Leica 39mm - K mount adapter. Does it exist?

The reason for asking is that I am still wondering how to get a good super-wide-angle for my D.

The preferred option (at present) is the 12-24mm zoom. BUT, the Voigtlander 12mm lens is fairly well thought of (bar the light fall-off, which will be less noticeable on APS), and probably quite a lot cheaper. Given it won't have any auto features, but on the D it will expose correctly at any aperture in AV mode, and focus really isn't very critical at any aperture.

So, is there such an adapter, and any thoughts on the matter?

G

PS: I know about Sigmas. I don't want to lower the tone of my lens collection.

Hi George,
I haven't come across a direct L39 to K mount adapter. The people to speak to are SRB here http://www.srbfilm.co.uk They certainly do an adapter to fit an M42 lens on a LTM body for just under £20. The only problem I can think of is that the film plane/lens mount distance is much less. This is one of the reasons why the early Zenit SLRs had a seperate set of lens although they had the same thread size. I rather suspect that you may lose infinity focus without a lens element unless there is some way of seting the lens back. The K throat may be big enough. They also do "specials" but at a cost. It would be interesting to hear how you get on. Just thinking about the lenses I have for the Bessa R

Kim

I think that some or all of the Voigtlander lenses may be available in K mount versions - check with the importer to be certain.

Hi John,
Unfortunately, they don't do any of the ultra wides but only the 40, 75, 90 and 125's in SLR mounts. The problem with the wides is the SLR flange/film plane distance and the space for the mirror. With RF's this is not a problem and the design doesn't have to be so retrofocus as the rear element can be closer to the film plane. It should be easier with a DSLR because the mirror is that much smaller. However some bright spark would always try it on a film camera and complain when they break their camera or mark the lens because they hit

http://www.classiccameraexchange.com/6403/48812.html Not cheap either!

Kim

It was a nice idea! The Voigtlander lenses that would be useable are quite interesting, but unfortunately the aperture rings work in reverse. That ruins the ergonomics - it's confusing to have lenses that are operating differently.

Another reason to stick with Pentax lenses!

Hi,
Found some better prices here http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/voigtlander.htm#SLR

Of interest is that they produce the 12 and 15 in Nikon mount but you must use them with the mirror locked up!

Kim

You can fit a 39mm lens on a K body by using a K to M42 adapter and an M42-M39 ring. Bit of a faff, but cheap: I just got an M39-M42 ring from the Ukraine for 99 cents (plus postage). It's not very well made, though, so you might not want to put it on your expensive Leica lenses. SRB do one for £16.45 I think.

I don't know whether or not you'd retain infinity focus with a leica lens: I got mine to use my enlarger lens for macro work so it's not an issue.

Steve

http://www.siblog.co.uk/
http://www.siblingmedia.com/

you can use any LTM lens using an LTM-M42 plus an M42-K adapter BUT only in extreme close focus area. Remeber the backfocus of Leica LTM/M mount is about 1/3 smaller than M42/ K-mount SLR due to smaller camera width (no need for a mirror).
So with a C/V 15mm your focussing would be probably 2-22mm, at best
When buying a new C/V 15mm you get a Bessa-L for free. It's a greast tool if you like wideangle lenses.

cheers, Frank
http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras

Thank you for these replies, which provide food for thought.

I would not normally stray from Pentax, but as they do not sell any wide-angle at this focal length, and do not propose to at anywhere near the price of the Voigtlander, I thought I would consider the matter.

The mirror problem is real, though getting infinity focus on a 12mm ens may not be an issue, given the DOF.

Furthermore, the smaller mirror on the DSLRs might not be such a problem as a 35mm mirror.

I think I'll talk to my local camera shop.

G

George, a 12mm moves *very little* when focus is shifted from infinity to 0,2m - just fractions of milimeters. If "infinity focussing is not necessary due to large DOF" it would be much simpler to design ultra-wideangle-lenses for SLRs than it actually is. They would look similar, ins size and costs, to the C/V 15 or 12mm. In reality, such small wideangle designs are possible *solely* for Rangefinder cameras. Just a matter of optics.

cheers, Frank

DOF relies on us being able to tolerate an image being slightly out of focus and not being able to tell the differnce. This is, of course, the "circle of confusion", the disc that the human eye cannot distinguish from a point.

In fact, a lens is only properly in focus at the distance it is focused on.

But as George says with ultra-wide designs, there's a considerable amount of DOF.

I used to have the Pentax 15mm and it was pretty difficult to take an out of focus shot....

Take the C/V ultrwide far enough off the film area for using it with an SLR and you will see how "big" the DOF of an ultrawide lens in the microfocus area is... just give it a try.. about from 2-3mm

Hi,
I understand what John says about DOF, The 12 and 15mm CV lenses are not RF coupled for this reason and rely on Zone Focussing. However, I don't think mounting a CV lens without a special adapter like the Nikon one will work. The movement in the Pentax 15mm is a couple of MM's at most. The difference in the flange/film plane distance between Pentax SLR and LTM is so great that it would be the equivalent of mounting the 15mm on an ext tube and still expecting acceptable focus. Voightlander make a special version for SLR's and now only do a Nikon adapter. They used to do one for Canon as well. If you look at this link, you will see the problem. http://cameraquest.com/VCSL1215.htm This shows how far back the rear element has to go and why it is a special lens and not the norval CV lens on an adapter.

Bearing in mind the cost of the CV lenses and the difficulty in mounting it, the Pentax 12-24 may be the best option. If it is that important to have a prime, the Pentax 15 might be a better option. It works very well on the D and if you still need a wider view, (and I hate to suggest it but......) you could use it on a film body and scan the results. This will give the equivalent of about a 10mm lens on the D.

Kim

Thanks, Kim, I guess it's not going to work. Ho hum. We'll have to see what the Pentax 12-24 is like, and pray for a windfall on the Premium Bonds.

G

George: I "solved" the problem by buying a cv25/4 and the Bessa L body. And why not? The Bessa L body from Cameraquest is a mere $69USD, and the meter works well. I'll buy next a 15, probably. These lenses come with a clip-on viewfinder as the camera body has none. The L body with the cv/25/4 is a tiny kit and easy to carry about. Then I scan the negs with a film scanner.

Ted