Nikon Nikkor-S w/ Adapter to Leica M Mount

[PrimeTime]

Hello,

I've searched through Google as well as searching on RFF, but no luck finding an answer to an SLR adapted setup.

I have a few 50mm SLR lenses;
- Nikkor-S Auto 50mm 1.4
- Canon FD 50mm 1.4

I want to try these out on my Voigtlander Bessa R3A, but have a few questions regarding function & accuracy.

These are the adapters I have in mind:

Canon FD to Leica M Mount
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-FD-FL...ltDomain_0&hash=item4ab07c9193#ht_1188wt_1163

- & -

Nikon Nikkor to Leica M Mount:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/33060352118...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2270wt_1163

* If anyone with experience using fast slr lenses such as these could give some feedback I would greatly appreciate it.

* Want to see if its worth it to buy these adapters while maintaining correct scale/focus as intended.

Thank you

 

[BobYIL]

First off, the SLR lenses do not "couple" with the rangefinder camera so be prepared to use them -almost always- as zone focused and rather at small apertures like f8 for example.

Second, they will surely obstruct your viewfinder when used with their shades. Third, you may not be able to use the framing in your viewfinder correctly unless you do something "custom"; modification I mean..

Finally they are large in size compared to the original rangefinder lenses.

In case you have some 20, 24 or 28mm SLR lenses, better concentrate on them by finding proper external viewfinders as they function with zone focusing quite well. (Be warned though, proper external viewfinders + adapters sometimes cost as much as some rangefinder lenses...)

 

[JMQ]

First off, the SLR lenses do not "couple" with the rangefinder camera so be prepared to use them -almost always- as zone focused and rather at small apertures like f8 for example.

Second, they will surely obstruct your viewfinder when used with their shades. Third, you may not be able to use the framing in your viewfinder correctly unless you do something "custom"; modification I mean..

Finally they are large in size compared to the original rangefinder lenses.

In case you have some 20, 24 or 28mm SLR lenses, better concentrate on them by finding proper external viewfinders as they function with zone focusing quite well. (Be warned though, proper external viewfinders + adapters sometimes cost as much as some rangefinder lenses...)

+1. I bought a Nikon-SLR to Leica-M some years ago, and sadly, used it only once. You can zone focus when you are using wide or super-wides (21-35mm) or when you shoot at infinity with longer lenses. As stated, the SLR lenses will look huge on your RF body.

Personally, I wouldn't bother.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Wide angle lenses will work well as zone focus.

Someday I will make a Rangefinder Cam for a Nikon 50/1.4 SLR lens to RF couple when used with the adapter. The Nikon SLR lenses are a nominal ~51.6mm focal length, same as a Leica. It would be possible to put an RF cam on the back of the Nikon lens to couple with the RF follower of the camera.

Check the Actual focal length of the Nikon and Canon 50mm lenses.

They are very close to the Leica standard.

 

[JMQ]

Oh yes, Amedeo will adapt a Nikkor-S 55mm f1.2 SLR for Leica-M, and it's RF-coupled. He's a sponsor at RFF.

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

No disrespect to the question, but why not buy a Nikon F body or Canon body for $150 to sample your lenses.....rather than the huge expense of an adaptor which will give you marginal results at best...with no auto diaphragm, no DOF preview, troublesome focussing. If anything I would like to see an "M" lens to Nikon F mount...which I have partially realized using Leica R (SLR) lenses on my D700. The results of using a 50mm Summicron R on D700 are spectacular. The 90mm Elmarit R is also breath-taking on D700.
I'd like to see what my 35mm ASPH Summilux would look like using D700. But again in each case one must count on stop down metering, focussing with diaphragm open then close it to shoot, no action photography. I used a 50mm Nikkor F1.4 for 35 years. I have two of them. They are nice lenses but not really significant enough IMO to go through expense and trouble. I think the lens will look the same on film no matter what camera is holding the film.

If you get a cheap Nikon F body, you could be opening up to a new world of SLR photography and a vast supply of inexpensive quality Nikon SLR glass.