Nikon F lens to Leica M mount adapter

Bwbuff · May 3, 2023

Greetings,

I plan to buy the adapter to utilize the Nikon 20mm and 28mm MF lens on the Leica m3 body, but before I go this route , is it feasible ? will the lens be focused correctly ? and what frame lines will show on the M3 ? Please advise and thank you.

ic-racer · May 3, 2023

Can you post a link to the adapter? Or tell us more about it. Does it link to the rangefinder? How does it set the aperture?

Bwbuff · May 3, 2023

ic-racer said:
Can you post a link to the adapter? Or tell us more about it. Does it link to the rangefinder? How does it set the aperture?

I don't have the adapter yet, I saw it on the auction site , the item described as "Nikon AI F to Leica M LM adapter" and it said it fits m2, m3 m4, etc...

Besk · May 3, 2023

There are no frame lines available on a M3 that show 28mm frame lines much less for a 20mm lens. You will need a
auxiliary viewfinder for these lenses. With my adapter you have to set focus on the lens. There is no rangefinder connection.

Saganich · May 3, 2023

Agreed, 35mm is widest for M3, which is the entire viewfinder frame more or less so you can get away with it if need be, but 20 and 28 will require an auxiliary finder, which is better anyway for hyperfocus in the street.

Craig · May 3, 2023

The flange focal distance on the Leica M is 27.8mm and the Nikon F mount is 46.5mm, so if the adapter is 18.7mm thick you will be able to infinity focus. If it is any thicker you will not be able to infinity focus.

mshchem · May 3, 2023

You would probably only be able to focus properly on a Leica digital camera

Pieter12 · May 3, 2023

As stated above, there is no way the rangefinder will couple with the lens and you Would need to use an auxiliary viewfinder. Besides, those lenses are pretty big for the body.

Nitroplait · May 3, 2023

Any Nikon F to Leica M adapter available will not couple to the rangefinder.

It really doesn't matter what frame lines are called up, as neither 20mm nor 28mm is available on the M3 - even if using the space outside the widest frame on the M3 (50mm), you'd probably will not even reach 35mm.
You will have to scale focus, that is ; guesstimate from the engravings on the two lenses.
You will need to buy separate viewfinders to frame accurately.

Bwbuff · May 3, 2023

Thank you all for all your valuable advices, I think I will just use the existing 35mm on the Leica m3, and use the Nikon lenses on Nikon body.

250swb · May 4, 2023

I have a cheap Nikon to M mount adapter and it works fine given the restrictions of either measuring/estimating focus distance, using hyperfocal distance, or using a digital M's LCD. So on an M3 you'll generally be fine with a 20mm lens but a 35mm lens is close to the edge of both hyperfocal focusing or accurately estimating focus due to the smaller increments.

dave olson · Jun 3, 2023

Too many "ifs" when you try to mix and match

Nikon F lens to Leica M mount adapter

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