i have, as of tomorrow, a r-d1
now i have a digital rangefinder (ie im not going to be wasting time prossesing useless films) i fancy messing about with other bits of my slr kit to see if i can get any interesting results, i predomenantly have nikon slr kit and my first port of call is trying to fit my 50mm 1.2 to my m mount rangfinders
is this possible? and if so im i likely to get anything usefull with a lens like this with my rd1 or r2a/r3a or m6?
ANY info on this subject would be usefull including any experience anyone has with mounting any non rf lenses on m cameras. i quite like messing about doing this sort of thing even if it doesnt have any real practical aplication
sorry if this is in the wrong forum??
now i have a digital rangefinder (ie im not going to be wasting time prossesing useless films) i fancy messing about with other bits of my slr kit to see if i can get any interesting results, i predomenantly have nikon slr kit and my first port of call is trying to fit my 50mm 1.2 to my m mount rangfinders
is this possible? and if so im i likely to get anything usefull with a lens like this with my rd1 or r2a/r3a or m6?
ANY info on this subject would be usefull including any experience anyone has with mounting any non rf lenses on m cameras. i quite like messing about doing this sort of thing even if it doesnt have any real practical aplication
sorry if this is in the wrong forum??
principe azul
Ian
I have the 50/1.2. Focus should be interesting. 
Cameraquest and others sell a Nikon lens to Leica mount adaptor, but it doesn't couple with the rangefinder.
Anyway, enjoy this page.
Cameraquest and others sell a Nikon lens to Leica mount adaptor, but it doesn't couple with the rangefinder.
Anyway, enjoy this page.
hans voralberg
Veteran
Good luck scale focusing with a f1.2 lens, the only lens I know that can be converted to have rangefinder coupling is the Canon FL 58/1.2
jmkelly
rangefinder user
Victor Chan has done a number of RF-coupled conversions of the Canon FD 55/1.2 to M-mount. He sells as "38333" on eBay. I have one; it works well on my R-D1 though a VF magnifier is needed to increase the number of full-aperture keeper shots. I don't know if he will or can convert Nikon lenses.
Beemermark
Veteran
Can I inquire as to the cost? I have the Canon lens and like it a lot but it's the only Canon lens and body that I have. Is the size of the lens a problem?
Joerg
Dilettant
I have used a Zeiss C?Y 25/2.8mm Disragon with great success. Cameraquest adapter works well. Also tried the 80-200mm Vario-Sonnar just for fun.
Ciao
joerg
Ciao
joerg
Hmmm. sounds like you want the lens on the M3 on the right! Ebay seller amedeo.m made it using the optics from a Nikkor lens. Not sure if it was a one-off though.
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Al Kaplan
Veteran
It's possible. There's plenty of room for an adapter. It would really require making a new focusing mount for the lens, though, to get rangefinder coupling. For that kind of custom machining it would be much cheaper to buy a Noctilux brand new. With the adapter you're going to be setting the focus by scale, and how are you going to judge the distance? At f/1.2 your focus is going to have to be accurate within a scant few millimeters when shooting at closer distances.
Chris101
summicronia
There used to be an OM to M-mount adaptor. I have the 21mm Zukio which I would LOVE to hook up with my M4-P. Does such a thing still exist anywhere? That would be so cool, cause a 21mm would be easy to 'zone focus', RF coupling would not be a necessity.
cheers for the coments,
like i said i understand the lack of practical aplication for this sort of thing (50 1.2) i just enjoy trying things out with the various equipment i have. i have recently bought a katseye screen for my d300 so its not like i cant use my 50 1.2 to great effect on that
like chris101 i have wide angle non rf lenses (17mm 3.5 and 20mm 2.8) i would like to try out as they are both faster than my rf equivalents and scale focusing on those would be easy... i taught my self photogaphy on a voigtlander vito b and only ever scale focused
do cameraquest still make the nikon adapter, i cant find it on the site? and does anyone have a clue how i might get one in the uk?
