Home-made Olympus Pen F lens adapters

[loccdor]

That's AWESOME lol. I'm kinda eager to see what photos you got! It isn't exclusively focus by wire, is it?

Here are a couple, I haven't used that big lens on it much because it's a bit of a size mismatch, but the pictures are very sharp if its focused correctly. This lens allows focus with no electrical connection, that is a requirement.

 

[aw614]

Samyang DSLR crop sensor lenses work, such as their ultra wide primes, but you have to deal with the lens hood that isn't removable and shows up on the frame unless you use the lens ina sketchy way it may fall off. I don't think there was a nondestructive way to remove the hood.

I don't think there are many digital aps-c lenses from Nikon, Canon EF-S, and Pentax mount that will allow you to control the aperture. Do Nikon DX lenses have an aperture pin on it that can be controlled mechanically with no aperture ring? If an adapter can be made like the Minolta/Sony A mount to M43 or E-Mount dumb adapter it could work

They are also big on a PEN FT body.

 

[Crysist]

Here are a couple, I haven't used that big lens on it much because it's a bit of a size mismatch, but the pictures are very sharp if its focused correctly. This lens allows focus with no electrical connection, that is a requirement.

Gorgeous! What film were you using, I like the colors a lot too!

Samyang DSLR crop sensor lenses work, such as their ultra wide primes, but you have to deal with the lens hood that isn't removable and shows up on the frame unless you use the lens ina sketchy way it may fall off. I don't think there was a nondestructive way to remove the hood.

I don't think there are many digital aps-c lenses from Nikon, Canon EF-S, and Pentax mount that will allow you to control the aperture. Do Nikon DX lenses have an aperture pin on it that can be controlled mechanically with no aperture ring? If an adapter can be made like the Minolta/Sony A mount to M43 or E-Mount dumb adapter it could work

They are also big on a PEN FT body.

My DX mount kit zoom has the aperture lever on the mount, just like the AIS lens I have. So if you make a mount that can catch that lever and keep it depressed all the way (or be able to move it up or down), that should be enough. This seems to be one which incorporates that: Olympus Pen F To Nikon F Lens Adaptor MK:1

 

[loccdor]

Gorgeous! What film were you using, I like the colors a lot too!

Thanks - that was Provia 100F slide film, a nice one to shoot in half frame because it's so expensive these days.

 

[Crysist]

Thanks - that was Provia 100F slide film, a nice one to shoot in half frame because it's so expensive these days.

Oh, yes!!! I love shooting slides on half-frame. Twice the Velvia! Twice the Provia!! And with films like those, resolution is almost never an issue. At least, I don't have many lenses that produce such a better image on full-frame compared to the sharpness of my half-frame cameras. I've probably gotten so overzealous with it that I've kept my M3 and Contax II in the dust a bit long...

In either case, I just want to explore what works well on this camera. I saw a guy on instagram made an eyepiece corrective lens adapter to put Nikon SLR diopters onto a Leica M eyepiece and I kinda want to do the same on the Pen F. Or if there's an eyepiece magnifier solution as well, the image isn't too dim (the "TTL number" scale can get dim though) but it is a bit small.

 

[r_a_feldman]

<snip>

Current silly ideas: make a super slim M-mount adapter. Rangefinder lenses would be a boon for adapting with their small size, and it'd be crazy to see one work on an SLR! The Pen F mirror, when up, is just a few mm deeper than the mount so there won't be a great amount of room. Or even sacrifice a lens by removing its mount, they're very similar flange distances! But I imagine the issue is the rangefinder coupling via the helicoid sticking inside might be an issue...

Another idea is to use C-mount or MFT glass which, despite losing infinity, could allow you to use some great, modern, and compact lenses!

You cannot use Leica M-mount lenses on a Pen FT for several reasons:
1. The Film-to-Flange distance of the M-Mount is 27.95mm and the Pen is 28.95mm, so the M-Mount lens cannot be focused to infinity. For an LTM lens, the F-t-F distance is only 0.15mm less than the Pen's, so conceivably you could remove the Pen's mount and substitute a thin LTM mount (the diameter of this is less than of the Pen, so the lens would fit), but see #3 below.
2. The diameter of the M-mount is 44mm and the Pen's diameter is about 41mm, so the M-mount lens won't fit into the Pen body.
3. A lens can only extend about 2mm into the Pen body (4mm for the mount, but more clearance is needed in the center of the opening for the mirror to swing), so the focusing cam and/or rear of the rear lens element on the Leica lens (M or LTM) will run afoul of the Pen's mirror.

For a C-Mount lens (F-t-F distance of 17.526mm) or an MFT lens (F-t-F distance of 19.25mm), saying that you would be "losing infinity" focus is a bit of an understatement. I doubt that you would be able to focus farther out than a few feet. Using one of these lenses on a Pen would be like using it on the native camera with a 10mm extension tube inserted between the lens and camera.

