Is it possible to use a modern lens on a Rangefinder?

sruddy · Sep 15, 2019

I have some very good glass for my digital cameras and am wondering if they can be adapted to any rangefinder cameras? I currently have a Leica IIIf and a Contax IIIa. I have been looking for an 85mm for my Contax IIIa and I’m finding out they are 1k or more for a real nice example. Im pretty certain they won’t perform as well as my newest Canon 85mm, that I purchased for $1,500, and I can’t afford to purchase additional lenses for all my cameras. I would be interested to hear about any other models of rangefinders which maybe more adaptable to modern lenses than the two I listed.

Chan Tran · Sep 15, 2019

I think you can with the correct adapter but the rangefinder won't work. I can't see how to make a lens not designed for rangefinder to couple with a rangefinder.

btaylor · Sep 15, 2019

The first issue would be no rangefinder coupling, even if there were adapters made to mount your modern lenses on an old LTM screw mount camera.
Modern glass for rangefinders comes in Leica M mount these days. Zeiss, Leica, Voightlander and a 7Artisans to name a few.
I am aware of nothing modern that would mount to your Contax, that mount went extinct decades ago. The Russian Jupiter 85mm f2 for the Kiev is a direct fit however, for a lot less than the rather rare and expensive original Zeiss in Contax mount.
It’s funny, you are going in the opposite direction than most. As you know the popular thing is to mount vintage glass on modern digicams.

M. Axel Wikstrom · Sep 15, 2019

None of the modern Leica glass will work on your old Barnack camera because of excess flange distance. The other way round works (screw mount lenses on an M-camera with an adapter); the M-camera was designed to be backwards-compatible. If you get an M body there's a whole world of lenses, old and new, screw and M mount, that will work perfectly. I don't know if anyone makes adapters to fit SLR/DSLR lenses (with their greater flange distance) to your screw mount Leica, but you probably won't be able to use the rangefinder. Scale focusing works fine with wide angle lenses, but doesn't really work with longer lenses.

film_man · Sep 16, 2019

Beyond the rangefinder coupling issue the issue with your modern Canon EF lenses is that you will have no aperture control as that is completely electronic, you'll be stuck shooting wide open all the time. You also won't get any IS.

If you really want to shoot film with your Canon lenses spend you can get Canon fim SLRs for less than $50. They will give you an infinetly better experience vs any adapter you may find (unlikely) on your old rangefinders.

By the way, if your $1500 Canon 85 is a Canon 85/1.2 or the 85/1.4 IS they'll be far better than any 50 year old stuff you can get your hands on for your rangefinders.

sruddy · Sep 16, 2019

btaylor said:
The first issue would be no rangefinder coupling, even if there were adapters made to mount your modern lenses on an old LTM screw mount camera.
Modern glass for rangefinders comes in Leica M mount these days. Zeiss, Leica, Voightlander and a 7Artisans to name a few.
I am aware of nothing modern that would mount to your Contax, that mount went extinct decades ago. The Russian Jupiter 85mm f2 for the Kiev is a direct fit however, for a lot less than the rather rare and expensive original Zeiss in Contax mount.
It’s funny, you are going in the opposite direction than most. As you know the popular thing is to mount vintage glass on modern digicams.

Thanks for the info. I'm thinking I will just shoot the Contax with the 50mm and 135mm it came with and be done with it.

film_man said:
Beyond the rangefinder coupling issue the issue with your modern Canon EF lenses is that you will have no aperture control as that is completely electronic, you'll be stuck shooting wide open all the time. You also won't get any IS.

If you really want to shoot film with your Canon lenses spend you can get Canon fim SLRs for less than $50. They will give you an infinetly better experience vs any adapter you may find (unlikely) on your old rangefinders.

By the way, if your $1500 Canon 85 is a Canon 85/1.2 or the 85/1.4 IS they'll be far better than any 50 year old stuff you can get your hands on for your rangefinders.

I didn't even think of the aperture control! About 5 years ago when I first returned to film, I had a mint Canon EOS1N body and sold it soon after inheriting a Rolleiflex TLR. I thought I wouldn't want to shoot 35mm film anymore. Now I have inherited and acquired several 35mm cameras, and I like to project my images, so I'm wanting good quality glass. I loved using the EOS1n but it had no coolness factor and is bulkier than say a vintage Leica. I need to rethink my options. I have a Nikon Nikkormat as well but only have one lens for it.

