J-3 ... Kiev/Contax mount to LTM?

[Keith]

I figure Brian probably knows more about these lenses than anyone around here and he's probably answered this question in threads before.

I still haven't got around to getting a decent 50mm for my Leica II ... I toyed with the idea of a Canon f1.8 and Brian himself was good enough to offer me one at a very good price but I'm drawn to the J-3 every time I look at the pics I've taken with the one I have in Kiev/Contax mount. Unfortunately I find the viewfinder of my Kiev II a pain in the proverbial so I use this lens very infrequently. Looking at Fedka's site LTM versions of the J-3 seem to be listed at anywhere from $150.00 to $250.00 ... I'd be very hesitant to buy one from eBay although they seem to be a little cheaper.

What's involved in mounting the optics module from my current lens into an LTM mount ... is it practical for a DIY and where would you find the parts to do so? I'm not too worried about not being able to use it on my Kiev any more because I have a very clean J-8 I can use on that body when I feel like a good squint! 😛

 

[raid]

Keith,

I have an Amedeo adapter that I Use with Contax mount J-3 lenses on Leica M bodies.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Amedeo adapters are not cheap.

The optics modules of the LTM J-3 and Contax/Kiev J-3 are identical. Take out one set screw in the Kiev mount J-3, unscrew it. You need to shim it for proper focus in the LTM mount, so making shims is the worst of it- and of course getting the focus right. After that, you need to re-index the aperture ring to line up.

The procedure is identical with converting a CZJ Sonnar in Contax mount to LTM.