 

[loccdor]

Okay, I tried out my carbon fiber nylon 3d printed Canon FD to Olympus Pen F adapter - version 2:

The good news:
It mounts well on both ends
It feels quite strong
CF-Nylon is the right choice of material
It mounts both FD and New FD lenses

The bad news:
Infinity is at 22 ft with the New FD 100mm f/2.8. That means the lens needs to be 1.5mm closer to the camera

The expected news:
No aperture control

So I'll print another one with 1.5mm shaved off. Unfortunately, that means the aperture lever is going to be extremely close to the camera! You can faintly see it in the 2nd picture here.

 

[Crysist]

You cannot use Leica M-mount lenses on a Pen FT for several reasons:
1. The Film-to-Flange distance of the M-Mount is 27.95mm and the Pen is 28.95mm, so the M-Mount lens cannot be focused to infinity. For an LTM lens, the F-t-F distance is only 0.15mm less than the Pen's, so conceivably you could remove the Pen's mount and substitute a thin LTM mount (the diameter of this is less than of the Pen, so the lens would fit), but see #3 below.
2. The diameter of the M-mount is 44mm and the Pen's diameter is about 41mm, so the M-mount lens won't fit into the Pen body.
3. A lens can only extend about 2mm into the Pen body (4mm for the mount, but more clearance is needed in the center of the opening for the mirror to swing), so the focusing cam and/or rear of the rear lens element on the Leica lens (M or LTM) will run afoul of the Pen's mirror.

For a C-Mount lens (F-t-F distance of 17.526mm) or an MFT lens (F-t-F distance of 19.25mm), saying that you would be "losing infinity" focus is a bit of an understatement. I doubt that you would be able to focus farther out than a few feet. Using one of these lenses on a Pen would be like using it on the native camera with a 10mm extension tube inserted between the lens and camera.

Yeah, I mentioned those, but in the cases where it'd be more useful you're right. The farthest you could focus would be a few feet at best. However, that's why it was a silly idea and would probably only work by sacrificing a lens. I am merely saying they are close to the right distance and small, like the standard Pen F glass. This would be akin to a "sacrilege" Contax G to M mount conversion, which would further only work on the 45mm and 90mm since they are the only ones that don't protrude in.

I'm trying to think of better candidates than merely adapting full-frame SLR lenses or DX lenses.

 

[aw614]

Oh, yes!!! I love shooting slides on half-frame. Twice the Velvia! Twice the Provia!! And with films like those, resolution is almost never an issue. At least, I don't have many lenses that produce such a better image on full-frame compared to the sharpness of my half-frame cameras. I've probably gotten so overzealous with it that I've kept my M3 and Contax II in the dust a bit long...

In either case, I just want to explore what works well on this camera. I saw a guy on instagram made an eyepiece corrective lens adapter to put Nikon SLR diopters onto a Leica M eyepiece and I kinda want to do the same on the Pen F. Or if there's an eyepiece magnifier solution as well, the image isn't too dim (the "TTL number" scale can get dim though) but it is a bit small.

I used the cold shoe adapter on my PEN FT and expoxied a Nikon DK-20c diopter on mine.

The eyepiece cover is fragile, but mine had already been replaced with a 3D printed one.

 

[r_a_feldman]

Yeah, I mentioned those, but in the cases where it'd be more useful you're right. The farthest you could focus would be a few feet at best. However, that's why it was a silly idea and would probably only work by sacrificing a lens. I am merely saying they are close to the right distance and small, like the standard Pen F glass. This would be akin to a "sacrilege" Contax G to M mount conversion, which would further only work on the 45mm and 90mm since they are the only ones that don't protrude in.

I'm trying to think of better candidates than merely adapting full-frame SLR lenses or DX lenses.

@Crysist, I agree with what you are saying.

I have tried a number of ways to get a small 30mm lens for my Pen FT, without success. I tried an Industar lens, a Schneider from a Robot, even the lens from a Pen S, but all of them protrude too far into the Pen FT. I also toyed with using a negative diopter lens (think of it as a "far-away" lens as opposed to a positive diopter "close-up" lens). What is needed is a lens of a retrofocus design, which has a greater clearance from the rear element to the film plane than the focal length would permit with a conventional optical design, that also has a F-t-F distance greater than 29mm. Unfortunately, most older lenses were not designed that way.

Also, "close" only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades and nuclear bombs).

 

[xkaes]

There are hundreds of retro-focus, short focal length lenses -- designed for full-frame 35mm SLRs -- that can be used on Pen F cameras with adapters. For example, my Sigma 14mm f3.5 produces a super-wide 21mm equivalent, and I get an almost full-frame fisheye with my 7.5mm f4 Rokkor-X.

