Inexpensive Chinese Contax Mount to LTM- Maybe a little work required.

[Mark240590]

I have bought 3 from this seller:

FOTOFOX RF-L39 Contax Rangefinder CRF RF Lens to Leica Mount SM M39 L39 Adapter | eBay

1 x Lens mount adapter. （siut for Zeiss 50mm; 50RF; other lens maybe can't use,Suggest not to buy）. The 50mm lens linkage focusing is accurate,while the linkage of other focal length lenses is different or other limitations.

www.ebay.com

and 2 from this one:

Pardon Our Interruption...

I suspect the latter are "seconds", I had to polish down the RF cam on one of them "slightly". I did not mind- meant I could adjust the Cam and not the lens.
The other one- perfect for my Nikon 5cm F2 on the Leica.

That’s great. Although weird they say that it doesn’t activate the focus cam on the bodies. I guess maybe they just say this incase it doesn’t.

Another to add to the watch basket 🤣

 

[alexsherrill]

I have bought 3 from this seller:

FOTOFOX RF-L39 Contax Rangefinder CRF RF Lens to Leica Mount SM M39 L39 Adapter | eBay

1 x Lens mount adapter. （siut for Zeiss 50mm; 50RF; other lens maybe can't use,Suggest not to buy）. The 50mm lens linkage focusing is accurate,while the linkage of other focal length lenses is different or other limitations.

www.ebay.com

and 2 from this one:

Pardon Our Interruption...

I suspect the latter are "seconds", I had to polish down the RF cam on one of them "slightly". I did not mind- meant I could adjust the Cam and not the lens.
The other one- perfect for my Nikon 5cm F2 on the Leica.

Hey there @Sonnar Brian ! I am on the hunt for an adapter that will adapt my Nikkor H.C. 5cm f/2 Nikon S lens to my Leica M240. I noticed you might have the same lens and camera - what exactly do I need to make this happen? I am familiar with the Amadeo adapter, but would like to spend less if possible! Thank you in advance!

 

[alexsherrill]

I hate to say it, but I bought the more expensive Amedeo adapter for my S mount lenses on my M 240 because the cheaper ones just don't work and can't be adjusted.

But it really really is worth it. View attachment 4836519

Leica M 240 w-nikkor 28/3.5

Ah. This is good to know... also have an m240 and want to adapt the Nikkor H.C. 5cm f/2 lens to it. Sounds like I just need to fork out the cash for the amadeo.

 

[linge]

Hello Brian, I'm Kelvin from Thailand.
Thank you so much for this post, very useful with all detail that I was looking for.
I bought 'Laina'; also Chinese made Contax rf to ltm adapter in chrome, to use with my Leotax model f, Canon IVSb, and Leica M2.
Using with Nikkor-S•C 5cm f/1.4 and 5cm f/2, I got accurate focus from infinity to close focus, also agree with camera's rangefinder patch. It's great!

Using with external mount need 60 degree turn to correct the position. And some filing the part that catch with lens' locking tab.
For Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8, both adapter and collar ring of the lens need some filing to allow the fully catching inside the adapter and avoid interferring with camera's rf arm.
For Nikkor-W•C 3.5cm f/2.5, nothing to do with the lens, but the adapter need the work that I done for J12.
I also got everything accurate for both lenses.
I noticed that J12 need more rotation degree to reach pass 0.9m than Nik that stop at 3ft.

Nikon S2 is my new member and now I'm looking for Nikkor-P•C 8.5cm f/2.
May I ask for your suggestion which version should I get, Contax or Nikon?
I prefer to use the lens on both Nikon S2 and LTM/M camera with the adapter. I will use it mostly for portrait, close distance, full aperture.

If I go with 'C' version, it will fully compatible (correct rf&focus) with the adapter but need rear group shimming to make it work correcrly with S2, is this correct?

How about 8.5cm Nikon version? What should be done to make it work correctly with the adapter?

Thank you so much for kind advices in advance.
Kelvin

Hi Kelvin,

I've just received a copy of the Laina adapter, and was hoping for some guidance from Your successful modifications.

By 60 degree rotation, You meant taking the adapter apart, o fix the internal/external bayonet alignment, or just rotating the lens bayonet, or the adapter bayonet 60°?
The 3 set screws around the adapter don't seem to release anything to be taken apart, or maybe I'm being too cautious?

Also some information of what exactly needs filing would be great, I too am trying to use the adapter with a Jupiter-12

Did You get the rangefinder to match with this lens, or just the full rotation?

Joris

 

[Crysist]

@Sonnar Brian Do the choices change if you only need to mount external bayonet lenses? I have a 1.5 Sonnar, but I'm far more interested in using the 21mm and 35mm biogons. The Contax II isn't the most ergonomic thing, anyway, but the lenses are stunning.

Also, I heard varying things about whether the lenses that protrude into the mount will be adaptable to Leica (or others) at all because of limited space or hitting the focus arm. Anyone know what is and isn't compatible?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The original Chinese Adapter could be used for external mount lenses, but the design was cheapened and those available for the last few years Cannot be used with external mount lenses.

The Amedeo Adapters are the best.

 

[Crysist]

The original Chinese Adapter could be used for external mount lenses, but the design was cheapened and those available for the last few years Cannot be used with external mount lenses.

The Amedeo Adapters are the best.

