New Amedeo adapter opinion.

[rscheffler]

I'm definitely interested in this. I have your Contax-Leica adapter and the only thing that keeps me from really enjoying the Zeiss-Opton alongside native M lenses is the wrong focusing direction.

Where/when/how do we place an order or hold a spot in line?

 

[uhoh7]

The new adapter looks really nice 🙂

I have two now which you made. One for Nikon and one for contax, but in use with both internal mount 50s and external mount 85 and 105s, calibration seems very much hit and miss. I also found the generally nice finish does not make it to the cams, on my copies, as both are quite rough:


Untitled by unoh7, on Flickr

Is so rough a grind normal? And what calibration should be expected from this contax adapter on which glass?

I have CZJ 50/1.5 135/4 and Nikkor "C" 85/2, 105 and 135/3.5 (all for contax).

TY so much

 

[Amedeo Muscelli]

The new adapter looks really nice 🙂

I have two now which you made. One for Nikon and one for contax, but in use with both internal mount 50s and external mount 85 and 105s, calibration seems very much hit and miss. I also found the generally nice finish does not make it to the cams, on my copies, as both are quite rough:

Untitled by unoh7, on Flickr

Is so rough a grind normal? And what calibration should be expected from this contax adapter on which glass?

I have CZJ 50/1.5 135/4 and Nikkor "C" 85/2, 105 and 135/3.5 (all for contax).

TY so much

That edge in the rear part of the adapter that push the rangefinder cam not is totally flat, it must be machined in a kind of ramp for to compensate the nominal 50mm focal distance engraved in the bezel of the Sonnar lens and the real 52mm. If you measure the distance of the edge and the flange of the adapter, you will find a difference in the height of 0.07mm between the infinite and the 0,9 meters, apart of that, the distance of the flange surface and the edge in the infinite position have a tolerance of 0.025mm for to have both images properly aligned on your view finder.

This machining is made before the chrome finish, with the adapter assembled, this cause somewhat of vibration by the fragility of the structure and the play of thousandths of millimeters present in the helical, once machined I can´t touch that surface with sandpaper or any other method, for that you see these marks on that surface.

Regards,
Amedeo.

 

[jonmanjiro]

can be focused from 0,6 meters / 2 feet

Thinking about this a bit more, I'm not so sure the 0.6 meter close focus is a good idea, Amedeo. Wouldn't it be better to stop at 0.7 meters so the rangefinder is coupled all the way from infinity to 0.70 meters, instead of losing coupling in the last 0.1 meter to 0.6 meters?

It would be a different story if the adapter focused down to 0.3 meters, but for just an extra 0.1 meters close focusing it seems the hassle for a rangefinder camera user would be greater than the benefit. FYI quite a few people complain about using close focusing M-mount Voigtlander lenses on a rangefinder, because they forget about the rangefinder becoming uncoupled below 0.65 - 0.70 meters. The lenses can focus down to 0.3 meters in some cases, but of course a rangefinder camera cannot.

Anyway, just my two yen worth. Other than that, the new adapter is great!

 

[Vics]

Great job, Amadeo! I have the old one and love it. This would have caught my eye back in my Leica days! Keep up the great work.

 

[uhoh7]

That edge in the rear part of the adapter that push the rangefinder cam not is totally flat, it must be machined in a kind of ramp for to compensate the nominal 50mm focal distance engraved in the bezel of the Sonnar lens and the real 52mm. If you measure the distance of the edge and the flange of the adapter, you will find a difference in the height of 0.07mm between the infinite and the 0,9 meters, apart of that, the distance of the flange surface and the edge in the infinite position have a tolerance of 0.025mm for to have both images properly aligned on your view finder.

This machining is made before the chrome finish, with the adapter assembled, this cause somewhat of vibration by the fragility of the structure and the play of thousandths of millimeters present in the helical, once machined I can´t touch that surface with sandpaper or any other method, for that you see these marks on that surface.

Regards,
Amedeo.

TY so much for the reply. I was thinking of sandpapering it, but sounds as though I should not.

With the older ones like that, should I expect calibration with lenses I mentioned in the first post? My CZJ 50/1.5 1937 does...front focus I believe.

