Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8 LTM to M conversion

[Roastchestnuts]

I am thinking about having my nikkor s mount 3.5cm f1.8 converted to M mount by Ruhr Lens worx. has anybody had their lens worked on by them? I contacted him through instagram - Ruhrlensworx He says he can do it. I would love to shoot my 3.5cm f1.8 digitally on a leica m. anybody use this guy? Honestly he is probably part of this forum. just wondering if any of you all have any experience.

 

[wes loder]

Why not just get one in Leica thread mount?

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Why not just get one in Leica thread mount?

because they can run crazy prices cheapest one i saw was 2500$ and I already own the s mount. and the conversion is not a bad price. I also really think the scolloped focus ring on the s mount has the looks.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

One more out of production, uncommon lens, lost to the whims of trying it out on a Leica. I see this a lot with some extraordinarily rare motion picture lenses, which become lost for their original use after being permanently modified so someone can stick them on whatever digital camera, take photos a few times, talk about bokeh and all that, then return to using a modern whiz bang lens. I just find it saddening, personally. But it's your lens, do as you will.
Phil

 

[lukx]

Google

One more out of production, uncommon lens, lost to the whims of trying it out on a Leica. I see this a lot with some extraordinarily rare motion picture lenses, which become lost for their original use after being permanently modified so someone can stick them on whatever digital camera, take photos a few times, talk about bokeh and all that, then return to using a modern whiz bang lens. I just find it saddening, personally. But it's your lens, do as you will.
Phil

I agree to some extent. Hacking lenses into a new mount and losing compatibility with its intended system is not ideal. Many nice Leica compatible lenses have been lost to cine lens conversions, with prices for the remaining lenses reaching astronomical heights as a consequence.

To the OP, think Ruhrlensworkx are legit, they are good at their job and can probably help you do a permanent conversion, as Skyllaney in Scotland can.

But in case of the Nikkor 3.5 1.8 the modification can be done without losing the compatibility with the Nikon rangefinder system!
Park Sangin in Korea produces replacement fittings for the rear elements of the lens, which reduce the thickness of the collar around the rearmost element such that it does fit a Leica without touching the rangefinder coupling arm. This is reversible.

What you do need for this to work is a quality Nikon S to Leica Adapter, such as the Amedeo adapter.

Mr. Sangin runs a business servicing rare vintage lenses, so it seems he knows what he's doing. From a conversation I've had with someone who did this modification I know that you can buy these rings separately from the maker and do the conversion yourself, or have someone closer to you do it. At least he used to sell them separately back then.

See this blog post for further details on how it works. The blog itself is very interesting, it contains a lot of knowledge on vintage lenses and example photos (Tip: use the translation feature of your Chrome or Safari browser):
W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 Compatible S-mount for Nikon S & Leica M (Reversible).


You can also see this conversion here:
park sangin on Instagram: "www.gigantoptik.com W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 CLA & Modification. #거인광학 #gigantoptik #기간트옵틱 #goliathus #leica #leicaphotography #leicam10 #leicam10d #goliathus_sp #cameraporn #라이카 #lensrepair #classiccameras #classiclenses #wnikkor35mm18 #nipponkogaku #nikkor35mm #nikonrf #nikonsp #leica35mm #nikonrangefinder"

Maybe write him a message on Instagram and ask if you can buy a conversion kit. Amedeo adapters are rare but they pop up here and there. He does have them on eBay every once in a while. Or at cameraquest.com if you're lucky (might need expensive shipping depending on your location).

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Google

I agree to some extent. Hacking lenses into a new mount and losing compatibility with its intended system is not ideal. Many nice Leica compatible lenses have been lost to cine lens conversions, with prices for the remaining lenses reaching astronomical heights as a consequence.

To the OP, think Ruhrlensworkx are legit, they are good at their job and can probably help you do a permanent conversion, as Skyllaney in Scotland can.

But in case of the Nikkor 3.5 1.8 the modification can be done without losing the compatibility with the Nikon rangefinder system!
Park Sangin in Korea produces replacement fittings for the rear elements of the lens, which reduce the thickness of the collar around the rearmost element such that it does fit a Leica without touching the rangefinder coupling arm. This is reversible.

What you do need for this to work is a quality Nikon S to Leica Adapter, such as the Amedeo adapter.

Mr. Sangin runs a business servicing rare vintage lenses, so it seems he knows what he's doing. From a conversation I've had with someone who did this modification I know that you can buy these rings separately from the maker and do the conversion yourself, or have someone closer to you do it. At least he used to sell them separately back then.

See this blog post for further details on how it works. The blog itself is very interesting, it contains a lot of knowledge on vintage lenses and example photos (Tip: use the translation feature of your Chrome or Safari browser):
W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 Compatible S-mount for Nikon S & Leica M (Reversible).


You can also see this conversion here:
park sangin on Instagram: "www.gigantoptik.com W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 CLA & Modification. #거인광학 #gigantoptik #기간트옵틱 #goliathus #leica #leicaphotography #leicam10 #leicam10d #goliathus_sp #cameraporn #라이카 #lensrepair #classiccameras #classiclenses #wnikkor35mm18 #nipponkogaku #nikkor35mm #nikonrf #nikonsp #leica35mm #nikonrangefinder"

Maybe write him a message on Instagram and ask if you can buy a conversion kit. Amedeo adapters are rare but they pop up here and there. He does have them on eBay every once in a while. Or at cameraquest.com if you're lucky (might need expensive shipping depending on your location).

