Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

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ulrikft
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p.1 #1 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

Hey!

This might be a very stupid question, but why is not replacing the leica r-mounting plate with a 0.5mm thicker nikon f-mount plate/adapter more common? Are there any difficultuies I don't realize here?

Dec 02, 2008 at 04:39 PM

JimBuchanan
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p.1 #2 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

I took a look at the underside of a Leica R mount, which a Leica serviceperson said they all were pretty much the same. If the question is to replace the Leica mount with a duplicate for another camera, then there are all sorts of extra machining under there. The grooves and ball bearing for the aperture click stops are there and very thin side walls which dictate stainless steel for strength. Just for starters.

Dec 02, 2008 at 04:49 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #3 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

Hmm, ok. So you would have to have a nikon-adapter specially machined, to accomodate the ball bearing/grooves?

Sounds like a CAD-mission :P

Should it not be quite easy to make such thing in today's computerized manufacturing systems?

Dec 02, 2008 at 05:17 PM

telyt
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p.1 #4 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

It's been done, I've seen a 50mm Summicron-R converted to Nikon F mount just this way. The owner of leitax.com told me a few months ago that a conversion kit was a few months away. There are a few complications because on older versions the R mount and the rear light baffle attached to it combined with the metering cams are responsible for keeping the aperture ring from running past the lens' limits, i.e., if the lens has an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/22 the flange & baffle stop the aperture ring at the f/2.8 and f/22 ends of its run. The exact configuration varies depending on the lens' aperture range.

There is also a newer version of the mount with a more modular lens construction. These can be identified by the number of screws appearing to hold the flange to the lens. Six screws is the older construction while ten screws is the modular construction. In the modular construction four of the ten screws attach the flange/aperture ring assembly to the barrel of the lens:

The only mechanical connection between the aperture ring and the diaphragm is this lever:

I'd imagine that an enterprising electronic/mechanical genius could make a replacement flange/aperture ring assembly with an aperture control motor that would interface with the camera body's electronics giving electronic aperture control of the R lens on whatever body it's on, C or N.

Dec 02, 2008 at 05:39 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #5 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

That looks possible, after all

Dec 02, 2008 at 10:20 PM

R10
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p.1 #6 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

How about replacing the Nikon mount on the Nikon body with an Leica-R compatible one? Does anybody know a (potential) source?

Dec 03, 2008 at 01:41 AM

ISO1600
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p.1 #7 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

man, go buy a busted up R4 or something, and rip that stupid mount off.

(directed at R10)

Dec 03, 2008 at 04:22 AM

HansenTsang
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p.1 #8 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

I just checked my Leica Rs and it doesn't look that bad. Looking at the picture on this thread it looks like the Leica mount will come off. All I have to do is cut the Leica mount off and shave the mount down by 0.5 mm. Then put a M42 to Nikon adapter on top of shaved Leica mount. They are probably 1.6 mm screws so that is not impossible to get.

I can't justify modifying them yet because they fit in my 5D without any work right now.

Dec 03, 2008 at 04:35 AM

ulrikft
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p.1 #9 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

That doesen't sound too bad at all. I guess I have to get a cheap R-lens (do they exist? :P ) and try!

Dec 03, 2008 at 06:58 AM

HansenTsang
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p.1 #10 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

I have not seen too many I consider "cheap".;-)

Dec 03, 2008 at 07:17 AM

ulrikft
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p.1 #11 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

I'm looking at a few 90 2.8 elmarit's, I guess that is the way to too. They go for about 250-400 usd at fleebay. Get the leica mount off them, shave off enough to get infinity (shave, test, shave more, test...) and gogo? :P

Dec 03, 2008 at 08:17 AM

telyt
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p.1 #12 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

ulrikft wrote:
I'm looking at a few 90 2.8 elmarit's, I guess that is the way to too. They go for about 250-400 usd at fleebay. Get the leica mount off them, shave off enough to get infinity (shave, test, shave more, test...) and gogo? :P

Are you forgetting the dimples in the back of the flange for the aperture click stops? Far better to shave a $$ adapter than a $$$ lens IMHO.

Dec 03, 2008 at 08:40 AM

ulrikft
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p.1 #13 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

telyt wrote:
ulrikft wrote:
I'm looking at a few 90 2.8 elmarit's, I guess that is the way to too. They go for about 250-400 usd at fleebay. Get the leica mount off them, shave off enough to get infinity (shave, test, shave more, test...) and gogo? :P

Are you forgetting the dimples in the back of the flange for the aperture click stops? Far better to shave a $$ adapter than a $$$ lens IMHO.

Good point, the thing is that all the nikon adapters I have gotten so far are quite thin to begin with, but 0.5mm shold be possible.

Dec 03, 2008 at 03:02 PM

HansenTsang
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p.1 #14 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

The idea is to put a mount on the existing mount that will be 0.5 mm below the existing flange depth. Since the new mount need to sit on the old mount shaving of the old mount is unavoidable. You have to leave enough material on the flange of the new mount to bolt through.

Dec 03, 2008 at 07:07 PM

R10
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p.1 #15 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

ISO1600 wrote:
man, go buy a busted up R4 or something, and rip that stupid mount off.

(directed at R10)

I'm not talking about a source for the Leica mount. That is even easier than your suggestion - you get them new as spare parts for a reasonable price directly from Leica in Solms here in Germany).
What I meant was whether anybody has experience with replacing the mount on a Nikon body?

Dec 04, 2008 at 01:08 AM

telyt
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p.1 #16 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

R10 wrote:... anybody has experience with replacing the mount on a Nikon body?

Professional Camera Repair in New York City, Marty Forsher's former business, did one F2 conversion that I know of. As far as I know the company is no longer in business.

Dec 04, 2008 at 01:13 AM

ulrikft
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p.1 #17 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

Maybe this should be my first project:

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5960

Making a cnc-machine

I can just imagine the amounts of fun I could have with a weekend with a cnc-machine and a few kgs of aliminium....

I would make a few cool stufs for sure :P

Dec 04, 2008 at 01:39 AM

ulrikft
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p.1 #18 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

I think I'll find a broken/ugly leica, bid on it, and experiment on it :P perfect my technique

Home at my parents house I have all the powertools, lathes and fun I need, and I'm going home for xmas :P

Dec 04, 2008 at 01:49 AM

theSuede
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p.1 #19 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

Galna Norrmän...

Please don't forget to document your work, I know I usually do exactly that in the heat of the moment.... Hehe...

It helps other crazy people like yourself a lot!

I've seen some more examples of Nikon F-mount camera bodies having their original mount replaced by a Leica R than the ones mentioned here, I'll see if I can find the original links.

Dec 04, 2008 at 12:10 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #20 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

Haha, vikingeblodet vettu :P

I'll try to document it as well as I can, I have put a bid in on a semi-broken 90 2.8 now, if I get that for the price I want, I'll try to get the conversion done as soon as possible and get pictures of all parts of the process

Dec 04, 2008 at 02:33 PM

telyt
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p.1 #21 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

Rather than going through all that work (unless you really want to) watch leitax.com in the next week or so.

Dec 04, 2008 at 02:50 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #22 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

Hmm, I will do. If they release a kit during the next weeks, it is a done deal!

Dec 04, 2008 at 03:03 PM

HansenTsang
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p.1 #23 · Leica r-lens -> f-mount surgery

Thanks telyt for the link. Since I have a Pentax k200D body I just ordered their conversion mount. My first project is to convert the 60 mm f2.8 macro to the Pentax mount and so I have an effective 90 mm (1.5x crop) f2.8 macro. Whoohoo! I am excited!

Dec 04, 2008 at 08:03 PM


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