Weird, kooky but interesting old lens ADAPTERS

[Sumarongi]

Inspired by Peter's thread «Weird, kooky but interesting old lenses for mirrorless adaptation», I'd like to know what are the weirdest, kookiest lens adapters that you have?

Not necessarily «use», just have 😉

One of my perhaps weirdest is this one:

 

[Sumarongi]

Not mine, not really an adapter, but some sort of hybrid lens:

(ebay item 132853834679)

According to the maker/seller of this hybrid, even autofocus would work!?

 

[charjohncarter]

I have a Leica thread mount to take M42 screw mount lenses. It was made by Pentax and it isn't 'tall' enough to correctly use a Pentax lens on a Leica TM camera. Maybe it was for some scientific use. I'd like to know what it was used for.

 

[Sumarongi]

I have a Leica thread mount to take M42 screw mount lenses. It was made by Pentax and it isn't 'tall' enough to correctly use a Pentax lens on a Leica TM camera. Maybe it was for some scientific use. I'd like to know what it was used for.

I do also have such a thing, aluminium of high quality, perhaps made in the USSR or elsewhere in the Eastern Bloc (unfortunately, no inscription). —— In my case, it has exactly the correct thickness (16.7mm) for using a Contax/Pentax/Praktica lens on a Screw Mount Leica/FED/Zorki!

39mm*26tpi was (is?) some sort of standard for many purposes; perhaps in your case Pentax made it as a means of coupling to a microscope, or a telescope; more likely, IMHO, for using the Pentax lens on enlargers, and on bellows, I'd suggest?

 

[charjohncarter]

Thanks for that answer, if I use a no. 1 Pentax extension with my adapter it is the right size. But what good is it? The bellows or enlarger seem to be more logical.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I have an adaptor which has been machined by hand to mount a Praktina mount lens on a Sony NEX. I use it for a Trioplan 100mm.

 

[Abbazz]

I got this strange adapter recently on eBay:

It's an adapter to mount Fuji G690 lenses on a Pentax-K bayonet. You know, the lenses designed for the old Fujica G690 camera series with interchangeable lenses. Here is the 180mm F/5.6 Fujinon mounted on my Sony A7II with this adapter, a Pentax-K to Leica-M ring and a Leica-M to Sony-FE focusing adapter:

And here's a couple of pictures taken with the big Sonnar-type 180mm lens (you can click on them to download the full size):







The strong vignetting in the corners is due to the Leica-M to Sony-FE focusing adapter. The small diameter of the focusing helicoid induces mechanical vignetting.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[peterm1]

Man that big 180mm F/5.6 Fujinon lens looks so cool on that digital camera. Its the kind of thing that I was asking to see with my thread so thanks for drawing it out Sumarongi.

I stack a few adapters and regularly but nothing quite so exotic as this.

For example one of the more extreme pancake stacks I have used (sometimes just for fun) is an M42 - L39 adapter stacked with a Leica LTM to M adapter stacked with a Leica M to M4/3 adapter stacked with an M4/3 to NEX adapter.

It does work as unlikely as it sounds.

I also use an Exakta to Leica M adapter which can then be stacked to a Leica M to M4/3 adapter (or be used on the nex with the M4/3 to NEX adapter mentioned above). I did it this way simply to avoid the need to buy two versions of the Exakta adapter - one for each system.

I also sometimes use a Canon FD to four thirds adapter (this refers to the the old original OLympus four thirds system and then use a four thirds to M4/3 adapter as part of that stack. I no longer need to do this as now have direct adapter for Canon to M4/3 but it worked for a while before I did this. And I still do it occasionally when it is more convenient to carry alternate lenses already set up on adapters for a quicker change.

I think I already mentioned this adapter in my thread. http://sonyaddict.com/2016/08/03/kipon-medium-format-lens-adapter-for-sony-e-mount/

More ideas anyone?

 

[Abbazz]

Man that big 180mm F/5.6 Fujinon lens looks so cool on that digital camera. Its the kind of thing that I was asking to see with my thread so thanks for drawing it out Sumarongi.

Sorry, Peter, for not posting to your thread. I will add a link there.

I have to "split" my adapters in order to limit the number I need to buy. If I had to buy a new adapter in order to mount every different lens mount on every camera I own, then I would need a few hundred of them.

So I have pretty much standardized to Leica-M adapters whenever available, because M-Mount is widely used, while its register is shorter than most "classical" mounts and also because I can then use either a Techart Pro AF or a Yeenon helicoid adapter to mount the lenses on my Sony FE cameras.

