Screwmount Leica's using M designed lenses.

Greg Heath · May 4, 2015

Hi, a Question for all the Leica fans. Can I use M mount lenses on an older Screw mount body with an adapter ? Do all the lenses work? the same, compared to a straight screwmount lens in distance from the film plane and will there be focus issues. I was thinking of mounting a Zeiss 50mm on a Leica IIIC
http://kenrockwell.com/zeiss/zm/50mm-f15.htm

Other than gasps of outrage, what are your thoughts ?

Greg

antmar · May 4, 2015

No my friend, you can't.
LTM bodies are compatible only with LTM lenses for too many reasons to write here, like focusing, longer flange-focal plane distance etc.

pdeeh · May 4, 2015

You can do it the other way round only (i.e. mount an M lens on a LTM body with a suitable adapter)*
apart from the difference in mount design itself, the registration distance of the two mounts are not the same, hence the asymmetry between what you can adapt to what

*no, the other way about. sigh. quel buffon

GregW · May 4, 2015

Only option in this regard is an early version of the Summicron 35mm that one could remove the M mount from to reveal a threadmount. I had one i still regret selling...

Richard S. (rich815) · May 4, 2015

pdeeh said:
You can do it the other way round only (i.e. mount an M lens on a LTM body with a suitable adapter)

You mean LTM lens in M body, yes?

pdeeh · May 4, 2015

YEs that's exactly what I mean Mr. S

Richard S. (rich815) · May 4, 2015

pdeeh said:
YEs that's exactly what I mean Mr. S

Greg Heath · May 4, 2015

Thanks for the info

mnemosyne · May 5, 2015

Here (link) is a discussion about converting M mount lenses to screwmount. I have no idea if it would work with the Planar but if you are serious about it, you could ask Don Goldberg. It sure ain't gonna be cheap, but maybe more affordable than one of the special edition 1999 Summicron 50s in screwmount (current BIN prices on Ebay around 2000 $). The only other options for a modern 50 to use on your screwmount body would be the Cosina Voigtländer Nokton 1.5/50 (first) version and the Color-Skopar 2.5/50. The Nokton is optically quite capable and not so difficult to find but it might feel a bit bulky on a IIIf. I owned the Color-Skopar 50 and was not overly impressed and would not recommend it. A Canon 1.8/50 in screwmount is a much better choice IMO, but then we are back to classic lenses.

Pioneer · May 5, 2015

Voigtlander (Cosina) has built some magnificent modern lenses with the LTM screwmount. In particular the Nokton 50/1.5 and Heliar 50/2 lenses are terrific examples. So if you are looking for modern lenses to attach to your Leica LTM they are certainly out there.

Of course, if all you want to do is convert a slightly newer Leica M-mount lens to screwmount then there are undoubtedly people who can do it. DAG is an option, as has been mentioned. Miyazaki Sadayasu in Japan has been known to do some of this as well, probably contact him through Japan Camera Hunter.

Pioneer · May 5, 2015

Voigtlander (Cosina) has built some magnificent modern lenses with the LTM screwmount. In particular the Nokton 50/1.5 and Heliar 50/2 lenses are terrific examples. So if you are looking for modern lenses to attach to your Leica LTM they are certainly out there.

Of course, if all you want to do is convert a slightly newer Leica M-mount lens to screwmount then there are undoubtedly people who can do it. DAG is an option, as has been mentioned. Miyazaki Sadayasu in Japan has been known to do some of this as well, probably contact him through Japan Camera Hunter.

Greg Heath · May 5, 2015

This is all great info. Thank you.

Greg Heath · May 5, 2015

I purchased a 35mm Summaron f/3.5

Should be here this week. I'm pumped.

Greg Heath · May 5, 2015

I told my wife we should buy 2 of every lens. You should have seen her face. Lol.

Pioneer · May 5, 2015

I have never had an opportunity to use a Summaron. Enjoy it.

In 35mm I finally settled down (that is a term gear addicts use to mollify their significant others) with a very nice Nikkor 35/2.5 and a Voigtlander Color Skopar 35/2.5. The Nikkor is almost a continuous resident on my Leica Standard.

Greg Heath · May 5, 2015

I was looking at those Voightlanders. Beautiful lenses.

I got the lens from Dan Tamarkin.
Tamarkin dot com

Xmas · May 5, 2015

mnemosyne said:
Here (link) is a discussion about converting M mount lenses to screwmount. I have no idea if it would work with the Planar but if you are serious about it, you could ask Don Goldberg. It sure ain't gonna be cheap, but maybe more affordable than one of the special edition 1999 Summicron 50s in screwmount (current BIN prices on Ebay around 2000 $). The only other options for a modern 50 to use on your screwmount body would be the Cosina Voigtländer Nokton 1.5/50 (first) version and the Color-Skopar 2.5/50. The Nokton is optically quite capable and not so difficult to find but it might feel a bit bulky on a IIIf. I owned the Color-Skopar 50 and was not overly impressed and would not recommend it. A Canon 1.8/50 in screwmount is a much better choice IMO, but then we are back to classic lenses.