I'm shooting M9.

all the best and thank you.

 

[jonmanjiro]

But would be great for EVF. Therefore it's a good idea to go to 0.6

Yes good for EVF, but it would be just one of a bunch of adapters for EVF cameras on the market that can focus Contax and Nikon lenses, and most can focus closer than 0.6 meters. The cool thing about this adapter is the Leica focusing direction combined with rangefinder coupling which it loses below 0.7 meters.

Now, if the adapter had a click stop at 0.7 meters to indicate RF decoupling and focused down to 0.3 meters, then you'd be cooking with gas!

 

[raid]

Excellent, as usual, Amedeo.

 

[Enoyarnam]

Amadeo, your adaptors are unique. Once these adaptors are available I would definitely want to buy the contax and the Nikon versions on my Leica M9.

 

[Amedeo Muscelli]

Thinking about this a bit more, I'm not so sure the 0.6 meter close focus is a good idea, Amedeo. Wouldn't it be better to stop at 0.7 meters so the rangefinder is coupled all the way from infinity to 0.70 meters, instead of losing coupling in the last 0.1 meter to 0.6 meters?

It would be a different story if the adapter focused down to 0.3 meters, but for just an extra 0.1 meters close focusing it seems the hassle for a rangefinder camera user would be greater than the benefit. FYI quite a few people complain about using close focusing M-mount Voigtlander lenses on a rangefinder, because they forget about the rangefinder becoming uncoupled below 0.65 - 0.70 meters. The lenses can focus down to 0.3 meters in some cases, but of course a rangefinder camera cannot.

Anyway, just my two yen worth. Other than that, the new adapter is great!

Hello Jonmanjiro, the 0,6 meters / 2 feed was the limit where it can be turned without cause problems, turn up to 0,5 will separate both parts, 0,3 meters will not be possible. A position of the rangefinder cam in the Leica body 3 millimeters back, could let focus up tp 0,3m.

The rangefinder mechanism of my M8 body is capable to focus to 0,6 meter.

 

[Amedeo Muscelli]

TY so much for the reply. I was thinking of sandpapering it, but sounds as though I should not.

With the older ones like that, should I expect calibration with lenses I mentioned in the first post? My CZJ 50/1.5 1937 does...front focus I believe.

I'm shooting M9.

all the best and thank you.

Hi, please read this article: http://www.zeisscamera.com/articles_focallength.shtml

The real focal length of old lenses not is a exact number, but after a lot of feedback with buyers, specially those picky, repeatedly complaining and meticulous who I appreciate because force to me to do a better work, I got a 51,2mm for Contax and 51,45mm for Nikon.

Those average numbers are worked well the last 4 years, and you must expect variations of +/- 20mm at close distance in the worse cases.

 

[wjlapier]

I really like your adapters. Had the Nikon>LTM when you first started making them. You made me a Nikon>M in brass only--no chrome. Used it this pass week in Montana on a M7.

I'm looking forward to the Contax version. I've had a Contax 50/2 Opton for a long time.

Remember this one? On a M6 back then, but now always on my M7.

M6Top by wjlapier, on Flickr

 

[brbo]

It's here!!!

It's here!!!

I just took delivery of the new Amedeo Contax -> M adapter.

First impressions:

- couples with the rangefinder on my M6 down to last millimetre, so there is no worry about focusing the lens past minimum coupled focusing distance (at least on M6) - this is a BIG deal for me. Having my favourite lens (Sonnar 1,5/50) focus down to the limit of the rangefinder is a dream come true for me. Not even modern C Sonnar can do this.

- perfect rangfinder matching at infinity

- I'm not a fan of focusing levers and I don't like the one on this new adapter either, it runs a bit too low for my taste, too close to the body and I brush my fingers against the framelines lever on my M6 if I focus by the lever. But, it looks like reversible removal should be easy enough.

- locking tab was out of its position when I opened the package. I don't know what happened in transport. I had to make a new "spring". I cut a new one from a piece of tin I found on the streen on my way home. I'm sure Amedeo can easily make it more robust.


All in all, I'm very happy so far.

