Leica LTM Visoflex with 135mm lens

[ivos89]

Which Leica adapter number or code should I use with my analog Visoflex II and a non-Leitz lens (Canon 135mm f3.5 LTM) to focus at infinity. There are many adapters and I don't know them. I'm using my old Leica IIIf.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Coldkennels]

Which Leica adapter number or code should I use with my analog Visoflex II and a non-Leitz lens (Canon 135mm f3.5 LTM) to focus at infinity. There are many adapters and I don't know them. I'm using my old Leica IIIf.

Simply put: no such adapter exists, and what you're looking for can't be done.

The Visoflex increases the flange-to-film distance quite considerably, adding 40mm to the 28.8mm flange focal distance of an LTM camera. That gives you a 68.8mm FFD, which is so large that only medium format SLR lenses will give you infinity focus (see the list of flange focal distances for various mounts here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flange_focal_distance; anything less than 68.8mm won't focus to infinity).

Leitz' "fix" for this is to replace the barrel and focusing helical of the lens for a shorter one. This is how you use 90mm Elmars, 90mm Elmarits, 135mm Elmars and 135mm Hektors on a Visoflex; you remove the lens head, which unscrews simply, and mount it onto a lens-specific shorter barrel. You can't do that with Canon lenses - the lens head can't be removed.

In short, you'll need to pick up a Leitz 135mm lens to use it on the Visoflex.

There's a pamphlet about the Visoflex on Butkus' site here, which will show you some options: https://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leitz_visoflex_ii.pdf

 

[ivos89]

Thanks for perfect explanation.

 

[Dralowid]

Just one weeny point... The 65mm Elmar and the 65mm Elmar V are designed to be the shortest focal length to go to infinity on a Viso II or III (not the earlier ones). These lenses have no focus and are used with the OTZFO mount.

If one can be bothered to go through hassle they are superb though rarely mentioned.

So thats another 3.8mm for you!