Cosina also made a collapsible LTM in addition to two lenses mentioned.
The /2.5 is an acceptable lens - if you can find one or at least I use one with adapter on a M2.
The canon /1.8 (mentioned) and /2.8 ditto.
The nikkor H /2 ditto

Even the Cosina lenses can have been mistreated by now.

philipus · Jun 1, 2015

Greg Heath said:
Can I use M mount lenses on an older Screw mount body with an adapter ?

As said earlier M bayonet mount lenses can't be used on a screw mount body.

But some modern M lenses were made in screw mount versions, such as the 50 Summitar pre-asph and the 35 Sunmicron, both special editions and rather costly and rare.

Another interesting lens is the 35/2.8 Summaron which was made in a screw mount version with a factory-fitted and removable M mount adapter. I'm wondering if the same wasn't the case with the Super-Angulon too but someone else may know that.

Xmas · Jun 1, 2015

philipus said:
As said earlier M bayonet mount lenses can't be used on a screw mount body.

But some modern M lenses were made in screw mount versions, such as the 50 Summitar pre-asph and the 35 Sunmicron, both special editions and rather costly and rare.

Another interesting lens is the 35/2.8 Summaron which was made in a screw mount version with a factory-fitted and removable M mount adapter. I'm wondering if the same wasn't the case with the Super-Angulon too but someone else may know that.

The initial 21mm may have been made in screw thread with a M adapter fitted at factory. Not seen one they are rare.

The type 2 summilux 5cm was made in LTM about 500 off for Ja market.

If you want to take photos the old Leica lenses are junk unless you are shooting period style shots like citizen kane... When a Canon LTM is just as good.

philipus · Jun 2, 2015

Xmas said:
The initial 21mm may have been made in screw thread with a M adapter fitted at factory. Not seen one they are rare.

The type 2 summilux 5cm was made in LTM about 500 off for Ja market.

If you want to take photos the old Leica lenses are junk unless you are shooting period style shots like citizen kane... When a Canon LTM is just as good.

I see now that Tapatalk turned "Summilux" into "Summitar". Sorry for not spotting that as I posted. The Summilux 50mm pre-asph is of course the one I meant. Here it is on my Leica II:

I respectfully disagre, though, with the quite categorical statement that "old Leica lenses are junk" (sorry). I have a 1950 Summitar (correct, this time) which is a great lens, not only for b&w but also for colour. I also have a 1934 9cm Elmar which is in good condition and takes nice, if low contrast, photographs. It is true, of course, that also old non-Leica/Leitz screw mount lenses are good. I used to own a rather old Nikkor 8,5cm/2 which, though very beat up cosmetically and with some marks on the rear element, performed well enough. As with all lenses, it is a matter of condition.

I've long been an advocate for Leica releasing their newer lens designs also in LTM but I don't think that will ever happen. For that reason it is great that there are the Cosina Voigtländer lenses in LTM. It's quite spectacular that one can use ancient screw mount bodies with modern lenses for very reasonable cost.

br
Philip

bkarasek · Sep 9, 2015

Why not get the Nikkor lenses that come in LTM. During the Korean War, the photojournalists ( Duncan et al ) who went to Japan for R&R discovered Nikkor lenses and dumped their Leica lenses. The Nikkor 50/1.4 is a superb lens, also the Nikkor 105/2.5. With an adaptor, you can mount them on a M Leica.

philipus · Sep 25, 2015

I've been interested in the 50/1.4 but they're not easy to find. There's also a very cool 85/1.5 i believe but it's rare as hens' teeth.

Ko.Fe. · Sep 25, 2015

Greg Heath said:
I purchased a 35mm Summaron f/3.5

Should be here this week. I'm pumped.

View attachment 108585 View attachment 108586

Very nice lens. No modern Cosina or old Japanese are near to it in terms of the build quality. It has interesting and special rendering on bw, I call it as grainy contrast.

And awesome LOLyness at the start of the thread, reminds me recent IT talk where one customer was able to connect VGA cable to computer D-25 socket... upside-down.

John Koehrer · Sep 25, 2015

Xmas said:
The initial 21mm may have been made in screw thread with a M adapter fitted at factory. Not seen one they are rare.

The type 2 summilux 5cm was made in LTM about 500 off for Ja market.

If you want to take photos the old Leica lenses are junk unless you are shooting period style shots like citizen kane... When a Canon LTM is just as good.

Yep, the original 21/4 was ltm. If bought as an M lens the M adapter was installed and secured with setscrews. Because the ltm is more rare
it's not uncommon to see a ltm with dents in the thread, Technically it's not an ltm lens because the mount has been removed so it's been modified.

aoresteen · Sep 30, 2015

Don Goldberg once converted a Leica screwmount body to M mount. Once. He has stated that he will never do it again. Too hard to do. That's the only way a M lens can mount on a screwmount body and focus to infinity.

Screwmount Leica's using M designed lenses.

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