How to take a Leica LTM->M adapter off an L Lens?

[jimbobuk]

Hi guys,

I got my R-D1 this morning complete with a 15mm VL lens with an adapter attached.. I'm assuming its an adapter as it doesn't look like a threaded screw mount.

I want to use a 35mm L lens with the camera so i need to get the adapter off the 15mm and onto the 35mm.. I've never done this before and its difficult to grip it and i dont want to strain it unneccessarily. Is there a magic technique to getting this adapter off?

Cheers

Jim

 

[RML]

Yes, there is. 🙂

Instead of unlocking and taking off the lens+adapter, keep the adapter in the mount and twist a little further. This way you use the mount as a lever to get the adapter off the lens.

 

[sleepyhead]

Hi, if you mount the lens on an M-camera, or a M rear cap then getting it off is easy by twisting the lens and camera/cap.

If you don't have either of these, then I would try to get a grip on the adapter with a handkercheif or kitchen towel (those metal bits can be sharp) with one hand, and lens with the other, and twist.

Good luck,
Yaron

 

[jimbobuk]

It is in a rear cap, i did think of using that to twist it.

Are you sure that there is no such thing as a VL 15mm M fit lens.. I don't want to try taking it apart if its not actually got an adapter on it, I'm sure it is an M lens as i was in touch with the seller about that. I am just being a bit paranoid is all 🙂

I'd prefer to use the lens cap to open it rather than the camera.

 

[pvdhaar]

I never use the camera to get the leverage to turn an adapter loose from the lens. I'm afraid that the lens lock mechanism may come under too much strain.

Instead I put an M mount rear cap on the adapter and twist it using that.

 

[jimbobuk]

Yes, there is. 🙂

Instead of unlocking and taking off the lens+adapter, keep the adapter in the mount and twist a little further. This way you use the mount as a lever to get the adapter off the lens.

I'm a bit nervous about using the camera to get it off.. If I try this approach which way do i keep applying pressure when twisting..

i) twisting to fit the lens on the camera keep twisting once its attached
ii) twisting to take the lens off the camera, keep twisting once its off to try and take off tha adapter.

I guess it could stuck onto the adapter having not been removed in a long time..

 

[jimbobuk]

It comes with a rear cap.. it fits well.. I've tried using this but it seems to be scraping away the plastic inside if you push to hard..

again why direction should i be twisting.. carrying on having tightened the cap onto it, or keeping the cap on after twisting it off and continuing to twist in that direction??

I'm all for not using the camera body too.. it'd scare me too much.. plus i'm not even sure if it is an adapter, though i'm sure you can't get the VL 15mm lens in M fit..

Cheers

 

[pvdhaar]

LTM lenses come loose counter clockwise.

 

[jaapv]

Turn counterclockwise. The camera-trick should work. If the adapter is at all typical it should have some notches in it that you could fit pliers into if needed. There is an unscrewing tool as well, but I've never heard of anybody actually using it. If desperate call or mail Stephen Gandy at Cameraquest. He sells the things so he should be able to help you. He is a nice and helpful guy in my experience.

 

[jimbobuk]

using some paper i've managed to get it off.. phew..

Now i guess screwing it back onto the other lens is where i need to be sure its ok.. it obviously needs to be tight.. i'm assuming the red spot needs to be aligned or similar? Any tips on fitting it, both adapter to lens, and finally lens+adapter into the camera (again i've never done this before, i assume its similar in part to slrs, line up spot to spot and push and twist)

Cheers

 

[RML]

Just screw it on, Jimbo. Don't fret so much. 🙂

If you want confirmation then just take a digi pic of the 35 screwed on the M and post it here. Anyway, I think it'l be fine. Just screw the adapter hand-tight, not pliers-tight.

 

[jaapv]

Just screw it on, handtight. (That should be about 5 Nm, if you can measure the torque 😉 ).These pics should give you the general idea

 

[jimbobuk]

cheers guys.. will try in a little while.. i'll get pics online when i can 🙂

The fretting is mandatory with it all being so far over my camera budget of 2 weeks ago 🙂

 

[Talisker]

Glad you've got it off. I think you're supposed to unscrew it leaving the mount in the camera and then remove the mount fom the camera using the pimples (sorry - can't think of a better word!) on the back of the rear cap to engage the notches in the mount. Of course, this only works if the rear cap is the one that came with the adapter, not a generic M-mount back cap...

 

[jimbobuk]

Hi guys.. I need to buy a 2nd adapter for my 2nd lens to fit onto my R-D1 camera.. it seemed vaguely related to this seeing as its about the same adapters and for the R-D1.

Robert White sells these

http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/voigtlander.htm#adapt

Lens Adaptors
Screw to M Bayonet Adaptor 28/90mm
Screw to M Bayonet Adaptor 35/135mm
Screw to M Bayonet Adaptor 50/75mm

I have my 15mm and 35mm VL lenses, the adapter currently working on the 35mm lens is the one i was trying to remove in this thread off the 15mm. I need one to put on the 35mm and i'll put this current adapter back on the 15mm one.

I'm a little confused about these different types available. Are these only for leica film cameras that detect what focal length of lens is attached and adjusts the viewfinder lines accordingly.. as you select this on the R-D1 i'm assuming its irrelevant?

Out of interest though, why the two numbers, ie. 28/90mm ??? Which one do i need to get for my R-D1 and 35mm lens, the 35/135mm??

Cheers

 

[Jason Sprenger]

The two numbers correspond to frameline pairs on Leica cameras.

It doesn't matter for the R-D1 or CV Bessa cameras since framelines are selected by the lever on top of the camera instead of by the lens itself.

If you were going to get a Leica camera and have lenses in the range from 28 to 135 , it would be good to have the lens match the adapter.

And yes, for 35mm, a 35/135 adapter is advisable.

 

[jimbobuk]

Thanks for that.. I may get a leica camera one day.. From your description then I take it that robert white is only selling those 3 Voigtlander adapters which on a leica camera would only be suitable for

28mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses.

ie. my 15mm wouldn't get recognised, nor would any longer lenses like your 135mm example with ANY of those 3 adapters?

I guess i'm asking could you elaborate on what a frameline pair is, having never seen it before 🙂

Does it mean that the 35/135mm adapter is suitable for 35mm lenses and by some other way (a viewfinder magnifier perhaps?) 135mm lenses as well?

Cheers, sorry for being stupid.

 

[jimbobuk]

Thanks for the extra info... one last step and i wont be AS stupid anymore.. tho i do feel it about now.

Ok so cameras come with these numbers paired.. but does it mean that the 35/135mm adapter is suitable for BOTH 35mm and 135mm lenses, OR just the 35mm lenses (if this then what does the 135mm represent?) ?

That image you linked is interesting.. it also adds a third number which looks like a scalar between 0 and 1. actually looking closer you can see that it DOES look like its the magnification factor. Top left it also has one picture which is just 35mm but with a 0.58 , next to it are two more images at 35mm but this time 35/135mm with 0.72 and 0.85 factors.. aside from the zoom of the image and the change in scale of the framelines from this scale I can't see anything else different.

From this understanding I'm guessing that the 2nd number can be pretty much ignored, only the 1st number actually matches the lens that it corresponds to. Is this right ? 🙂 Sorry 🙂