Leica-M to Nikon AND Nikon to Leica-M Adapters???

[Ronald Moravec]

Camera quest sells the adapter

[gamincurieux]

OK, well, I ordered what I hope is the better (if one is better than the other) Chinese Nikon to Leica-M adapters, and a Voigtlander 21mm viewfinder (can't really go wrong using that with a 20mm lens, eh?), so hopefully some fun & games to be had when it gets here ;)

[gamincurieux]

Adapter is yet to arrive, but I got the Voigtlander viewfinder already. OK, it's not Leica & it's plastic, but it seems well-built and it's bright enough to look through.

Considering that you cannot actually lock it in place in the hot-shoe, I do wonder if it will become quite a loose fit after it's been put on & off 200 times. Anyone got one & found that to happen over time and now fixes it on with gaffer tape?

[clayne]

Somewhat pointless when this lens is actually more usable on any F-series Nikon. I personally feel that without a wide-angle perspective viewfinder, using ultra-wides on a rangefinder is swimming upstream: and SLR will show you how the perspective feels and part of using ultra-wide effectively requires visualization of being "in the space." Standard .72x Leica VFs aren't even close. Fine for 35mm lenses, though.

[gamincurieux]

Err, Clayne, what is 'somewhat pointless', please? You've lost me, really. I mean, you have read all of the thread, huh?

[clayne]

Err, Clayne, what is 'somewhat pointless', please? You've lost me, really. I mean, you have read all of the thread, huh?

Yes, I have read it all. What I'm saying is, if you have the lens, how is using it on an F-body really that much of a disadvantage? Sure an external viewfinder will help resolve the perspective viewing issue, but the whole thing seems like a bit of a hack.

Also, no rangefinder coupling dude.

[illumiquest]

Agree with Clayne, what's the point in all of this? How are you going to accurately focus the darn thing? Unless you're planning on stopping the lens down every time and range focusing you're going to get things out of focus. If you've got a Nikon lens but no body I guess I could see wanting the adapter. If you're going to go out and buy a nikon lens and an adapter so you can shoot it on your Leica M... well. Let's just say that Nikon lenses fit on Nikon bodies AND give you an accurate way of composing and focusing...

[perkeleellinen]

It's just a bit of fun isn't it?

[cmo]

Agree with Clayne, what's the point in all of this? How are you going to accurately focus the darn thing? Unless you're planning on stopping the lens down every time and range focusing you're going to get things out of focus. If you've got a Nikon lens but no body I guess I could see wanting the adapter. If you're going to go out and buy a nikon lens and an adapter so you can shoot it on your Leica M... well. Let's just say that Nikon lenses fit on Nikon bodies AND give you an accurate way of composing and focusing...

For me, it's just a way of saving weight because I often travel with a rangefinder and SLR equipment. I use my Nikkor 18mm lens on my Leica M and Canon EOS, one lens less to carry. Of course, it makes no sense for normal or telephoto lenses unless you like to adapt lenses to a Visoflex...

[illumiquest]

Ok, using a superwide makes sense.

[gamincurieux]

Yes, I have read it all. What I'm saying is, if you have the lens, how is using it on an F-body really that much of a disadvantage? Sure an external viewfinder will help resolve the perspective viewing issue, but the whole thing seems like a bit of a hack.

Also, no rangefinder coupling dude.

Well darling, I can only suggest you go read it aaaaaaaaall again, only properly this time. Go on now, off you go, back to page one.... you too illumiquest, off you go too, although I think you illumiquest might be part-way to understanding that focusing/rangefinder coupling is no huge concern with a 20mm lens. My other motivations for doing this are all there.

Ok ok, I'd better spell a couple of things out for them, in case the obvious still eludes them, prompting another ill-conceived post: I already have the 20mm lens. I already have Nikon bodies on which it can & has been used, digital too. I cannot presently afford a 21mm Leica/Zeiss/Voigt lens to use with the Leica. When I go out with just the Leica (ONE camera and a couple of lenses) I find that I often need (indeed want, thank you very much, as is my prerogative) something wider than the lenses I do have for the Leica, so I annoyingly end up taking the 20mm with a Nikon camera too..... that makes TWO bodies when the intention was ONE. I know, why not get a relatively cheap adapter & viewfinder to use the 20mm on the Leica, then leave the Nikon body at home? Voila, back to ONE camera, as was the intention. A much more affordable option too. Hardly difficult, that's why they make these devices after all, and being such a wide lens focusing is nothing to worry about especially when stopped down some. The viewfinder is really just for framing. It will still meter, but I use a hand-held more often than not. Though, not knowing much about these adapters and never having used an external viewfinder before, perhaps it'd be prudent to see if anyone on APUG has used them, maybe they can offer some practical and constructive advice............................................ .......... need I go on?


It's just a bit of fun isn't it?

That it is Steve, that it certainly is, couldn't have said it better myself.

Cheers, Paul ;)

[perkeleellinen]

Regarding your question about the viewfinder dropping off: you may try putting a rubber 'o' ring over the hot-shoe attachment so when mounted it sits between the camera's shoe and the base of the viewfinder. Difficult to describe, but this is how my Sekonic twinmate sits securely on a hotshoe. Maybe you can see it on this pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/steve-g/DSCF4043.jpg

[gamincurieux]

Brilliant, I'll try it, thank you!

Mine's a little different to yours in that I won't be able to get an O-ring nicely sandwiched in all around like that, but if I got one thick enough it'd still do the job.