Kodak Retina Ektar 47mm f/2 for Leica M39

[Rayt]

Could you let us know who did that for you? As Mr. Miyazaki no longer takes on conversions it would be good to know where to ask.
Thanks!

It was a local guy not well known outside of HK or accessible online. He’s a tinkerer with a machine shop and a pretty good photographer. Anyway I don’t recommend him. In my earlier post I mentioned the lens was soft. Turns out he did a horrible job and I didn’t know this until I got my M10M and compared live view image with RF focusing which was off. I took it back to him and he gave me attitude and then made it much much worse. I then took the lens to a second hand dealer to put it on consignment and of course I disclosed the defects. He said the store uses a better guy for conversions and a week and a hundred bucks later I got the lens back with perfect focusing. The shop didn’t seem like he wanted to disclose the repairer so I didn’t press him. Lens conversion has become a niche industry in HK and Taipei with manufacturers in China suppling all sorts of helicoils and this was even before mirrorless. You can convert any lens to any mount as long as the flange to sensor distance is sufficient. I am afraid none of these lens “masters” will do foreign orders given the language barrier. There is no Japan Camera Hunter equivalent in HK to act as middleman I am afraid. I don’t live there anymore otherwise I would be happy to help out.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I shot with the Retina II Ektar and the Retina II Xenon side-by-side on an outing several years ago. Impressed by the color and sharpness of the Ektar,

Both Retina II cameras are in fine condition, would not use either on these as a donor. I have some parts Retina cameras with the Xenon- might convert one of them.

 

[TenEleven]

It was a local guy not well known outside of HK or accessible online. He’s a tinkerer with a machine shop and a pretty good photographer. Anyway I don’t recommend him. In my earlier post I mentioned the lens was soft. Turns out he did a horrible job and I didn’t know this until I got my M10M and compared live view image with RF focusing which was off. I took it back to him and he gave me attitude and then made it much much worse. I then took the lens to a second hand dealer to put it on consignment and of course I disclosed the defects. He said the store uses a better guy for conversions and a week and a hundred bucks later I got the lens back with perfect focusing. The shop didn’t seem like he wanted to disclose the repairer so I didn’t press him. Lens conversion has become a niche industry in HK and Taipei with manufacturers in China suppling all sorts of helicoils and this was even before mirrorless. You can convert any lens to any mount as long as the flange to sensor distance is sufficient. I am afraid none of these lens “masters” will do foreign orders given the language barrier. There is no Japan Camera Hunter equivalent in HK to act as middleman I am afraid. I don’t live there anymore otherwise I would be happy to help out.

Hey, thank you so much for taking the time to write your experience out here and give us a honest testimonial and not giving some run-around version. I appreciate it!
And yes, that does indeed not sound very good, I guess I should just get of my ass and start doing it myself.

Regarding the other shop, I understand the concerns. As someone who services lenses and cameras himself on an amateur basis (mainly to facilitate my own photography) and does it on the occasion for friends and people they tag along, I understand about the remote (online) and language barrier. It just creates layers of hassle for a work that is not exactly high margin. Then there's also the work-load issue.

 

[neal3k]

I got my Ektar as the factory lens with my camera, but I had to pay dearly for it. It was OK with me because I have collected a few Barnacks and wanted a "Made in USA" one. But now, I feel compelled to just use Ektar film in it. It just seems to be the way to go.

Kardon Rangefinder 35mm by Neal Wellons, on Flickr

 

[Beemermark]

Nicely done!

I'd love to own an Ektar in LTM that won't cost me a limb or two. 😉

You can buy a Retina with an Ektar lens for less than $200 or with luck less than $100. Results won't look any different than using a Leica body.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

You can buy a Retina with an Ektar lens for less than $200 or with luck less than $100. Results won't look any different than using a Leica body.

"But it won't be mounted on a Leica. D'uh" 😛

I already have several camera's with Ektars, just not an LTM version.

 

[rfaspen]

I too have other cameras with ektars, and I too would like the 47 ektar in LTM. I find that I'm more likely to use my Leicas than those other cameras..... party because those other cameras include formats other than 35mm, and because with an LTM ektar I can easily use either a film or digital camera.