Leica M or R lens adapter for Nikon FE

[m.v.]

I am wondering if it would be possible to find an adapter that would

allow me to mount Leica M or R lenses to my Nikon FE SLR. My

objective is to compare the difference between the German optics and

the Nikkor primes that I currently use (specifically something

towards the wide-end: 21mm or 35mm). I thought perhaps this would be

an affordable way experience what effect the Leica system (still

trying to decide between M & R, but at this point leaning towards the

MP) would have on my pictures, without right away having to take the

plunge and buy a Leica body too. Is there adapter made that would

allow me to experiment in this way? Any thoughts would be greatly

appreciated.

[mark-j]

Mark: There are adapters to use Visoflex lenses on other bodies. The M bodies have a shallower flange to film plane distance than on SLR bodies, hence you would not be able to use M lenses at infinity. Close-up mode only. This also applies to the R series of lenses, but not as drastic. Years ago I heard of some F bodies being modified with R flanges. They did not allow full aperature viewing or metering, but it has been done in the past. There are adapters available to put R glass on Canon bodies.

 

Cheers.

[cdnguyen]

Mark,

if you want to do comparison between Nikon and Leica I would buy a cheap Canon EOS body plus Nikon/EOS and LeicaR/EOS adapters and have the fun that way. You can't adapt anything on a Nikon body I'm afraid.

[nemeng]

You can't buy a ring to mount a Leica lens onto a Nikon body (or vice versa):<p>

 

<a href="http://www.nemeng.com/leica/017e.shtml">

http://www.nemeng.com/leica/017e.shtml</a><p>

 

... but you can have surgery done to a Nikon body so it can use Leica R lenses (I modified my Nikon F2A to do this - sold it to Stephen Gandy a few years ago):<p>

 

<a href="http://www.nemeng.com/leica/017c.shtml">

http://www.nemeng.com/leica/017c.shtml</a>

[alan c.]

vice versa is easy. you can mount almost any SLR lens on a M rangefinder with the

appropriate adapter. mostly for ultra-wide lenses as there will be no rangefinder

coupling. i've used the nikon 20mm f/2.8 and 21mm f/4 lenses on my M cameras

this way.

[panya w.]

You can change the mount of the Leica R Lenses to a Nikon F mount. I have designed a mount and successfully did the change. The mount change will require you to unscrew the 6 screws holding the lens mount and replace with a new one that is Nikon F mount. You can change it back by doing the same, just don't throw away the things you removed.

 

see <li><a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1383948">http://www.photo.net/photo/1383948</a></li>

 

I tried to make an engineering drawing of this mount, but it is incomplete at the moment. You also need a friend who might have a CNC machine, otherwise, it will get expensive to hire someone to just make one.

[joel_matherson]

Andrew Nemeth wrote "You can't buy a ring to mount a Leica lens onto a Nikon body (or vice versa):"

 

Sorry but this statement is incorrect. Please see

 

http://www.cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm#Leica%20M%20or%20Screw%20Mount%20Rangefinder%20Body:

 

It clearly shows an M6 with a Nikon 18mm lens on it.

[doug herr]

Panya, does the replacement mount have the detents for the aperture ring's spring-loaded ball for aperture click-stops?

[panya w.]

Hi Douglas, Yes the replacement mount has the detents for the ball bearing for the aperture click-stop.

You live in Sacramento valley, right? If you happen to come down to the SF Bayarea, I can show it to you if I am not out of town.

Attached picture show the rendering from my CAD screen. The design is not refined, but it's a proof of concept that it can be done. (can focus from near to infinity with no problem.)<div></div>

[doug herr]

Panya - very slick!! I'd like to see it some time, not sure when I'll be in the bay area next. I suppose if someone were to produce these mounts commercially there would be a different version for each aperture range.