Lenses for Nikon Rangefinder Cameras.

Brian1664876441 · May 23, 2009

To me, the best thing about Leica Rangefinders, and other cameras that use LTM are the many lenses available to them.

But I like Nikon RF's. I like the Nikkor 5cm F1.4 and 5cm F2, but wanted more of a choice. Planar formula lenses

for the Nikon are rare and expensive. The 50mm F1.4 Olympic Nikkor and 50mm Millenium Nikkor are first rate

lenses, just expensive. The Helios 103 and Menopta 53/1.8 are very good lenses, classic Planar 1-2-2-1 formula,

and are cheap at ~$20 each. But they are made for the Contax standard.

I've found two ways to adapt them for Nikon:.

1) undo the set screws, back out 1/2 turn (0.5mm), tighten set screws. Done. That optimizes for close-up and

wide-open, infinity good at ~F2.8.

2) for early Helios-103's, 1981~1983, you can take out the rear module and take about 0.4mm off of the rear

stand-off shim. That reduces the Focal Length.

All pictures taken with the Nikon Rangefinders

Menopta Wide-Open at F1.8, on the Nikon S3 using method 1.

Tight Crop of above:

Another Menopta, wide-open:

Outside, wide-open

Helios-103, method 1, F4 on the S3:

Helios-103, Wide-Open, method 2, Focal Length Modified to Nikon Standard.

Same lens, at F4, for Tonal Range.

Menopta, method 1, wide-open at F1.8:

Compared to my "Millenium Nikkor 50mm F1.4 on the S3, at F1.8:

That is the $15 lens vs the $1000 lens. I use both.

Album of test shots is here:

http://camwk.com/album.php?albumid=52

Brian1664876441 · May 23, 2009

S3-2000 on left, S3 with Menopta on right. I use a red marker on converted lenses using method 1, purple on lenses converted using method 2.

Alex_Es · May 23, 2009

WoW! Very impressive. You can still get great Voigtlander lenses from Camerquest for the Nikon S.

Brian1664876441 · May 23, 2009

Next up will be my 50mm F1.5 Nokton on the S2. The 1950s Voigtlander Prominent Nokton...

I'll probably break down and get the Asph Nokton in S-Mount. It and the 5cm F1.1 Nikkor-N are the only 50s that use the external mount. Unless a 50/1.1 Super-Nokton comes out in S-Mount...

ken_kartes · May 23, 2009

Besides the self timer how else does the S3 differ from the S2 Brian? I have two S2's.

dan_b.4 · May 23, 2009

I know that Nikkor lenses marked with a "C" work on Contax-mount RFs. But my question, suggested by the initial post, is this: Is it possible to adjust the regular Nikon RF lenses to focus properly on Contaxes?

Brian1664876441 · May 23, 2009

Ken: The S3 has a Single Shutter Dial that does not rotate, and the finder has brightlines for 35/50/105 focal length. The finder flares more than the S2. The S2 is the best Nikon RF for use with a 50mm lens. I have some as well.

Daniel: If you reduce the shim by ~0.5mm on the Nikkor 5cm F1.4 and F2 lenses, they will focus better on a Contax.You can also do this trick with other Nikkor lenses. I did things the "other way around" and made a Nikon S2 body work with all of my Contax lenses. I moved the entire helical out 0.5mm and then calibrated the RF to agree with an unmodified 50mm F1.5 Sonnar.

kelly_flanigan1 · May 23, 2009

Here is a shot with a 5cm F2 Nikkor LTM that scale focuses to 18" used on an Eposn RD-1:

It is the same lens optically that is the 5cm F2 for Nikon RF; a decent performer; once dirt cheap.

This LTM Nikkor 5cm F2 was about 9 dollars via Ebay; listed as an enlarging lens.

9 bucks is what a nikon RF or LTM 5cm F2 sold for used in 1969 at a NYC dealer; worth say 4 bucks as a trade; IF one begged hard enough.

Here I cheated abit; the lens is stopped down several stops.

Brian1664876441 · May 23, 2009

I should also add: I've converted a Zeiss Sonnar 50/1/5, Zeiss SOnnar 50/2, Industar 61L/D, and J-3 to the Nikon as well. The Industar fits into the collapsible mount of a CZJ 5cm f2 Sonnar.

Aoresteen · May 23, 2009

What about infinty focus? When you change the close up focus it throws off the infinity setting.

The best solution is to get a Contax IIa body to use with your Nikon. That's what I did. I can use any lens in the Contax/Nikon mount.

john_layton · May 24, 2009

...I'd always heard rumors that Kodak's Retina R+D team struggled diligently to produce the first "true" underwater camera (for which no housing is needed), and that when this camera finally hit the market and it still wasn't right...kodak then launched a secret campaign to repurchase (at exorbitant prices) all of the failed examples - which were then destroyed in hopes that the public would never know... Thank you, Kelly, for finally providing us with irrefutable proof of this failed enterprise! : )

Brian1664876441 · May 24, 2009

Anthony, the actual difference in the throw of the helical is 0.1mm. Most of the difference between Nikon and Contax is where the lens sits on it. SO: optimize for close up and wide-open, infinity is completely covered by F2.8. With the Sonnar, the focus shift toward infinity helps.

I prefer the 1x viewfinder of the Nikon over my Contax II and Contax IIIa, especially with the faster lenses. That was the driver to modifying lenses for the Nikon.

Kelly- That Retina IIa is a mess. Was that an Ebay "EX" grade? I bought an SLR from Ebay with an "I know nothing about cameras, but I can see no problem that it will not work perfectly". It had been in a fire and the insides were melted, but the outside was not bad. I also remember the days when this stuff was cheap. How about a Nikon M with 5cm F1.4 for $30 or a Leica III with Summar for $15? I jumped on them.

dan_b.4 · May 24, 2009

Thanks, Mr. Sweeney.

Brian1664876441 · May 24, 2009

If you have a Contax already, and Nikkor RF lenses- it makes real sense to shim them for the Contax. If I convert one of my lenses for the Contax, I'll post the procedures and the results. The focus shift on the Sonnar is toward infinity as you stop down. That helps when converting a Zeiss lens to the Nikon. With the Nikon lens converted to a Contax, it works against you.

Currently, I have a 1955 KMZ J-3 on the Contax II and it gives first rate performance. "Jupiters on my Contax" can be another thread.

christopher_m · May 26, 2009

"To me, the best thing about Leica Rangefinders, and other cameras that use LTM are the many lenses available to them. But I like Nikon RF's. I like the Nikkor 5cm F1.4 and 5cm F2, but wanted more of a choice."

The lens selection is the big hangup for me on Nikon RF stuff. I can get every lens that Nikkor made for its RF in LTM.

Brian1664876441 · May 26, 2009

Some of the LTM mount Nikkor lenses cost 2x or more than the S-Mount counterparts. But they are available. I have quite a few Nikkors in LTM, and use them.

Now: finding a Summicron in S-Mount, that is difficult! But can be done...

jon_manjiro1 · May 27, 2009

"The lens selection is the big hangup for me on Nikon RF stuff. I can get every lens that Nikkor made for its RF in LTM"

With one notable exception (actually two) - the Millennium (and Olympic) Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4.

I guess we can also include the modern multicoated version of the W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 as well, as it was only sold as part of the SP Limited Edition kit.

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Lenses for Nikon Rangefinder Cameras.

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