peterm1
Veteran
I have recently stumbled on an idea which (surprisingly for my ideas) works quite nicely at least for me.
I am presently using 3 different mirrorless camera systems - Sony E mount, Micro 4/3 and Fujifilm. I have not bought an m4/3 camera in years but I still quite like the format and, as I would get but a pittance should I sell it, I keep using it at least from time to time. The other two cameras get used interchangeably depending on my plans for the day. But what this means is that I am "running" 3 main camera systems contemporaneously.
I also love exploring old vintage glass and unless I am forgetting something, I presently have the following: M42, Pentax K mount, Nikon F mount, Nikon RF, Canon FL/FD, Exacta, Leica M, Leica LTM. I also have a couple of 3rd party lenses in Canon EOS mount which unlike most EOS lenses do not need electrical contacts and so operate with a "dumb adapter". Knowing me more might well follow in future. So far, though, that is a total of 9 different lens mount types. Should I wish to mount each of these on each of the camera types I have that would require a total of 27 different adapters. What I have begun experimenting with is using Leica M as the common mount for all of these lenses and body types. This means I only need 3 adapters for the 3 bodies I use (effectively converting each of them to a Leica M mount body - well sort of), plus one for each lens type thereby converting them to Leica M mount too. That makes a total of only 12 adapters to buy and cope with.
Fortunately, due to the advent of AF lens adapters in recent years, (which also use Leica M as their standard mount type) adapting to Leica M from a wide variety of lens mounts is now entirely possible as such adapters are widely purveyed for use on such AF adapters). Although I already have some dedicated lens adapters for the lens types and body types that I own, I have recently been using this system as an alternative to a dedicated adapter when I find the need to buy another adapter for some reason.
Of course, it means stacking adapters which some may be averse to, but I have not found that to be problematic. This "system" is quite discrete and small (notwithstanding the need to have two adapters in play for each lens/camera combination) as most dedicated lens adapters are more large and bulky than this option in most cases. I also like how it looks - a kind of "wasp waist" effect which produces more naturally flowing lines at the camera to Leica M - Leica M to lens junction. See photo below which has an old Zeiss lens mounted on a Sony body. I do not like for example the look of a skinny lens mounted on a fat/ large diameter adapter which makes it look like it is sitting on a plinth. (A personal foible, I grant you). This method looks more elegant to my eye.
Finally, it simplifies shooting - if you are going out for a day with a camera with say, 3 lenses - each with a different mount, it's simply a matter of converting each of those with a (small and light) Leica M adapter first. This tends to reduce bulk and weight in the camera bag.
Just a thought for those willing to experiment.
I am presently using 3 different mirrorless camera systems - Sony E mount, Micro 4/3 and Fujifilm. I have not bought an m4/3 camera in years but I still quite like the format and, as I would get but a pittance should I sell it, I keep using it at least from time to time. The other two cameras get used interchangeably depending on my plans for the day. But what this means is that I am "running" 3 main camera systems contemporaneously.
I also love exploring old vintage glass and unless I am forgetting something, I presently have the following: M42, Pentax K mount, Nikon F mount, Nikon RF, Canon FL/FD, Exacta, Leica M, Leica LTM. I also have a couple of 3rd party lenses in Canon EOS mount which unlike most EOS lenses do not need electrical contacts and so operate with a "dumb adapter". Knowing me more might well follow in future. So far, though, that is a total of 9 different lens mount types. Should I wish to mount each of these on each of the camera types I have that would require a total of 27 different adapters. What I have begun experimenting with is using Leica M as the common mount for all of these lenses and body types. This means I only need 3 adapters for the 3 bodies I use (effectively converting each of them to a Leica M mount body - well sort of), plus one for each lens type thereby converting them to Leica M mount too. That makes a total of only 12 adapters to buy and cope with.
Fortunately, due to the advent of AF lens adapters in recent years, (which also use Leica M as their standard mount type) adapting to Leica M from a wide variety of lens mounts is now entirely possible as such adapters are widely purveyed for use on such AF adapters). Although I already have some dedicated lens adapters for the lens types and body types that I own, I have recently been using this system as an alternative to a dedicated adapter when I find the need to buy another adapter for some reason.
Of course, it means stacking adapters which some may be averse to, but I have not found that to be problematic. This "system" is quite discrete and small (notwithstanding the need to have two adapters in play for each lens/camera combination) as most dedicated lens adapters are more large and bulky than this option in most cases. I also like how it looks - a kind of "wasp waist" effect which produces more naturally flowing lines at the camera to Leica M - Leica M to lens junction. See photo below which has an old Zeiss lens mounted on a Sony body. I do not like for example the look of a skinny lens mounted on a fat/ large diameter adapter which makes it look like it is sitting on a plinth. (A personal foible, I grant you). This method looks more elegant to my eye.
Finally, it simplifies shooting - if you are going out for a day with a camera with say, 3 lenses - each with a different mount, it's simply a matter of converting each of those with a (small and light) Leica M adapter first. This tends to reduce bulk and weight in the camera bag.
Just a thought for those willing to experiment.
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