LTM to M adapters

[mich8261]

Looks like I'll be adding a 35mm lens (LTM) to my collection soon. I need a LTM to M adapter. Is there any reason I can't just pick one up on eBay for $20 instead of paying $60+ for a Voigtlander one or more I suppose for a Leica one? The one I saw claims to be for 35/135 lenses.

Thanks.

 

[colyn]

These things are currently hitting $100+ on ebay. However the cheap Chinese versions can be had fairly cheap but may or may not bring up the right framelines.

Go with the Voigtlander one offered by cameraquest..

 

[pvdhaar]

Is there any reason I can't just pick one up on eBay for $20 instead of paying $60+ for a Voigtlander one or more I suppose for a Leica one?

Some RFF-ers have had problems with ultra cheap unbranded adapters. Even to the point where they didn't even mount because the adapters where not milled to the right size. Apparently they were snagged from production line discards. And even if they do mount, they may not be the correct thickness to give accurate focus in critical conditions. $20 is false economy, you'll need a proper one in no time anyway. Get a Voigtlander straight away and save $20. Heck, they even throw in the caps!

 

[varjag]

I just bought a Leitz adapter for $60, and I've seen them go a bit cheaper than that. Hunt around if you have time.

Either way I concur that there is uncertainity with non-branded ones. While for SLR adapters there is some room for tolerances, there's much less for RF stuff. That's why I decided for a branded in the end.

 

[drewbarb]

I have several LTM-M adapter rings- a few Leitz ones, a couple of Cosina/Voigtlander ones, and one un-marked knock-off. The Leitz and Voigtlander adapters work just fine with all my LTM lenses and on the each of the dozen or so M bodies I've tried them on. But the no-name knock-off (which I got as part of a body/lens kit off of eBay) is useless. It will mount lenses, but I have never been able to make it lock onto any M camera body. Close inspection reveals that the locking slot was machined ever so slightly out of place. The lens mount button never clicks.

I expect that somebody could make a cheap knock off adapter ring which would work just fine. But the tolerances on these things are very fine, and they have to be really precise. Considering that you can sometimes get old Leitz ones for $40-$50, and the Voigtlander ones sell new for around $55, I think it makes sense to pony up the extra money at the outset. If you spring for a $20 knock-off and it works as well as the one I have, you'll spend the extra for a good one later. Might as well spend a little more now and save money in the long run.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I've used robert White in the UK for my LTM adapters, it works out at around $60 incl the delightful VAT we have to pay. I'm more than happy to pay thirty quid for something thats going to mount my hundred odd pound lens to my almost seven hundred pound M6 and do the job right.

Since I've got into rangefinders - about five months - I've spent so much money on cameras, lenses, scanners, processing gear, film etc etc that I've often wondered where I can make a financial shortcut. I think the answer is simply to look for the best deal and not the cheap but questionable kit.

 

[Bosk]

Speaking of these LTM-M adapters, I bought a 50-frameline Voigtlander branded one from CameraQuest last year and although it mounts correctly the framelines do not align properly - I can see a faint outline of the 90mm frame inside the 50mm frame, but only the 50mm frame should be showing.

Is this kind of thing common with these adapters or did I get a lemon?

 

[pvdhaar]

Speaking of these LTM-M adapters, I bought a 50-frameline Voigtlander branded one from CameraQuest last year and although it mounts correctly the framelines do not align properly - I can see a faint outline of the 90mm frame inside the 50mm frame, but only the 50mm frame should be showing.

Is this kind of thing common with these adapters or did I get a lemon?

What camera do you have? The ones where the framelines pop up automatically (Leica M, HexarRF) may show some bleeding when the frame selector adjustment in the body is a tad off.

Another thing to be aware of, is that you can turn the adapter too far on the mount when you keep the lens release button pressed. You won't really notice then when the lens release button doesn't spring back to catch the lens. Only when you rotate the lens back will it click. (Happens on my M4 with all adapters and M-Lenses)

 

[Bosk]

What camera do you have? The ones where the framelines pop up automatically (Leica M, HexarRF) may show some bleeding when the frame selector adjustment in the body is a tad off.

I'm using an M2, and I could certainly live with the misalignment of the framelines but for the 90mm frame being a bit too pronounced for my liking, and I find it distracting when composing a shot.
What I'd really like to know is how common is this kind of thing with LTM-M adapters?

Another thing to be aware of, is that you can turn the adapter too far on the mount when you keep the lens release button pressed. You won't really notice then when the lens release button doesn't spring back to catch the lens. Only when you rotate the lens back will it click. (Happens on my M4 with all adapters and M-Lenses)

Thanks for the tip!
I've tried endlessly re-adjusting the adapter but to no avail unfortunately, the edges of the 90mm frame (particularly the bottom and left hand side of it) always seem to be visible. 🙁

 

[mike_j]

I have a mix of CV, Leica and generic adaptors. The generic are OK with a Bessa as the framelines are manually selected anyway but a nuisance on the Leica M6. The only adaptor I have which locates poorly on my M6 is the Leica one! CV is probably your best bet.

 

[Avotius]

I had a problem with the chinese adapter, the lens did not screw into the proper 12 o'clock possition, even my voigtlander does not but the chinese one is about a cm off, I sent it back

 

[lynn]

I have a CV adaptor, for the Canon 50/1.4 when it makes sweet music with my M6. It is perfect.

 

[nightfly]

Never had a problem with a cheap adapter. I like the ones in the red box L-M Adapter Ring, Made in Japan from the B and H used department.

 

[colyn]

Never had a problem with a cheap adapter. I like the ones in the red box L-M Adapter Ring, Made in Japan from the B and H used department.

The cheap ones I am referring to are the Chinese made versions. The Japanese made ones are made somewhat better but the Voigtlander and original Leitz versions are by far the best..

 

[Leicabug]

Wow, even genuine Leitz LTM adapters have appreciated in price substantially this year. I remembered that I bought one 135 mm Leitz adapter for less than $30 from ebay last Nov. At that time , they can be bought between $20-60. Is this due to M8?

 

[dseelig]

The M8 has risen all leica prices.