__Brian · Sep 16, 2019

As mentioned, the Jupiter-9 is a fine lens. The KMZ Jupiter-9 from the 1950~1960 range tend to be on the high-end of the performance among J-9's.

Random Example so you can see the KMZ logo on the lens:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/JUPITER-9-...233187?hash=item52107220a3:g:mEwAAOSwWIhbnzZ~

The pre-war 8.5cm F2 can be found for ~$400 or less with patience. The KMZ J-9 is still much less money, and less weight. I use both.

You can get an adapter to use the Contax mount lenses on your Leica.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FOTOFOX-RF...o-Leica-Mount-SM-M39-L39-Adapter/283341769316

I picked up the above adapter, and have used it with my 13.5cm F4 Sonnar on the M9- example shots here:

https://cameraderie.org/threads/inexpensive-adapter-nikon-rf-to-leica-thread-mount-70.48673/

Ko.Fe. · Sep 16, 2019

Ok: lets say somehow you adapted your lenses on RF bodies. Now what?
How are you going to frame it?

__Brian · Sep 16, 2019

You could always use a Tewe Zoom Finder, covers 35mm through 200mm.

I have made RF couplings for 50mm SLR lenses, made a Cam that moves with the rear element. For other focal lengths- move the optics to a focus mount of an RF lens with bad glass. Not necessarily a "Modern lens", but moved a Wollensak 35/2 Raptar into Contax RF mount using a Jupiter-12 focus mount.

sruddy · Sep 19, 2019

__Brian said:
As mentioned, the Jupiter-9 is a fine lens. The KMZ Jupiter-9 from the 1950~1960 range tend to be on the high-end of the performance among J-9's.

Random Example so you can see the KMZ logo on the lens:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/JUPITER-9-...233187?hash=item52107220a3:g:mEwAAOSwWIhbnzZ~

The pre-war 8.5cm F2 can be found for ~$400 or less with patience. The KMZ J-9 is still much less money, and less weight. I use both.

You can get an adapter to use the Contax mount lenses on your Leica.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FOTOFOX-RF...o-Leica-Mount-SM-M39-L39-Adapter/283341769316

I picked up the above adapter, and have used it with my 13.5cm F4 Sonnar on the M9- example shots here:

https://cameraderie.org/threads/inexpensive-adapter-nikon-rf-to-leica-thread-mount-70.48673/

Thanks Brian

etn · Oct 4, 2019

Maybe the easiest way is to find an old 2nd hand Canon film body on which you can mount your Canon 85mm lens?
(not sure that exists, though... Nikon kept their mount "somewhat" similar over the years - with compatibility limitations - but I have no idea if the same goes for Canon)

sruddy · Oct 4, 2019

etn said:
Maybe the easiest way is to find an old 2nd hand Canon film body on which you can mount your Canon 85mm lens?
(not sure that exists, though... Nikon kept their mount "somewhat" similar over the years - with compatibility limitations - but I have no idea if the same goes for Canon)

Looks like Canon used the same EF mount for a long time. I’m currently looking for an EOS 1V. I had one a few years ago and never should have sold it.

__Brian · Oct 5, 2019

There are a lot of top-notch vintage lenses for the Contax- this 10.5cm F2.5 Nikkor was $300- with some patience, and knowing to look for the 'C' on the barrel- Nikkor lenses on Contax cameras are a good choice. .

sruddy · Oct 6, 2019

__Brian said:
There are a lot of top-notch vintage lenses for the Contax- this 10.5cm F2.5 Nikkor was $300- with some patience, and knowing to look for the 'C' on the barrel- Nikkor lenses on Contax cameras are a good choice.View attachment 232353 .

Thanks Brian, that looks like a nice lens. I’ll start searching for Contax mounts instead of Contax lenses.

__Brian · Oct 6, 2019

"Random Ebay Auction"- Contax mount Nikkor 10.5cm F2.5.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Nikk...959523?hash=item44475b91a3:g:QnEAAOSwOB1dRdLm

The price of the S-Mount 10.5cm F2.5 lenses have dropped to the $200~$250 range. The above lens has a late serial number, starts with a "9" rather than the version that I have. Mine is the "first version" with lugs for a bayonet mount hood.

The "random Ebay Search" cost me... I found a Nikkor-T 10.5cm F4 in F-Mount for $100... A rare lens because it was unpopular when made, Nikon's version of the "Mountain Elmar". I had to get it.

Is it possible to use a modern lens on a Rangefinder?

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