Leica-M is also pretty easy to adapt to any other mirrorless camera, like M4/3.

Regarding adapted lenses, the possibilities are now nearly endless. For example, it is possible to benefit from the large image circle of medium format lenses to use a shift adapter to shoot panoramic views on a 24x36 sensor. Or to use a "SpeedBooster" to turn any fast lens into a super-duper Noctilux on a smaller format.

For really exotic mounts with no available adapter, or for lenses harvested from folding cameras, I can always use my "ultimate weapon".

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Sumarongi]

For really exotic mounts with no available adapter, or for lenses harvested from folding cameras, I can always use my "ultimate weapon".

Dear Abbazz,

looks great! I recall French Steam Punk movies here 😀

 

[peterm1]

Sorry, Peter, for not posting to your thread. I will add a link there.

I have to "split" my adapters in order to limit the number I need to buy. If I had to buy a new adapter in order to mount every different lens mount on every camera I own, then I would need a few hundred of them.

So I have pretty much standardized to Leica-M adapters whenever available, because M-Mount is widely used, while its register is shorter than most "classical" mounts and also because I can then use either a Techart Pro AF or a Yeenon helicoid adapter to mount the lenses on my Sony FE cameras.

Leica-M is also pretty easy to adapt to any other mirrorless camera, like M4/3.

Regarding adapted lenses, the possibilities are now nearly endless. For example, it is possible to benefit from the large image circle of medium format lenses to use a shift adapter to shoot panoramic views on a 24x36 sensor. Or to use a "SpeedBooster" to turn any fast lens into a super-duper Noctilux on a smaller format.

For really exotic mounts with no available adapter, or for lenses harvested from folding cameras, I can always use my "ultimate weapon".

Cheers!

Abbazz

No problems Abbazz and thanks for putting that link to this thread in the other thread.

I often use Leica M mount adapters as part of a mixed stack too as it is ubiquitous and small. One thing I so occasionally for smaller size M42 lenses is, because they look ungainly on the big diameter M42 adapters which, appearance wise, look best only on a larger diameter M42 lens I use a different set up.

For example my "standard" M42 to M4/3 adapter has a large diameter and is quite bulky - something which suits say an SMC Takumar 135mm f2.5 lens or even an SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4 but not a more skinny lens like say an early preset 105mm f2.8 which has a small diameter. And certainly not the tiny Industar 50mm f3.5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G-I7pZ3FvA
Somehow when the lens adapter is bigger than the lens itself it just looks wrong to my eye.

I do this purely because of how it looks mind you and instead I use an M42 to L39 adapter (which is quite small in diameter compared to the larger M42 - M4/3 adapter) then a Leica L39 to M mount adapter then an M mount to M4/3 adapter as it looks more elegant.

It's arguably a bad reason for stacking adapters I know, especially as I actually quite like the look of some weird and kooky lenses and adapter combinations. Just not this look especially when matched with a small camera body. Somehow a large oversized lens on a small body looks perfectly fine to me.

 

[peterm1]

Originally Posted by Abbazz View Post
For really exotic mounts with no available adapter, or for lenses harvested from folding cameras, I can always use my "ultimate weapon".

http://forum.mflenses.com/universal-diaphragm-lens-holder-the-ultimate-weapon-t4403.html

Now that is what I was hoping to see.
It is just a bellows unit and an iris so I take it that it would normally attach to a large format lens but here you seem to have a medium format or perhaps 35mm lens up front. How does that attach?

 

[rfaspen]

I need to dig out my most odd adapter and share a photo. Its not necessarly odd looking, but impressive in that it is a big, heavy, solid piece of brass. Did I say it's heavy?

Someone with a metal lathe apparently took a solid block of brass and turned an adapter to mount LTM lenses on m4/3. It is not dainty and the unpolished brass finish is kind of unique.

 

[Nokton48]

DSC01430 by Nokton48, on Flickr

I have collected Plaubel Makiflexes for over thirty years. Here is a new lens, Yes it is KOOKY. A B&L Super Cinephor 5.25 inch F2 lens. This is a theatrical cinema projection lens, intended for projecting 70mm and 35mm motion picture films.

Attached to a large-holed Makiflex with Gorilla Tape. Unbelieveable bokeh; Just F2!

DSC06092 by Nokton48, on Flickr

It is a MONSTER. Weighs about ten pounds.

