Using FSU- and VC-Lenses on Leica M's

[Spider67]

From what I am reading it's possible to use aJ12 with the Leica M Cameras but not with the Canon P. Any reason why?
Is there a way to collimate this lens if using it on a M-Leica or do you use it in stopped down mode?
As ther is a vague possibilty of getting a Leica for a good price.
Are there problems like back focus when using Canon- and VC-LTM lenses via adapter on Leica Ms.
Of course the question in reverse would be:
Is a Bessa R2 etc. a good backup if you already own a Leica M outfit?
thanks in advance
Des
from Vienna (the one in Europe)

 

[former member]

Too bad your not in Vienna off the Beltway in Virginia!

You can shim the J-12 if need be, unscrew the rear module and the front section will come out, revealing the shim.

Problems- if the adapter is poor quality and not flat, it can introduce problems. I've never had any with my 50-year old Leitz adapters.

 

[Spider67]

The Virginian Vienna enjoys much of an reputation! Must come over to see it one day!

 

[payasam]

I use a J-12 with an M2 without modification.

 

[Highway 61]

From what I am reading it's possible to use aJ12 with the Leica M Cameras but not with the Canon P. Any reason why?

I'm surprised nobody answered your first question yet.

The Canon P has additional light baffles in its film chamber, hence some problems with the large rear element of some J-12.

If you get a late production J-12 (serial beginning by 9xxxxxx) it might work just fine though. Some folks here use a J-12 on their P, there is even a guy whose avatar is a black J-12 on a P (don't remember *who* but he will for sure get in that thread).

About your second question : not every lens you buy needs to be shimmed before you use it ; there is no a priori reason so that a good J-12 won't focus properly on a Leica M when used with a LTM-M adapter.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Des,

Can't answer the Canon question, but I've used many FSU lenses on many M-series Leicas over the last 30+ years. Most have focused perfectly well; I think you'd need to be unlucky (or into photographing rulers and test charts at 1 metre, or use VERY low-quality adapters) to have significant problems.

Likewise modern Voigtländers, which I normally use with Leica adapters (I have several): no problem. A screw-to-bayonet adapter requires precision, which lets out the nastiest available copies, but they are not exactly rocket science.

And yes, an R2 is a good second camera to an M. I often used my R2 instead of one of my M2s as a second camera to my M4-P, until I got the MP. Now, the M4-P is the second camera to the MP. Until I got the Rapidwinder I was thinking of getting rid of both M2s; now I'm only thinking of unloading one of them.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Spyderman]

Des: I think you are trying to squeeze too many questions in one post 🙂

People who own M2 report that J-12 is perfectly usable. Canons have the additional light baffles inside the body, similar to Bessas, so J-12 usually doesn't fit.

With J-12 there usually aren't many problems like incorrect collimation. The extended DOF of wide angle lens covers many errors and most are usable on Leica without modification. (BTW: the extended DOF is also the reason why Voigtlander produced one line of wide angle lenses for both Nikon S and Contax (RF). Longer lenses aren't interchangable between the two systems.)

And yes, Bessa R2 is a very good camera. Much much better than the original R because it has magnesium alloy body. The lightmeter is precise and the viewfinder is joy to use.

 

[Spider67]

Thanks Highway , Payasam and Highway for your answers!
My main concern was that I did not want to damage the M6´s curtains when testing it with my J 12. I also wanted to know if it's feasible to shim it at all (only when really not avoidable..but then I guess that means repairing the lens as such) as its construction seems to me very different from other lenses I know.
@ Roger&highway: When I bought my Bessa R and tested it with my J 8´s and Industars I was abit disappointed and could not share the enthusiasm as my J 8´s did so so. The I 22 was the best. J 9´s seem to be made for collimation/reshimming : My first measure was focus on the nosetip if you want to have the eyes sharp. I am inclined to believe that there is a different standard which made people think that FSU lenses are crap (especially here in Austria/Germany).
@ highway: Thanks as a Canon P is definitely more in my range than an M6!

 

[Nikon Bob]

I have heard that some have problems mounting a J-12 on a Canon P. A friend has a black J-12 mounted on his Canon P and so do I. Mine is also a black one from 1973, if I recall correctly. It might be individual variances in individual cameras and lenses or a combination of both that cause these problems, I don't know. Mine works fine but YMMV.

Bob