nikon F mount to leica R mount

[smiling gecko]

hmm...
...been googling and browsing a number of photo sites for a way/source to convert/adapt nikon F mount to leica R mount.

really like my old R5 and would like to mount my 105mm f2.5 or 55mm macro or a yet-to-be bought 85mm f2 to it.

i am guessing that one of the complications would be an interface with the R5 metering system- resulting in stop-down metering.

i would appreciate any insights/suggestions/experiences with converting nikon F mount to leica R mount.

breathe, relax and enjoy.
smile more, laugh more...i do when i get near a mirror.
smiling gecko, aka kenneth

 

[Vickko]

Leitax does the opposite - they make mounts to put on Leica lenses to use on Nikon bodies.

http://leitax.com/

You'd have to consider the flange to film distance delta between the R5 body and the Nikon lens. I don't remember which is smaller, but they are pretty close.

You might contact Leitax and see if they'll do a custom engineering job for you, to make a new mount for the Nikon lens with a Leica flange.

Note that the Nikon mount screws are glued into the lens and require heat to remove. Don't try to unscrew them, you'll ruin the screws before being able to get the screws off.

Good luck. Fun project.

Vick

 

[splitimageview]

Nikon flange is less, by a tad. Might be doable, but maybe not. Since Leica has no (real) digital R it wouldnt make sense for Leitax, no market.

R5 is nice but your best bet are the many good Nikon bodies, or buy some R glass... 🙂

 

[mfogiel]

I find this idea a bit useless: I have both systems, and frankly if I ever had an urge to adapt, that would be the other way: to shoot the R glass on a F2 or F3, which are superior to Leica R in every way, except for size, but for this you can get any of the FM Nikon series. R5 is particularly bad, because of its squinty VF - I have one, but it has been relegated to shoot seascapes on a tripod, always set to infinity. I find the R4s much superior in terms of usability. Final point: these days film cameras can cost less than an adapter - I paid about 80 EUR for the Leitax Leica R to Nikon, and if you are patient, you can get a good Nikon body for this.

 

[sevo]

No ready-made solution seems to exist, but you could have a replacement mount machined. But at the current price of film SLR bodies (and given that these conversions lose critical SLR features like automatic aperture actuation and aperture/program automation), it is rather poor economy to convert lenses. Indeed, it is not needed for anything, unless you want to use a particular lens on FF digital - where no mirrorless cameras exist right now.

 

[smiling gecko]

hey vick, thanks for the heads up about the flange screws. me and my ideas....aaarrgggh!

digitalintrigue, i have a f, f2 and em and like & use each...but i really like the ergonomics and the squinty-to-some-folks-but-not-to-me viewfinder of the R5. i have owned and used fm, fe, fm2, fe2, el2, and all iterations of the nikkormat series. i have owned R mounts in 24mm, 50mm, 90mm, 80mm, 28-70mm, 80-200mm and 400mm. liked 'em mostly, just wanted to try to carry over some nikkors for their form factor & great glass.

mfogiel, thank you for your opinion and insights...i suppose. after using my rollei 6002 and mamiya 6 more and more i find using all other 35mm viewfinders realllly squinty (except for my only om-1 or om-2).ymmv.

sevo, gotta agree about economics of the out-of-the ordinary conversion i have been mulling over. thank you for your thoughtful and polite response.
ok, starting to think it's time to dig in and save up some bucks/moolah/shimloeans/dead presidents/wampum/greenbacks/clams and get some R glass.

breathe, relax and enjoy.
smile more, laugh more...i do when I get near a mirror.
smiling gecko, aka kenneth

 

[Dwig]

...
Note that the Nikon mount screws are glued into the lens and require heat to remove. Don't try to unscrew them, you'll ruin the screws before being able to get the screws off.
...

I've found that a drop of pure acetone will also work to release the adhesive holding the Nikon mount screws. It should also be noted that these are not Philips head screws. The are "cross point". The angles, blade thickness and amount of flatness at the tip are different. Philips drivers don't fit well and are more likely to slip and damage the screw head.

 

[smiling gecko]

hey dwig, thank you for the tip about acetone and the variety of screws on the flange.
interesting...wonder if nikon chose that style to keep out tinkerers like me : - )

breathe, relax and enjoy.
smile more, laugh more...i do when I get near a mirror.
smiling gecko, aka kenneth

 

[nobbylon]

I had the 105 2.5 AI and also the 90 Elmarit-R and used them on both film and Nikon FF digital.
The 105 is an amazing lens however I thought the 90 was nicer and kept it. Sharper and nicer bokeh and I understand identical optically to the M version. I still have it but converted it back to R mount for use with film only on Leicaflex.
Ok it's probably 3x the price of a 105 but you get full function with your R5.
I was tempted again this week to get a 105 but thankfully my memory kicked in and stopped me!

 

[smiling gecko]

hello nobbylon, i may be too enthralled by the 105mm f2.5. i suppose i will pick up the R 90mm f2...
...and i may keep the 105mm f2.5 on my em as my dedicated short telephoto rig.

breathe, relax and enjoy.
smile more, laugh more...i do whenever i get near a mirror.
smiling gecko, aka kenneth

 

[nobbylon]

Try the elmarit 90 before you buy a summicron, I prefer the 2.8 but of course others may not 🙂