 

[Abbazz]

It is just a bellows unit and an iris so I take it that it would normally attach to a large format lens but here you seem to have a medium format or perhaps 35mm lens up front. How does that attach?

It's indeed a bellows unit with an iris lens holder mounted in front of it. The iris diaphragm blades are made of strong steel. The diameter of the iris is adjustable and can be used to hold any lens with a diameter from less than 2cm to almost 6cm. Here it is pictured with a vintage Contax Sonnar:

The control wheel on the right is used to adjust the diameter of the iris to a little bit more than the rear diameter of the lens:

The lens is inserted between the blades of the iris and the wheel on the right is used to tighten the iris in order to hold the lens properly. Then the wheel on the left is used to lock everything in place:

Once locked, the iris mount is light tight and holds the lens in place very strongly. I often use this contraption handheld, even for hiking or street shooting.

The iris lens holder is especially useful for lenses without any mounting thread, like projector lenses, or lenses salvaged from old cameras.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[rfaspen]

I think this takes the prize for weird, kooky, interesting, amazing adapter. I've seen external aperture mechanisms before, they were supposed to be used in conjunction with LF lenses that didn't have internal aperture mechanisms (e.g., waterhouse stops, or no stops at all). Those units were different though and had provision to be mounted in a lensboard with a different way of holding a lens in front, or behind, the aperture.....not in it. This is quite different!

It's indeed a bellows unit with an iris lens holder mounted in front of it. The iris diaphragm blades are made of strong steel. The diameter of the iris is adjustable and can be used to hold any lens with a diameter from less than 2cm to almost 6cm. Here it is pictured with a vintage Contax Sonnar:

The control wheel on the right is used to adjust the diameter of the iris to a little bit more than the rear diameter of the lens:

The lens is inserted between the blades of the iris and the wheel on the right is used to tighten the iris in order to hold the lens properly. Then the wheel on the left is used to lock everything in place:

Once locked, the iris mount is light tight and holds the lens in place very strongly. I often use this contraption handheld, even for hiking or street shooting.

The iris lens holder is especially useful for lenses without any mounting thread, like projector lenses, or lenses salvaged from old cameras.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[peterm1]

I stumbled on this link today. The reator seems to use a variety of adapted lenses including lenses for the modern Contax G system and lenses for Contarex on Sony mirrorless cameras and Fuji ones.

He does not focus on the adapters or the technical aspects so much as thier use in the field but it is an interesting read none the less.

https://tomscameras.wordpress.com/2...tagon-352-a-legend-alive-–-on-the-sony-nex-5/

https://tomscameras.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/zeiss-contarex-sonnar-1352-8-on-the-sony-nex-5/

https://tomscameras.wordpress.com/tag/contarex-lenses/

https://tomscameras.wordpress.com/category/classic-cameras-and-lenses/

https://tomscameras.wordpress.com/tag/contax-g/

 

[Abbazz]

Another weird adapter: Fujica G690 to Pentax K. This one allows mounting lenses for the old Fuji G690 rangefinders on Pentax cameras. I use it on my Sony A7:

The old lenses deliver good results on digital (vignetting in the corners is due to the added helicoid adapter):





Unfortunately, the 50mm F/5.6 Fujinon cannot be mounted on the adapter because of its protruding rear unit.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[peterm1]

Another weird adapter: Fujica G690 to Pentax K. This one allows mounting lenses for the old Fuji G690 rangefinders on Pentax cameras. I use it on my Sony A7:

The old lenses deliver good results on digital (vignetting in the corners is due to the added helicoid adapter):





Unfortunately, the 50mm F/5.6 Fujinon cannot be mounted on the adapter because of its protruding rear unit.

Cheers!

Abbazz

That is one seriously nice looking lens. I had seen a picture of one somewhere before but had not appreciated it is for a medium format camera and is quite so physically imposing.

 

[kuuan]

a selfmade adapter using the Contax rangefinder mount taken off a Kiev4 camera


Kiev 4 with Jupiter 8 by andreas, on Flickr


for Sony E mount


NEX5N with CZJ Sonnar f1.5/5cm by andreas, on Flickr

some years ago similar adapters made from Kiev cameras had been selling on ebay, I don;t know if hey still do. I think those came with the plate for mounting on the camera cut
I like the looks of it and left it,the limiter for the close focus distance is not transferred and it allows for closer focusing than the original.



Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


Contax mount rangefinder lenses by andreas, on Flickr