Nikon F-M mount adaptors; what are your thoughts?

[Benjamin]

Hi, I just wondered how many of you have any experience of using wide angle Nikkors on M mount cameras via 'the .....' adaptor?

It's seems like it may be a pretty good idea, especially seeing as I already have quite a few wide AI and Non-AI Nikkors. I don't especially see any need for coupling with anything 28mm and wider, though I just wonder if there are any other 'problems' other than scale-focusing? It's not as if The Man on eBay is likely to mention that it is in fact a truly awful design.

I know that using SLR lenses on a rangefinder may seem like sacrilege to many, but it may very well save my back and save me from buying too many similar lenses for separate systems.

Also are there any adaptors that you would recommend?

Thanks for reading, Benjamin

 

[normclarke]

Hi,
I had this problem when not being able to afford a leica 21mm lens. I was lucky enough to obtain a 21mm f4 Nikkor for a reasonable price and had SRB make a spacer to which I bonded a leica screw extention tube and a Nikon bayonet from a cheap 2x extender. It worked admirablely until I sourced a 21mm SA lens. I sold the Nikkor to a Dutch dealer and have for ever regretted it! It was a stellar lens and was only marginnaly inferior to the SA. The system works best for lenses up to 24-25mm.

Cheers,

normclarke

 

[peter_n]

I've used my 28mm/f2.8 AIS Nikkor on a Leica M6 with good results. I have an uncoupled Cameraquest adapter and used a mid aperture. Once I got the 28mm Hexanon though that stopped! 🙂

 

[Beemermark]

I've had one for years and use it with my 20/2.8 Nikkor. The only problem I see with the set up is that SLR are huge on the M body. The lens protrutes quite a bit into the shoemounted VF.

 

[ferider]

If you own the classic 21/4 non-retrofocal Nikkor lens (the one that requires mirror lockup on an SLR), it makes a lot of sense. This is basically the same lens as the 21/4 classic RF lens (due to collector value not affordable), and should be very compact even with adapter. And at 21mm non-coupled focusing is very much OK.

I have an SLR/M adapter but rarely use it since typical retrofocus SLR lenses have less IQ than the new very affordable third party RF lenses (like the Voigtlander Color Skopars).

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I used a 19mm Canon, the early mirror lock-up model for the Canonflex, with their lens mount converter B for about 25 years until somebody made off with it. I rarely ever focus with the rangefinder when using my 21/3.4 Super Angulon. Both of these lenses exhibited more light fall-off than the two 20mm retrofocus lenses I've owned, a Vivitar and a Zeiss Jena Flektagon.

As for cost, you have to buy not only the LTM adapter and probably an M adapter, but a viewfinder as well.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

I own an italian handmade Nikon F/Leica M adapter, made by artisan Massimo Benatti, in Milan, some yers ago. I have, also, another lens adapter, made by another italian artisan, Adriano Lolli: this adapter is a Nikon F/LTM lens that i mount on Leica M with Leica M/LTM adapter.
In both cases the adapters work well, only on the hyperfocal focusing, because lack the rangefinder connection; this system is good only for the wideangle lenses.
Ciao.
Vincenzo Maielli