Using Novoflex adapter on M body

[RobertJRB]

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I used to use my dads old pentax ME with 50/2 lens.

 

Today he bought a Pentax MX with pentax 28/3.5, 50/1.7 and 135/3.5, lenses he afford buy when they were new, for only 50 euro. And all in perfect condition

 

Not mind blowing lenses for shure, but I got a lot of nice pictures from the 50/2 and I think its a petty those lenses aren't used.

 

Searching for a pentaxK lens to canon EOS mount adapter I came by the novoflex pentax K mount lens to leica M camera adapter.

It costs 150 euro with isn't that much money for 4 new lenses on my M.

 

Does anybody has experience with this adapter (or any other adapter) on a leica M?

How does it work with the rangefinder, or is it just not coupled?

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[scsambrook]

There will be no rangefinder coupling - the lenses don't have the necessary mechanism. Focusing the 28mm lens by scale might be possible, especially at apertures smaller than f5.6 where there's going to be plenty of depth of field. But it would be harder to get accurate distance setting with the 50mm and almost impossible with the 135mm - except at infinity, of course.

 

So although the idea of three lenses for your Leica M for an outlay of 150 euro might seem attractive, it may not actually be a good way to spend your money.

[01af]

Does anybody has experience with this adapter (or any other adapter) on a Leica M? How does it work with the rangefinder ...?

It doesn't.

 

 

...or is it just not coupled?

Exactly. The camera's viewfinder is useless. You cannot focus, and you cannot even frame properly because the framelines will be at the 0.7 m position, i. e. at their maximum parallax compensation position. So to use non-Leica lenses on that Novoflex adapter, you'll need an accessory finder—most useful: Leica Universal-Weitwinkelsucher-M (a. k. a. 'Frankenfinder') or Voigtländer 15-35 mm zoom finder—and you can only use wide-angle lenses that get away with scale focusing. Of the Pentax lenses you mentioned, only the 28 mm qualifies. The 50 mm and 135 mm lenses are next to useless; you simply won't be able to focus them accurately.

 

If you want to use those Pentax lenses then get a Pentax DSLR ... or some rolls of film.

[RobertJRB]

There will be no rangefinder coupling - the lenses don't have the necessary mechanism. Focusing the 28mm lens by scale might be possible, especially at apertures smaller than f5.6 where there's going to be plenty of depth of field. But it would be harder to get accurate distance setting with the 50mm and almost impossible with the 135mm - except at infinity, of course.

 

So although the idea of three lenses for your Leica M for an outlay of 150 euro might seem attractive, it may not actually be a good way to spend your money.

 

It doesn't.

 

 

 

Exactly. The camera's viewfinder is useless. You cannot focus, and you cannot even frame properly because the framelines will be at the 0.7 m position, i. e. at their maximum parallax compensation position. So to use non-Leica lenses on that Novoflex adapter, you'll need an accessory finder—most useful: Leica Universal-Weitwinkelsucher-M (a. k. a. 'Frankenfinder') or Voigtländer 15-35 mm zoom finder—and you can only use wide-angle lenses that get away with scale focusing. Of the Pentax lenses you mentioned, only the 28 mm qualifies. The 50 mm and 135 mm lenses are next to useless; you simply won't be able to focus them accurately.

 

If you want to use those Pentax lenses then get a Pentax DSLR ... or some rolls of film.

 

Thanks,

I think I will stick to the original idea and try to use them on my canon EOS. I was thinking of a pentax DSLR but since I mainly use my leica M, and only sometimes my canon I don't think its a good idea to buy another slr with different mount. Especially since its only just for fun.

 

I will use it with film. Used my old ME with 50/2 for years and still love it. But digital is just so much more easy.

[Guest mc_k]

The combined framelines and parallax error will be about the same from 3m out, and nothing at closest focus, so you can probably figure it out, sans $900 finder.

 

I think you can get a cheap antique external rangefinder, and transfer distances to the scale.

[tobey bilek]

Pentax lenses are not like Leica lenses to be sure,

[RobertJRB]

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Pentax lenses are not like Leica lenses to be sure,

 

I know. I don't want to use them as a replace for the leica's, its just for fun. The build however is quite good. Not as smooth as my leica's, but still really well build.

 

Ordered a pentax K to EOS adapter to use them on my canon digital and tried them yesterday. Bit fuzzy pictures, but still quite acceptable. Fun to use them.