One small info:
With the Voigtlander VM-E close focus set to infinity the maximum focus distance is 1.25m.
With the Fotodiox (not pro) LM-Nex adapter it is 1.57m.
I tried to measure the difference in thickness between the adapters with a caliper, but the difference is so small, it is not possible.
Just a clarification to my previous posts, I realised just now that I actually have the 1500mm Planoconvex from OptoSigma in the 28mm BiogonZm, and the 1m Zeiss Proxar in the 25mm Biogon ZM, not the other way around as I initially posted.
Sorry for this mistake, I lost track of which I had installed into which and had to examine them just now to confirm which one went where.
So for those that want to correct the 25mm ZM Biogon, I have found that a 1m Proxar works best. Equally, I would assume that a 1000mm Planoconvex lens from OptoSigma would work just as well, or any other high quality 1000mm correction lens.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Too bad it's only 1.2m...but perhaps that can be improved using a modded adapter or the Hawks with infinity tweak.
The actual version of the Hawks (V5) allows for -0.3mm infinity adjustment.
I am not sure this will be enough, but frankly you might have to test it, as it is quite hard to get one in Germany.
BastianK wrote:
One small info:
With the Voigtlander VM-E close focus set to infinity the maximum focus distance is 1.25m.
With the Fotodiox (not pro) LM-Nex adapter it is 1.57m.
I tried to measure the difference in thickness between the adapters with a caliper, but the difference is so small, it is not possible.
It may be worth it getting a cheap adapter, removing the front mount and shaving it down evenly with a sand paper to increase focusing distance. I have to play with it when I get my filter.
candreyo wrote:
I will also take photos of the modified lenses, along with photos of where I removed the shins, so it's clear to everyone how to do this on there own ZM lenses if they wish.
Do you know if the ZM 35mm 1.4 also inherits such shims?
Fred Miranda wrote:
It may be worth it getting a cheap adapter, removing the front mount and shaving it down evenly with a sand paper to increase focusing distance. I have to play with it when I get my filter.
The idea of 'shaving it down evenly with sandpaper' makes me shudder. Small chance of getting it even I would think, surely needs machining. How much less than 'normal' register are you needing?
gyoung143 wrote:
The idea of 'shaving it down evenly with sandpaper' makes me shudder. Small chance of getting it even I would think, surely needs machining. How much less than 'normal' register are you needing?
Gerry
Yes, this is a big problem and a good point. Mount parallelism will not be easy to achieve. (If not impossible with a sand paper)
However for my usage, I would only use this mod with large apertures and close distances where mount to mount parallelism is not so much an issue.
Perhaps it would be best to find a M to E adapter brand that is shorter than normal.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Yes, this is a big problem and a good point. Mount parallelism will not be easy to achieve. (If not impossible with a sand paper)
It's best to find a M to E adapter brand that is shorter than normal.
If further tests reveal that we really can get the cv 1.7/35 almost costlessly optimized this way (I think the simulations showed that the 1.4 ZM may be harder) I think the best bet would be to remove the front bayonet mount and take a decent adapter to a machine shop for some precise surgery before putting it back.
Yes, the 35mm ZM Distagon also has these shins inside to allow adjustment.
In fact nearly every ZM lens has this same design, except the 85mm Sonnar f2 ZM, which is a difference beast all together.
BastianK wrote:
Do you know if the ZM 35mm 1.4 also inherits such shims?
I had my adapter shaved down about 0.5mm, which allowed both 25 and 28 Biogon ZM,s to reach infinity and slightly beyond. I think 0.4mm would be optimum for the 35mm aDistagon ZM
gyoung143 wrote:
The idea of 'shaving it down evenly with sandpaper' makes me shudder. Small chance of getting it even I would think, surely needs machining. How much less than 'normal' register are you needing?
I have a Hawks V3 adapter, and it did not have enough room beyond infinity to allow me to achieve infinity on the ZM Biogons I modded.
I had to lap down a cheap adapter initially to get things to reach infinity.
It is very easy to adjust the 35mm Distagon ZM internally to compensate for a 2m filter on its front. I know people shutter at thinking about opening their lenses, but literally, opening the Distagon and removing adding shins takes a few minutes tops. One just needs a set of adjustable camera spanners and the will to actually open on it up😁
BastianK wrote:
The actual version of the Hawks (V5) allows for -0.3mm infinity adjustment.
I am not sure this will be enough, but frankly you might have to test it, as it is quite hard to get one in Germany.
Just a clarification to my previous posts, I realised just now that I actually have the 1500mm Planoconvex from OptoSigma in the 28mm BiogonZm, and the 1m Zeiss Proxar in the 25mm Biogon ZM, not the other way around as I initially posted.
