Extension tube

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I have an extension tube that is marked 30mm.
What do I use it for?
It is LTM on both ends. Can I use an adapter to adapt it to my M3?
Thanks for any help you can lend this noobie.

 

[JRminox]

You need one or two adapters, one for the body and one for the lens unless you use a screw mount lens. 30 mm is a pretty long extension, watch your exposure and shallow depth of field. Extension tubes are quite cheap and you may find that it is more economical to buy a set for bayonet mount is cheaper than getting the LTM to M adapters unless you have screw mount lenses laying around.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I have a few screw mount lenses and adapters too.
So it appears to me that focus would be by 'guesstimation' since the lens isn't going to be linked to the rangefinder, is this correct?
Maybe I'll just have to run a roll of film thru and see what I get.

 

[ferider]

For a given focal setting, you can calculate the best object distance. Leitz also made several devices in which you could first focus the lens on a separate screen, and then shift the device to replace screen with camera.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I'd say you'd use it on an old Zenit SLR (the early ones with 39mm threads) and then you'll have no focussing problems but will still have to do some sums or bracket to get the exposure right. (Or find a set of tables for it, they do exist.)

FWIW, range-finders are not really meant for close-ups or macro work.

Regards, David

 

[Dwig]

For a given focal setting, you can calculate the best object distance. Leitz also made several devices in which you could first focus the lens on a separate screen, and then shift the device to replace screen with camera.

The tubes, there was a whole set of different lengths, can be used for macro work with either a Visoflex or Focoslide.

I have a complete (??) set of ELNY tubes that I use with an Olympus 38mm f/3.5 lens on my Pany G-1 m43 body. The lens is in the standard microscope objective mount and I have a custom adapter to allow it to mount on LTM. It's then simple to add a LTM>m43 adapter to mount it one the G-1. The tubes (15mm, 30mm, 45mm, & 60mm) came to me along with a IIIg version of the Focoslide.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Thanks for the replies guys. I don't think I'll be doing any experimentation with the tube for now.
I'll have a hard enough time just dealing with correct exposure for now.