I have two amadeo adapters. both the kind with the outer bayonet mount. I bought them from camera quest a few years ago. I filed one lug down a little so It will bring up 35mm lines when I use my 3.5cm f2.5. I agree that Id rather make it reversible. I Ill try to contact Mr. Sangin about getting the rear element fitting. Id much rather do that so I can still use the lens on my s3 millennium camera. I have come across these before too but did not know how to get into contact with him.

Ill check out the blog post too. I knew there was one on this and could not find it.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Google

I agree to some extent. Hacking lenses into a new mount and losing compatibility with its intended system is not ideal. Many nice Leica compatible lenses have been lost to cine lens conversions, with prices for the remaining lenses reaching astronomical heights as a consequence.

To the OP, think Ruhrlensworkx are legit, they are good at their job and can probably help you do a permanent conversion, as Skyllaney in Scotland can.

But in case of the Nikkor 3.5 1.8 the modification can be done without losing the compatibility with the Nikon rangefinder system!
Park Sangin in Korea produces replacement fittings for the rear elements of the lens, which reduce the thickness of the collar around the rearmost element such that it does fit a Leica without touching the rangefinder coupling arm. This is reversible.

What you do need for this to work is a quality Nikon S to Leica Adapter, such as the Amedeo adapter.

Mr. Sangin runs a business servicing rare vintage lenses, so it seems he knows what he's doing. From a conversation I've had with someone who did this modification I know that you can buy these rings separately from the maker and do the conversion yourself, or have someone closer to you do it. At least he used to sell them separately back then.

See this blog post for further details on how it works. The blog itself is very interesting, it contains a lot of knowledge on vintage lenses and example photos (Tip: use the translation feature of your Chrome or Safari browser):
W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 Compatible S-mount for Nikon S & Leica M (Reversible).


You can also see this conversion here:
park sangin on Instagram: "www.gigantoptik.com W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 CLA & Modification. #거인광학 #gigantoptik #기간트옵틱 #goliathus #leica #leicaphotography #leicam10 #leicam10d #goliathus_sp #cameraporn #라이카 #lensrepair #classiccameras #classiclenses #wnikkor35mm18 #nipponkogaku #nikkor35mm #nikonrf #nikonsp #leica35mm #nikonrangefinder"

Maybe write him a message on Instagram and ask if you can buy a conversion kit. Amedeo adapters are rare but they pop up here and there. He does have them on eBay every once in a while. Or at cameraquest.com if you're lucky (might need expensive shipping depending on your location).

I contacted him through instagram. we shall see if he returns my message. If you all think its a bad idea to go with Ruhrlensworkx I will save the lens and not do it. I might even buy another 3.5cm to use for the modification. It is one of my dream lenses to shoot and id love to keep using it in a modern world. I traded my 35mm steel rim reissue to a form member for this lens and a melenium nikon s3 (which I love) and a 3.5cm f2.5. I really do love the output of this lens but I feel id use it more if it was M mount. it certainly would be unique. and again I would love the ltm version but they demand copious amounts of money these days. The shots below were all shot on my 3.5 f1.8 and my s3 with fuji 200 film.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Update I got into contact with Mr. Sangin and he said he had one available. Spendy little thing but It should be worth it once it gets here. I took a while after the initial response but then I relized he is in Korea... it was almost midnight when I first responded to him. I still need to purchase it but it should be fine once I do.

 

[Ororaro]

Great move!

Finally a great solution

 

[Roastchestnuts]

ALrighty its official I ordered the diy kit from Mr. Sangin on instagram to make this lens work on my M cameras. I cant wait because the 3.5cm f1.8 is one of my dream lenses and the ability to shoot it digitally on the M cameras will be amazing! again it was a bit spendy just for a little metal ring for the rear lens group but cheeper than buying a new lens. and way cheeper than buying an LTM Nikkor 3.5cm lens. That being said I already have 2 amadeo adapters one came with a trade. one of my amadeo adapters I filed a lug down to bring up 35mm frame lines. so I saved some money there not having to purchase the amadeo adapter. Mr Sangin sent me the photo below and some instructions on how to install everything.

I will report back when everything arives. who knows how long it will take from Korea. I know that I purchased a soft top for my fj40 land cruiser last year in early april from columbia and it got to me on june 5th.

 

[lukx]

ALrighty its official I ordered the diy kit from Mr. Sangin on instagram to make this lens work on my M cameras. I cant wait because the 3.5cm f1.8 is one of my dream lenses and the ability to shoot it digitally on the M cameras will be amazing! again it was a bit spendy just for a little metal ring for the rear lens group but cheeper than buying a new lens. and way cheeper than buying an LTM Nikkor 3.5cm lens. That being said I already have 2 amadeo adapters one came with a trade. one of my amadeo adapters I filed a lug down to bring up 35mm frame lines. so I saved some money there not having to purchase the amadeo adapter. Mr Sangin sent me the photo below and some instructions on how to install everything.

I will report back when everything arives. who knows how long it will take from Korea. I know that I purchased a soft top for my fj40 land cruiser last year in early april from columbia and it got to me on june 5th.

View attachment 4858269

I think you made the right call doing the reversible modification.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

The lens works pretty well. I think I need to shim it a little to get focus 100% accurate. its pretty close as it is. It renders black and white like a dream on the m10 Monochrom! I am very impressed! I I like this lens way better than my steel rim reissue that I had. you get that leica style glow on hightlights but it seems controlled. the tones are pretty amazing too.