Schneider Kreuznach and other newer large format lenses for Mamiya Press.

[dagbb]

Hi all!

I posted this to APUG, but received little feedback. I want to try further lenses, but testing several large format lenses will be expensive, so I hope others can share their experience, to save some grief and costs for the curious 🙂

I used this lens spanner to loosen the locknut and remove the original lens from a silver 150mm:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-Flat-tip-DSLR-Lens-Spanner-Wrench-Tool-For-Camera-Lens-Repair-Open-TOOLS/221554604951

The one bar of the spanner is too long, and will be blocked by the throat of the helicoid, so I just cut it using a short saw. Otherwise this was very easy.

I tried mounting both a 150mm Scheneider Xenar and Symmar MC (APO-version has a too wide back element, and will not fit unless the helicoid is widened), and both work. The helicoid flange distance is too short, however, so it will focus beyond infinity. To get proper rangefinder focusing you need to put a locking nut between the helicoid flange and the shutter and adjust this. I tested focus using a makeshift Mamiya Press to EOS adapter, and it seems possible to make it exact enough for the rangefinder to be reliable.

My next project would be the 100mm helicoid and a Schneider 100mm APO, or some Rodenstock lenses.

Anyone else try to update the Mamiya Press lenses?
_DSC0031 by dagr, on Flickr

 

[besk]

So far I have only removed the lens from a 90 helical.

My plans were to adapt a 52mm threaded female adapter to accept 52mm screw in lens caps as lensboards with Copal 0 holes drilled in them. For a given LF lens focal length I was planning using a combination of extension tubes and 52mm filter rings with the glass removed to achieve infinity focus.

Since my 100mm Mamiya lens is perfectly fine for me I planned to use ground glass focusing with various lenses.

 

[charjohncarter]

So far I have only removed the lens from a 90 helical.

My plans were to adapt a 52mm threaded female adapter to accept 52mm screw in lens caps as lensboards with Copal 0 holes drilled in them. For a given LF lens focal length I was planning using a combination of extension tubes and 52mm filter rings with the glass removed to achieve infinity focus.

Since my 100mm Mamiya lens is perfectly fine for me I planned to use ground glass focusing with various lenses.

I don't have a lens cap for my Super 23, I'm wondering how tight it fits to the camera? I have five lenses that I've adapted in this way to my Pentax 6x7 and they all work well. Although they are not quality lenses.

 

[besk]

Most of the Mamiya lenses for the Mamiya use 55mm lenscaps.

My helical off of a 90 lens. The adapter will be made from a 62mm to 52mm adapter. This requires grinding off the 62mm threads to make that side flat so that it can be attached to the helical with small screws. I hope that is clear.

 

[charjohncarter]

Thanks, it is.

 

[Spanik]

Nice idea. Got two Mamiya Press cameras, a Fuji 75mm and a Schneider 180mm. I sense a project coming...

 

[Nokton48]

I build lenses for my Plaubel Makiflexes. Schneider Xenars, a Xenotar, Rodenstock Imagons, Schneider Symmars, Rodenstock Apo-Ronars, 120mm Angulon, and a few more exotic ones.

It has been alot of fun. Enjoy working with my hands.

 

[dagbb]

I agree, it's fun to tinker... These cameras are so old and simple, there are a lot of modifications and upgrades possible. Another thought I had was to mount a Prontor Press shutter - to make it a bit more automatic... I never thought about using lens caps - that's a good idea. I have the ground glass with RLF also, but the interesting part for me is trying to modify the lenses to work with rangefinder focusing. Spanik: I actually found a 180mm Schneider Symmar (Copal 1) adapted to Mamiya press on Yahoo Auctions Japan. I cannot identify the contraption exactly, but there are some Pentax 6x7 parts in there at least (Photos credit to seller):

http://page5.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e148774269

 

[Nokton48]

I have bought multiple sets of these "tubes" and they are working just great for me.
Extra tubes and plates were $20 each. Well worth it, in my opinion. Great for prototyping.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lens-Board-...0633960?pt=US_Lens_Boards&hash=item3f2995f868

 

[Spanik]

Dagbb, it is indeed a Symmar that I have around. One of the 180/315 convertible types. But in first instance I'm more interested in the Fuji wide. Got a mill and lathe but I really should learn to machine better. Stuff like this won't be usable with my sloppy working.

 

[oftheherd]

Most of the Mamiya lenses for the Mamiya use 55mm lenscaps.

My helical off of a 90 lens. The adapter will be made from a 62mm to 52mm adapter. This requires grinding off the 62mm threads to make that side flat so that it can be attached to the helical with small screws. I hope that is clear.

I'm not home so I can't guarentee the 150mm, but I know the 100 f/3.5 is 55mm, I think the 150 is as well. The 250mm f/8 I think was 58mm. The 250mm f/5 and the 50mm were both bigger, I think 72mm for the 50mm, and 105mm for the 250 f/5. If anybody really needs to know, I can check tonight, or you can look it up on line. I think the Butkus manual might show it.

 

[dagbb]

Just a small note: seller ramir73 has made a small batch of NEX, m43 and EOS-adapters for Mamiya Press lenses. I bought the EOS-one, but if you ask, maybe he will make more. It will be very useful to be able to check focus on "adapted" lenses using live view, and then adjust by shimming etc.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/ramir73/m.html

 

[dagbb]

Just a small update. I had to continue tinkering, and made some further modifications to see how far this Mamiya can go! First an Schneider APO symmar 100mm 5.6 in a 100mm helicoid. It works, but it still needs calibrating for rangefinder focusing. I also added a G-adapter to use Horseman 6x9 backs, which are quite a bit lighter and smaller than the Mamiya ones. For some strange reason Horseman did not make them fully compatible with the Graflok interface. After putting small washers between the sliding bars, filing the tabs and the locking bar to the left, it works, but initially I had some uneven focus problems. Also added the Horseman 4x5 back (!), which does not focus to infinity with the ordinary lenses, but by adding a Schneider Xenar 150mm to a 100mm helicoid it works fine... Now I just need a 6x12 back... these mods can be addictive!