Best LTM to M adapters?

herb · Nov 5, 2017

seems like this would be really hard to screw up, but I thought it wise to check in with the group about it.
I have a couple of LTM Canon lenses which I will use on my Zeiss Ikon, so who makes the good adapter is a concern.

BrianVS · Nov 5, 2017

Voigtlander makes the best adapters.

See this thread:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/leica-thread-screw-mount-to-m-adapter-question.153085/

For a less expensive adapter, you might try this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-L39-...35-135mm-Adapters-6BIT-Edition-/253236750542?

Thorpelyon · Nov 5, 2017

I was just researching this myself today... ended up grabbing one of these:

https://www.cameraquest.com/adaptltm.htm

summicron1 · Nov 5, 2017

I have a couple made by leica, a voigtlander one and a cupla cheep chinese knockoffs -- considering that all they really need to do is measure the correct width and get the thread right, you are correct, they are hard to screw up. I've had no issues with any of mine.

Patrick Robert James · Nov 5, 2017

Leica and Voigtlander are always considered the best, but any adapter that is exactly 1mm thick will work. Any adapter that has been machined after being chromed, or adapters that haven't been chromed and are just brass would be my cheap choices. I think a lot of old adapters were fine before they were chromed, which makes them a little off. I'd avoid adapters that are all chrome. Just my 2¢.

Huss · Nov 7, 2017

I use adapters made by Leica, Voigtlander, Fedka and Fotodiox. Fotodiox is the cheapest and works just as well as my fancy ones. If I was going to do it again, I'd just buy Fotodiox.

BrianVS · Nov 8, 2017

I've seen at least one Fotodiox adapter that was too thick, required polishing down- as did the Heavystar 135 adapter. Neither centered correctly, nor did they focus correctly. Had to polish down from the front. The Chinese company that I linked to polishes their's down from the rear, like the Voigtlander and Leica adapters.

BrianVS · Nov 8, 2017

I've seen at least one Fotodiox adapter that was too thick, required polishing down- as did the Heavystar 135 adapter. Neither centered correctly, nor did they focus correctly. Had to polish down from the front. The Chinese company that I linked to polishes their's down from the rear, like the Voigtlander and Leica adapters.

BrianVS · Nov 8, 2017

I've seen at least one Fotodiox adapter that was too thick, required polishing down- as did the Heavystar 135 adapter. Neither centered correctly, nor did they focus correctly. Had to polish down from the front. The Chinese company that I linked to polishes their's down from the rear, like the Voigtlander and Leica adapters.

guangong · Nov 8, 2017

summicron1 said:
I have a couple made by leica, a voigtlander one and a cupla cheep chinese knockoffs -- considering that all they really need to do is measure the correct width and get the thread right, you are correct, they are hard to screw up. I've had no issues with any of mine.[/QUOTE
My experience is identical. The only adapter that was unusable was a brand x made in Germany.

Ko.Fe. · Nov 8, 2017

Fotodiox from Amazon. Leitz from local shop, private sale.
MiC from eBay rarely worked for me.

choiliefan · Nov 8, 2017

I have an older one made by Kipon which seems okay. Also had a Kipon-made Prominent Nokton 50mm 1.5 to LTM focus mount/adapter which was a tad loose so their quality may vary.

BrianVS · Nov 8, 2017

Patrick Robert James said:
Leica and Voigtlander are always considered the best, but any adapter that is exactly 1mm thick will work. Any adapter that has been machined after being chromed, or adapters that haven't been chromed and are just brass would be my cheap choices. I think a lot of old adapters were fine before they were chromed, which makes them a little off. I'd avoid adapters that are all chrome. Just my 2¢.

If it is the correct thickness AND the threads of the adapter start in the correct position. I've seen adapters that have the threads out of phase with the mount, so the lens does not rest in the correct position. Worse for a lens with a tripod adapter, but annoying to have the focus index off by 30degrees.

Huss · Nov 9, 2017

BrianVS said:
I've seen at least one Fotodiox adapter that was too thick, required polishing down- as did the Heavystar 135 adapter. Neither centered correctly, nor did they focus correctly. Had to polish down from the front. The Chinese company that I linked to polishes their's down from the rear, like the Voigtlander and Leica adapters.

None of my Leica or Voigtlander adapters center correctly. They all are off on every one of my cameras.
I too fell for the 'buy the best' routine. Buy an adapter, if it doesn't work correctly, send it back. The only one I sent back was from Metabones, because it had sharp edges that gouged my lens mount. At that time I didn't think about checking for that because Metabones, for some reason, had a good rep, and are not cheap.

BrianVS · Nov 9, 2017

As long as you take the time to send back bad ones, the Fotodiox adapter and Heavystar adapters are worth the risk. I ended up with the attitude that a trip to the basement to polish down an out-of-spec adapter is faster than boxing it up and going to the Post Office.The last one polished down was the Heavystar adapter for thr 35/135 lens, and a Fotodiox adapter that came with a J-3 to adjust and was so far off the owner told me dontt bother sending it back. It was way off center.

There is some adjustment on most lens tripod mounts for LTM, there is usually some small variation. I've not had a problem with the Nikkor 13.5cm F3.5 and 10.5cm F2.5 with the Voigtlander adapters that I keep on them.

Best LTM to M adapters?

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