgher]

Hello, I have one of the Sonnar Opton 50mm f/1.5 lenses that fits on a contax IIIa body. I am wondering if there are any recommended adapters that would allow me to mount this lens onto a Nikon D7000. I know its going to be tricky because this particular lens lacks an internal focus mechanism. Follow on question would be, what get's "lost in translation"? In other words, are there things like DOF, Bokeh value, focusing issues, that come into play? Thanks!

 

[S.H.]

F mount lens register is 46.5mm, Contax RF is 34.85mm. It means that if you mount the Zeiss lens on the Nikon body, you won't have any infinity focus (same thing as a 12mm macro tube on a 50mm). Instead you could do short range or macro work, but with such a lens, what's the point ?

To mount it, you could use a Contax RF => Leica M adapter, and a Leica M => Nikon F. But I repeat, it's of almost no use in my opinion.

Nikon SLR bodies are not the best choice to mount exotic lenses, as they have an important register. But even a Miranda (41.5mm) would not allow mounting RF lenses without losing infinity.

See here for a register list : http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~westin/misc/mounts-by-register.html

 

[Jack Conrad]

It looks like micro 4/3 and Sony Nex cameras might be able to take the Contax RF mount.

 

[BokehBurgher]

thanks for the info. I'll stick with shooting from the IIIa for now and put aside my need for instant gratification.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

As stated, you can get an adapter to use this lens on cameras with short back-focus. The Leica M series will use the Zeiss Opton via Amedeo adapter, U43 cameras and Sony NEX will take them. The adapters are not cheap as they have their own helical for the focus.

The only RF lenses that work on a Nikon F are tele-photo lenses with removable heads.