Sorry for this mistake, I lost track of which I had installed into which and had to examine them just now to confirm which one went where.
So for those that want to correct the 25mm ZM Biogon, I have found that a 1m Proxar works best. Equally, I would assume that a 1000mm Planoconvex lens from OptoSigma would work just as well, or any other high quality 1000mm correction lens....Show more →
Thanks for the clarification that came just in time ;-) I am about to place order with local distributor on the 1500mm Planoconvex for my ZM25mm.
Hi, yes, the Zeiss Proxar you linked is the lens I used. I removed it from the Hasseblad bayonet and placed the lens sandwich between a 46 to 55mm step up and a 55 to 52mm step down.
The Proxar is a tad larger diameter then 52m, so the 55 to 52mm step down ring I used as the retaining ring to hold it in place against the 46-55 step up ring.
The OptoSigma one you linked is their version of what a Proxar 1m is.
Both will work equally well I assume.
But I like using the Proxars as they have T* coatings, so it keeps it an all Zeiss glass lens. 😇
wstam wrote:
Thanks for the clarification that came just in time ;-) I am about to place order with local distributor on the 1500mm Planoconvex for my ZM25mm.
Just another note, the Zeiss Proxar lenses in black bayonets B57 are able to be unscrewed from the mounts by a rear retaining ring.
The Ienses in stainless steel monunts are lot harder to remove. I had to use a Dremel to cut the bayonet away from the actual lens very carefully, as they don't be appear to have a retaining ring, but are somehow hard mounted into the bayonet.
candreyo wrote:
It is very easy to adjust the 35mm Distagon ZM internally to compensate for a 2m filter on its front. I know people shutter at thinking about opening their lenses, but literally, opening the Distagon and removing adding shins takes a few minutes tops. One just needs a set of adjustable camera spanners and the will to actually open on it up😁
If you make a walkthrough and tell me what camera spanner to get I might give it a try
Due to the interest in this topic lately, I'm actually looking to do a YouTube video of what I did and show how I opened the Zeiss ZM lenses so others can follow in the same footsteps if they wish. Hopefully can get this done in the next few days. I'll post the link here when it's ready.
I also purchased the Nikon No. 0 52mm - 1.4m (0.7 dptr) to test along with the Minolta No. 0 49mm -1.07m (0.94 dptr) meniscus close-up filter.
It's a cheap experimentation. The Nikon was only $5 bucks off of Ebay and even if it does not work, I can still use it with my Loxia lenses as a close-up filter.
I'm hoping one of these filters will be the best approach for the ZM 35/1.4 as far as FC correction at wide apertures and acceptable distance range.
Fred Miranda wrote:
I also purchased the Nikon No. 0 52mm - 1.4m (0.7 dptr) to test along the Minolta No. 0 49mm -1.07m (0.94 dptr)
It's a cheap experimentation. The Nikon was only $5 bucks off of Ebay and even if it does not work, I can still use it with my Loxia lenses as a close-up filter.
I'm hoping one of these filters will be the best approach for the ZM 35/1.4 as far as FC correction at wide apertures and acceptable distance range.
Today I received the Nikon No.0 and the Leica Elpro4.
The Nikon offers rather decent max. focus distance, but so far at 1.5m object distance the Leica seems to offer the flattest field (max. focus distance: 1.85m).
The max. focus distance with the Minolta is not enough for me, will need a shorter adapter for that.
PS: I am also trying to get a Hawks adapter. -0.3mm might not be enough for infinity, but enough for having a decent working distance.
BastianK wrote:
Today I received the Nikon No.0 and the Leica Elpro4.
The Nikon offers rather decent max. focus distance, but so far at 1.5m object distance the Leica seems to offer the flattest field (max. focus distance: 1.85m).
The max. focus distance with the Minolta is not enough for me, will need a shorter adapter for that.
PS: I am also trying to get a Hawks adapter. -0.3mm might not be enough for infinity, but enough for having a decent working distance.
I have not received any of my filters yet. Any updates Bastian?
Fred Miranda wrote:
I have not received any of my filters yet. Any updates Bastian?
Proxar 2m should arrive tomorrow (will be the last for now), the other 4 arrived already.
I have one day been shooting with the Nikon No0 and one day with the Leica Elpro4 now.
During shooting I noticed my first impression was a little off:
the critical focusing distances are more like 2 to 4m, not 1 to 2m.
The problem here is: with none of the filters focusing at these distances is possible with an unmodified adapter.
I have not yet found an adapter which would be easy to shorten and I am still trying to get a Hawks V5 in Germany
hoping -0.3mm would be enough to get me to at least 3m focusing distance.