 

[Dante_Stella]

Is the bayonet connection to the lens strong enough to focus by turning the lens body (rather than the focusing lever)?

Thanks!

 

[Alberti]

Is the bayonet connection to the lens strong enough to focus by turning the lens body (rather than the focusing lever)?

Thanks!

I have this same question. I am very interested in the smaller Nikon adapter.
I expect that turning the lens - in the same direction as a Leica lens - will shift the focus.

By the way, Zeiss lenses have 50 cm as closest range and of course the RF cam (wheel actually) floats free when this distance is selected, and that is mechanically no problem at all; with the M240 one has the live view to compose and focus now up to 60 cm.

 

[KyleCharles]

Amedeo, This development makes me very happy. I have your Contax/LTM adapter. Although I don't really mind the "backwards" focusing direction and the almost 360 degree throw, I do really prefer focusing levers.

Because I do use both LTM and M mount cameras, I would really only be interested in an LTM version. Do you plan to offer a Contax/LTM version in the future??

Also, does the new adapter have a focusing throw of 180 degrees (like the original 50mm Elmars) or the 90 degree "fast" focusing throw of the more modern lenses?

Thank you!

Very Cool. I know you make a wide angle version that is not RF coupled. Is there a way to get RF coupling with a 35mm lenses as well?

Yes you can. Amedeo's other RF coupled adapters can be used with the Nikkor 35/2.5 lens with full RF coupling from infinity to the closest focusing distance with no problems. Here is a list of lens compatibility: http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79631&highlight=amedeo

The 35/2.5 works great with my IIf & M2 with one caveat: I must first mount the adapter to the camera and set it to infinity. Then I set the lens focus to a bit less than infinity and mount it on the adapter. After mounting, when I rotate the lens focus to infinity I hear an audible click. Then and only then will it focus properly at all distances. Even if it is focusing properly, if I dismount and remount the lens/adapter together as a single unit, proper focusing rate will not be achieved upon remounting to the camera. I must separate the lens from the adapter every time I want to use the 35/2.5. I'm not sure if this this condition is unique to my adapter/lens combo or not because I have never heard of other people having to do the same. Either way I don't care because it still works just fine.

The other issue with this combo is that it is quite heavy (265 grams) and the ergonomics of the Nikkor 35/2.5 in Nikon mount leave a lot to be desired.

 

[Dante_Stella]

KyleCharles - it's 90 degrees from marked infinity to about 1.3m, so a more modern rate.

Dante

 

[Dante_Stella]

My assessment on the new one is very positive:

- Fit and finish is great.

- This is extremely helpful with collapsible lenses, which are rarely tight enough to stay locked in place when you try to turn the lens to focus. The 5cm f/2 Sonnar will collapse safely; the 5cm f/2.8 Tessar will only retract part way if it is rotated in such a way that the collapsing bayonet hits the front of the "mirror" box.

- The accuracy of the adapter with your lens will depend on the focal length of the lens (the true FL). Recall that Amedeo is not making the adapter directly from your lens, which may either have been a tiny bit off at the factory or after its last service. Also recall that film is not as critical as digital. Older Leica lenses are marked on the helical for the actual FL of 50mm lenses, and they did a lot of trial end error work to get things to work perfectly.

- It can be challenging to mount/dismount the adapter from the camera because the only way to get it to lock on or bayonet off is to get it to stop at either end of its travel. You can appreciate why Elmars had infinity locks!

- The lens lock is ingenious, though the locking tab on the lens, depending on the vintage of the lens, can be a tight fit.

- I would advocate for a 1m focusing mark.

Tutto sommato, this is a great little adapter and fairly economical. Bravo!

The product I would like to see for Contax lenses would be in the style of the original (no exposed helicoid, no tab), focusing in the direction of Leica, with a fast pitch like Leica. The outer bayonet could also be omitted. This would be excellent for use with the 50/1.5 Sonnars.

Best regards,
Dante

 

[Dante_Stella]

Amedeo, could the Nikon version be made in black?

Thanks!
Dante

 

[Amedeo Muscelli]

Hello Dante,

Can sell a brass one, chemically treated, for to be painted.

Amedeo