like i said i understand the lack of practical aplication for this sort of thing (50 1.2) i just enjoy trying things out with the various equipment i have. i have recently bought a katseye screen for my d300 so its not like i cant use my 50 1.2 to great effect on that
like chris101 i have wide angle non rf lenses (17mm 3.5 and 20mm 2.8) i would like to try out as they are both faster than my rf equivalents and scale focusing on those would be easy... i taught my self photogaphy on a voigtlander vito b and only ever scale focused
do cameraquest still make the nikon adapter, i cant find it on the site? and does anyone have a clue how i might get one in the uk?
pphuang
brain drain...
cheers pphuang
spysmart
Established
About 10 years ago, I bought a Noct-Nikkor 58 f/1.2 and a FM2n body.
The Nikon viewfinder was brighter than the Leica M's viewfinder, and was easier to frame dim objects.
( However the Noct-Nikkor was no where near as sharp as the Noctilux - point sources turned into balls when wide open - at least the noctilux was pin sharp in the middle of the frame )
Would your money not be better spent on a Voigtlander 50 f/1.5 or 35 f/1.2 ?
However I did mount a 16mm fish eye on my M6 which was good fun.
The Nikon viewfinder was brighter than the Leica M's viewfinder, and was easier to frame dim objects.
( However the Noct-Nikkor was no where near as sharp as the Noctilux - point sources turned into balls when wide open - at least the noctilux was pin sharp in the middle of the frame )
Would your money not be better spent on a Voigtlander 50 f/1.5 or 35 f/1.2 ?
However I did mount a 16mm fish eye on my M6 which was good fun.
well... i have spent the day araldieting m to l adapters to nikon extention tubes and bits of dismantled nikon slr in some atempt to make a nikon - m adapter. but... as close to infinity focus i got... i was unfortunatly foiled .... good fun having a go though
does anyone know the exact flange back distance (if that is the right term) of a nikon slr so i can get my file out and make this thing happen
also how to measure this distance would be usefull!!!!
does anyone know the exact flange back distance (if that is the right term) of a nikon slr so i can get my file out and make this thing happen
also how to measure this distance would be usefull!!!!
S
Simon Larbalestier
Guest
Stephen used to sell a Nikon - Lecia M adapter that was rangefinder coupled some years ago because i purchased one - it worked fine you just had to focus twice, once on the lens and then on the adapter. I really liked this lens wide open at 1.2 - sadly i sold the lens some time ago to finance the LHSA 50/1.4
hans voralberg
Veteran
Nikon F mount flange focal distance is 46.50mm
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
If its not here...
If its not here...
If its not here, its probably not worth knowing about.
This is the most extensive page on the subject I ever found, it took quite a while to find as well.
I made an adapter myself, it consists of a Novoflex F mount, a standard plastic Nikon rear lens cap, and an adapter for T-mount lenses to M39 (which was probably made for the Russian M39 SLR cameras, since it was way too shallow for a RF camera).
This adapter has the M39 rear end, allowing the use of the adapter on older Leicas and on Leica M at the same time.
I found that scale focusing the 50mm 1.2 is feasable, but it takes all the fun out of using the 1.2 to 4.0 apertures, unless you like to see many OOF pictures or like wasting film on experimenting. Hope I did not break the toy contributing this experience...
I'll see if I can find a shot of the Nikkor on the Minolta CLE I used to own!
If its not here...
If its not here, its probably not worth knowing about.
This is the most extensive page on the subject I ever found, it took quite a while to find as well.
I made an adapter myself, it consists of a Novoflex F mount, a standard plastic Nikon rear lens cap, and an adapter for T-mount lenses to M39 (which was probably made for the Russian M39 SLR cameras, since it was way too shallow for a RF camera).
This adapter has the M39 rear end, allowing the use of the adapter on older Leicas and on Leica M at the same time.
I found that scale focusing the 50mm 1.2 is feasable, but it takes all the fun out of using the 1.2 to 4.0 apertures, unless you like to see many OOF pictures or like wasting film on experimenting. Hope I did not break the toy contributing this experience...
I'll see if I can find a shot of the Nikkor on the Minolta CLE I used to own!