 

[r_a_feldman]

There are hundreds of retro-focus, short focal length lenses -- designed for full-frame 35mm SLRs -- that can be used on Pen F cameras with adapters. For example, my Sigma 14mm f3.5 produces a super-wide 21mm equivalent, and I get an almost full-frame fisheye with my 7.5mm f4 Rokkor-X.

The problem here is that I am looking for small lenses. I had a 20mm Nikkor (now sold) and have a variety of Olympus OM-1 lenses from 28mm to 200mm, but I, like Crysist, am looking for lenses that are comparable in size to native Pen F lenses. Using an OM-1 lens on a Pen F adds about 17mm to the length of the lens. I find that OK for my 50mm Macro or 200mm f5, but I want a 28mm or 30mm that is the size of my Pen F’s 25mm.

 

[Crysist]

I used the cold shoe adapter on my PEN FT and expoxied a Nikon DK-20c diopter on mine.

The eyepiece cover is fragile, but mine had already been replaced with a 3D printed one.

Yeah mine is also chipped. I'm gonna play with it once the one I ordered arrives. I kinda want to adapt it to all my cameras...

@Crysist, I agree with what you are saying.

I have tried a number of ways to get a small 30mm lens for my Pen FT, without success. I tried an Industar lens, a Schneider from a Robot, even the lens from a Pen S, but all of them protrude too far into the Pen FT. I also toyed with using a negative diopter lens (think of it as a "far-away" lens as opposed to a positive diopter "close-up" lens). What is needed is a lens of a retrofocus design, which has a greater clearance from the rear element to the film plane than the focal length would permit with a conventional optical design, that also has a F-t-F distance greater than 29mm. Unfortunately, most older lenses were not designed that way.

Also, "close" only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades and nuclear bombs).

Oh, duh. I forgot I was looking at this a few days ago. The Voigtlander 20/3.5, it might not be fast, but for a 28mm equiv it's SMALL and apparently very good! I think they also have a 28mm and the 40mm Ultron in F mount.

Maybe the 18-55mm Nikon kit zoom would be fun, but bulkier and slower than I'd want. Still, plasticky and light and probably much sharper!

Yeah lol, there's still time to get a hacksaw though!!

The problem here is that I am looking for small lenses. I had a 20mm Nikkor (now sold) and have a variety of Olympus OM-1 lenses from 28mm to 200mm, but I, like Crysist, am looking for lenses that are comparable in size to native Pen F lenses. Using an OM-1 lens on a Pen F adds about 17mm to the length of the lens. I find that OK for my 50mm Macro or 200mm f5, but I want a 28mm or 30mm that is the size of my Pen F’s 25mm.

Yep. By the way, one other thing that stuck out to me is the Contax RF mount being just ~7mm longer than the Pen F flange. Now, most rangefinder wides from its time were symmetric, specifically not usable on SLRs without mirror lock up, but I think the 28/8 Tessar didn't protrude back too far. Maybe even the Topogon, too? Might not be much better than the Pen F's own lens lineup, though.

 

[r_a_feldman]

Oh, duh. I forgot I was looking at this a few days ago. The Voigtlander 20/3.5, it might not be fast, but for a 28mm equiv it's SMALL and apparently very good! I think they also have a 28mm and the 40mm Ultron in F mount.

Maybe the 18-55mm Nikon kit zoom would be fun, but bulkier and slower than I'd want.

The Olympus OM-1 21mm f3.5 is similar to the Voigtlander, but a little smaller.

I have an OM-1 28-48mm f4 zoom. For a zoom, it is quite small, but it is still 300g in weight.

As Xkaes notes, there are lots of lenses made for 35mm SLRs that can easily be adapted, but they all are bigger than the native Pen F lenses.

 

[xkaes]

It's not like the Pen F cameras are small or light to begin with. Non-Pen F lenses are going to be bigger to begin with, and adding an adapter makes things "worse". And the wider the angle of view means that the lenses usually get larger and heavier -- and the wider filter threads add to it. The smallest SUPER-wide lens I've seen is the Vivitar 19mm f3.8 -- AND it has a really small filter thread at 62mm -- but that's only a 28mm lens on the Pen F. For comparison, there's the gigantic Vivitar (Kiron) 20mm f3.8 with an 82mm filter thread. That's a beast even on a full-frame 35mm.

 

[loccdor]

The Pen FT with Canon New FD 100mm f/2.8 adapted is still just barely small enough to fit in my coat pocket due to it being one of the shortest 100mm lenses made.

For a small wide, I use the 25mm f/2.8 original Pen lens which has excellent image quality. It is a bit on the expensive side so I can see wanting to adapt something else.

 

[xkaes]

The Pen 25mm is a great "almost" wide lens. I like a 24mm lens as my "normal" lens on the Pen F -- but it's not nearly as small as the Pen 25mm!