I saw you mentioned it looks exactly the same but that the screws now don't do anything? Is there really no small identifying feature to distinguish them so I can maybe get the original one used? Or any modification that could be done to the current version?

 

[wlewisiii]

By the time you get done searching, buying used ones that maybe don't work, trying to make them work, etc... It's just a better use of your time and money to buy an Amedeo to begin with. That's what I did.

It. Just. Works.

That's more than worth it to me.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I saw you mentioned it looks exactly the same but that the screws now don't do anything? Is there really no small identifying feature to distinguish them so I can maybe get the original one used? Or any modification that could be done to the current version?

I cannot see any external difference, and only noted this after getting a newer one and attempting to reposition the outer flange as I did with the first two I bought. Screws out, mechanism frozen in place. Frustrating as they had a good design.

 

[Mark240590]

I’m shooting this adapter today with an uncoated f11 sonnar 1.5 - it worked wonderfully with my 51 Jupiter 3 so we shall see how h th is goes today.

 

[aw614]

So I got one of those cheaper adapters, and it seems to focus past infinity on the rangefinder patch. Comparing on digital, it is doing the same thing too. Going to need to see how it looks at infinity on my Canon L1. I'll have to mark where the adapter is at infinity on digital and on the RF and see how close they agree with each other.

I tried it on my Sonnar 1.5 and 2.0 and they mount without issue. Have two Jupiter 8M's. One jupiter 8m won't seem to mount on it, like it gets tight well before it catches to "click" into the internal mount. The other mounts without issues. Sucks, the one that doesn't mount is optically in better shape.

Been trying to see if I can adjust the adapter, but I can't seem to adjust it to have an infinity hard stop.

On the external mount, I also bought a good condition black Jupiter 12 on ebay and it mounted as a test, but the RF cam doesn't move. Kind of moot though, I have enough 35mm lenses in LTM. Jupiter 12 + contax to LTM adapter + Sony E adapter + APC body, the smaller sensor'ed body won't clear the rear glass element

 

[Sonnar Brian]

If the actual focus at the hard infinity stop is accurate and the problem is the adapter focuses past infinity using the RF: you can polish the RF Cam of the adapter down slightly. You need to trial and error- 0.02mm makes a difference.

 

[aw614]

If the actual focus at the hard infinity stop is accurate and the problem is the adapter focuses past infinity using the RF: you can polish the RF Cam of the adapter down slightly. You need to trial and error- 0.02mm makes a difference.

I think at the infinity hard stop, it is focusing past infinity. I did mess with the setscrews, which changed where the lens sits, not sure if that will impact anything...Crappy cell phone picture and rough estimations, but the hard stop is the approximately at the red line, the infinity via rangefinder on two different Ltm bodies (Nicca Type III and Canon L1) is the orange line. And the yellow line is what the infinity is via the the Contax + LTM + Sony e mount adapter.

I still need to check via focusing screen/ground glass, but I feel like the last time I tried to check that way, I had a tough time seeing infinity with a loupe. I don't think there should be this much variance at where infinity might be?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

If the actual focus and RF agree at infinity- just use it. I have seen expensive adapters with the same issue.

 

[jc031699]

I think at the infinity hard stop, it is focusing past infinity. I did mess with the setscrews, which changed where the lens sits, not sure if that will impact anything...Crappy cell phone picture and rough estimations, but the hard stop is the approximately at the red line, the infinity via rangefinder on two different Ltm bodies (Nicca Type III and Canon L1) is the orange line. And the yellow line is what the infinity is via the the Contax + LTM + Sony e mount adapter.

I still need to check via focusing screen/ground glass, but I feel like the last time I tried to check that way, I had a tough time seeing infinity with a loupe. I don't think there should be this much variance at where infinity might be?


View attachment 4874596

So you could adjust the rotation of the lens mount by loosening the 3 set screws? If so, can you please share the exact place where you purchased this?

 

[aw614]

So you could adjust the rotation of the lens mount by loosening the 3 set screws? If so, can you please share the exact place where you purchased this?

This was the one I bought

Lens Adapter For Contax Rangefinder CRF RF Lens to Leica SM M39 L39 Mount Camera | eBay

(If use this adapter（RF-L39）together with M39-LM adapter. other lens maybe can't use, NOT suggest to buy). The 50mm lens linkage focusing is accurate,while the linkage of other focal length lenses is different or other limitations.

www.ebay.com

 

[jc031699]

This was the one I bought

Lens Adapter For Contax Rangefinder CRF RF Lens to Leica SM M39 L39 Mount Camera | eBay

(If use this adapter（RF-L39）together with M39-LM adapter. other lens maybe can't use, NOT suggest to buy). The 50mm lens linkage focusing is accurate,while the linkage of other focal length lenses is different or other limitations.

www.ebay.com

I ordered one from this vendor. Confirming that the set screws do NOT allow the external bayonet mount to be rotated into proper alignment. Very much the same as the modified later cheapened versions described extensively above.

 

[aw614]

I got my film scans back from the lab, it does look like when the patch is at infinity, I am good with my photos bein in focus. At the infinity hard stop on the adapter, it focuses past infinity.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

@aw614 Be Happy!

I have one where I needed to polish down the Cam for the RF Patch to be at infinity at the hard stop, and then adjust the Zeiss-Opton to match it.