Leica to Contax mount (adapter)

Fall · Jun 3, 2018

Kind of the opposite of what's usually requested.. I just switched to the contax system (original), and have realized it would be so great if there was some way to use ltm lenses on it.. I've just not been able to find any adapters. Does anyone know if such a thing existed?

btaylor · Jun 3, 2018

I don’t think it can exist. The rangefinder function is tied to the lens mount on a Contax, it’s not an independent arm like a screw mount Leica. Second and most important the flange focal distance for ltm is 28.8mm, much shorter that the Contax’s 34.85mm so the hypothetical adapter would have to be inside the Contax body.
I was dealing with FFD issues in adapting Russian cine lenses/cameras to the current PL (Arriflex) standard. You can usually go one direction-- but not the other.

btaylor · Jun 3, 2018

However, speaking of Russian lenses, you have the very low cost option of using many lenses made for the Kiev rangefinders on your Contax, as they share the exact same lens mount. Just watch out for the Jupiter 12 35mm lens. It won’t fit a post war IIa or IIIa.

Fall · Jun 4, 2018

well, this sucks.

E. von Hoegh · Jun 5, 2018

Fall said:
well, this sucks.

Perhaps you should have done some research ...
However, you might like the Helios 103 53mm, a Kiev mount double Gauss. Same type as the 6 element Summicron.

Edit- You said you switched to the "Contax system (original)"
Why?

btaylor · Jun 5, 2018

The Helios can be a stunner, at a tenth the price of a Summicron.

E. von Hoegh · Jun 5, 2018

btaylor said:
The Helios can be a stunner, at a tenth the price of a Summicron.

Indeed. Mine came on a $79 (shipped) Kiev 4. I know people who spend more per week at the local $tarbuck'$.
Kind of ugly/industrial looking, and I took mine apart to blacken the aperture blades. The K4 it came on functions as it should & has an accurate meter. One of my favorite lenses.

tezzasmall · Jun 5, 2018

I would think that if it's feasible, SRB would do it. It's worth enquiring as they have a large range and also do bespoke as they have an in house workshop:

https://www.srb-photographic.co.uk/lens-adaptors-1167-c.asp

Terry S

E. von Hoegh · Jun 5, 2018

tezzasmall said:
I would think that if it's feasible, SRB would do it. It's worth enquiring as they have a large range and also do bespoke as they have an in house workshop:

https://www.srb-photographic.co.uk/lens-adaptors-1167-c.asp

Terry S

As has been explained, it isn't feasible.
Contax lenses can be mounted on LTM cameras by using an adapter made from a Kiev helicoid, if the adapter is accurately made it works very well.
LTM lenses incorporate the focussing helicoid and couple to the rangefinder via a cam which is part of the lens, on the Contax the helicoid is incorporated in the camera body and the 50mm lenses mount directly to the helicoid. Lenses other than 50mm have an integral focussing mount, they mount on the external mount and are coupled to the 50mm helicoid, a complex arrangement that works very well (!) but is incompatible with any other system.

Leica to Contax mount (adapter)

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