M39 camera adapter to use M42 lenses

[mravigna]

Has anyone ever used an adapter on a zenit C slr (M39) to use M42 lenses? I know that this is not a rangefinder but I also own a FED 1 and 2 and would like to use my M-42 lenses on the slr and the rangefinders as well. Will the zenit C be able to focus to infinity? Will the rangefinders be able to focus to infinity? Any help with this will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[fidget]

I have owned a 39mm Zenit and some 42mm stuff. I understand that the 39mm (Zenit, not LTM) thread lenses can be used via a thread adapter on a 42mm body. This adapter is a simple ring, threaded inside at 39mm and outside at 42mmm. This suggests that the lens mounts within the 42mm thread and sits at the right distance from the film plane. If this is the case, then there is little chance of a 42mm lens sitting IN the mount for a 39mm lens, so I think that it's a non-runner unless an adapter is available with some optical correction.

There is, however, a chance that a 42mm could be used on an LTM RF camera as the 42mm lens would have to mount further away from the film plane, as it does on the SLR. There will be no coupling to the RF within the camera, so may not be a great help.

 

[Valkir1987]

I have an adapter for m39 to m42, but you won't be able to focus to infinity. When using a set of macro rings you might be able to use the m42 lenses on a Leica thread rangefinder, but the chance to get a proper lens distance is small.
You won't be able to use the coupled rangefinder with your lens if you want to use it on a Zorki or Fed. Just keep using the lenses for the type of camera they made them for. If you want a picture of the adapter I can post it if you like.

 

[ZorkiKat]

The ordinary ring adapter will not allow the use of RF M39 lenses on an M42 slr, for reasons already stated above. Those adapters were meant for Zenit M39 lenses so they can be used on the later M42 Zenit. Even this adaptation has a slight focal register problem- there is still a difference of 0.3 mm, so Zenit M39 lenses do not allow real infinity focus.

There is however, a special M42 to M39 adapter which will allow the use of SLR M42 lenses on M39 RF cameras. It is like an extension tube, with an LTM 39 thread on the camera side and an M42 flange on the lens mounting side. The tube makes up for the difference in focal registers between M42 SLR (45.5mm) and M39 RF (28.8mm). No rf coupling though, so focusing must be done by scale. Forget about adapting lenses longer than 35mm- wide angles with their inherent DOF would work better.

Cameraquest offer a special variation whose tube couples to the RF. The adapted M42 lens won't couple though- the focus distance must be read off the adapter tube and then transferred to the lens distance scale.

Jay

 

[Nickfed]

M42 to L39 adapters are available. I believe the flange/film distance of the SLRs is the same so there is no chance of focussing on infinity. They are OK for macro. I believe the Russian M39 to M42 rings are OK for infinity.
M42 to L39 tubes of the correct length are available and make SLR lenses very useful on an RF. You can get ripped off mightily for them but they are available for about $9 on eBay from Oxana in Crimea.

older post here
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32929

 

[ZorkiKat]

M42 to L39 adapters are available. I believe the flange/film distance of the SLRs is the same so there is no chance of focussing on infinity. They are OK for macro. I believe the Russian M39 to M42 rings are OK for infinity.

The Zenit M39 SLRs had a working distance/ flange to focal distance of 45.2mm
M42 SLRs' flange to focal distance is 45.5mm. The 0.3mm is significant enough
to prevent a properly calibrated ZM39 SLR lens from focusing to true infinity when adapted to an M42 SLR. The instruction manuals for M39-M42 adapters
state this. The type of adapter used may even sometimes increase the physical distance between the mounted lens and the focal plane. However,
many FSU M39 lenses can be found which actually sit closer to the focal plane, hence infinity focus can sometimes be achieved.

Jay

 

[mravigna]

I hope to be able to use M42 lenses on the Zenit C

I hope to be able to use M42 lenses on the Zenit C

Well I guess I will have to wait and see how the adapter works. It will likely increase the focal distance on the Zenit C slr by enough to complicate matters. As for using it on the rangefinders, it will likely have very little usage. Thanks a million for all of your responses.

ps. I am new to this forum and look forward to learning a lot about these old cameras. I have just purchased a FED 1 G , a FED 2 c type 2 from seller by the name of Eugene (Sellertreasure). I also purchases the Zenit C from another seller. All of these were bought this week and I am anxiously waiting to get them. I guess that I went all out with these purchases.

Has anyone ever purchased any cameras from Sellertreasure?