Nikkor LTM Question

[WestMichigan]

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Hello,

my newly arrived ltm Nikkor Q 13.5cm has me a little puzzled about something.

 

Query: when attached to my M8 should the lens' D.O.F. Scale be landing at top dead center?

 

Using a known to be good 28/90 ltm to m adapter the d.o.f scale is lining up about halfway over toward the frame preview lever. The tripod block is equally out of alignment with the bottom of the camera.

 

I put my CV 28 back on the adapter and it's d.o.f scale still lands top center like before, put the Nikkor on it and confirmed it still lines up off kilter when bayoneted onto the camera.

 

Help! :-D

I'm puzzled. And I can't find a clear pic on google or flickr of a ltm nikkor on a M body which answers my query.

 

Thanks.

Richard in Michigan

[giordano]

The tripod bush should be at the bottom. Probably there's a way of rotating the lens mount to square things up, but I'm not going to guess how it works.

[WestMichigan]

The tripod bush should be at the bottom. Probably there's a way of rotating the lens mount to square things up, but I'm not going to guess how it works.

 

A sincere thank you, giordano.

 

I could come up with a theory or two as to why one might want to build a lens where the depth of field scale is off center, but the tripod block made no sense to me to not be centered. I am hoping I can get the lens' issues sorted by my local tech and not have to send it off for adjustment. There is something more comforting putting one's gear in the handof the person who will be fixing it than putting a box in the mailman's hand to get repaira done.

 

BTW: I was shooting with the lens at my niece's church league softball game this evening and It produces lovely images starting right at f3.5. There is a lovely rolloff from in focus to out of focus, the colors are lovely straight out of the camera compared to my Hektor 135, and the Nikkor beats it hands down on overall contrast and micro-contrasts.

 

Richard in Michigan

[samiba]

Hi Richard,

I have the same effect with my two 135 mm Nikkor Lenses.

So this is in some way "normal".

I can confirm your statement, that this is a great lens with edge to edge sharpness.

Kind regards, Michael

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[doubice]

The focus index / DOF scale should be off-center, as it is on most Leica Thread lenses when attached to any camera. Reason for this is that accessory finders may get in the way when looking down on the focusing scale - that is why it is offset on the majority of Leica, Canon, Nikon and other LTM lenses.

 

When the M3 with its built-in finder frames was introduced, it was no longer all that important to use shoe-mounted accessory finders so, on all M mount lenses the focus index is at top dead center.

 

What is puzzling though, is that the tripod socket is also off-center. The lens mount must obviously be positioned correctly, otherwise the RF cam would be off-center too and accurate focusing would not be possible.

 

I see some set screws in the back of the last section of the mount - is it possible that just the outer skin of the mount (I assume it holds the tripod mount) is adjustable by loosening those screws?

 

Cheers,

 

Jan

[WestMichigan]

The focus index / DOF scale should be off-center, as it is on most Leica Thread lenses when attached to any camera. Reason for this is that accessory finders may get in the way when looking down on the focusing scale - that is why it is offset on the majority of Leica, Canon, Nikon and other LTM lenses.

 

When the M3 with its built-in finder frames was introduced, it was no longer all that important to use shoe-mounted accessory finders so, on all M mount lenses the focus index is at top dead center.

 

What is puzzling though, is that the tripod socket is also off-center. The lens mount must obviously be positioned correctly, otherwise the RF cam would be off-center too and accurate focusing would not be possible.

 

I see some set screws in the back of the last section of the mount - is it possible that just the outer skin of the mount (I assume it holds the tripod mount) is adjustable by loosening those screws?

 

Cheers,

 

Jan

 

Hello Jan, you raise interesting questions about the position of the tripod mount and how to adjust it. When I can get overto see my local technician I shall discuss it with him. Life got a little crowded at the end of the week, but I'm hoping to make it there monday or tuesday.

Richard.

[bocaburger]

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For what a single data-point is worth, I've got a 105/2.5 Nikkor in LTM on a Leitz 9cm adapter (the later type with cut-out, since the lens doesn't have or need a code) and the tripod bush sits dead on 6:00. The focus index however is a tad off to the left of center (when looking down from above with the back of the camera against my chest).

[bocaburger]

For what a single data-point is worth, I've got a 105/2.5 LTM on a Leitz 9cm adapter (the later type with cut-out, since the lens doesn't have or need a code) and the tripod bush sits dead on 6:00. The focus index however is a tad off to the left of center (when looking down from above with the back of the camera against my chest).

 

CV lenses have extra holes tapped under the rear flange that allows it to be repositioned slightly I've never had any reason to take the flange of my Nikkor to find out if that's possible, and the only guy I know whom I could call that would know right off the top of his head (Pete Smith) sadly passed away last fall.

[menos I M6]

The tripod mounts on certain longer Nikkor rangefinder lenses are adjustable.

 

Fixed with two screws, the mount is fitted to a small bracket on the inside of the lens.

The assembly sits on the barrel, hiding a slot in which the mount can be moved, once the screws are slightly loosened (not completely taken out, as the inside bracket then will fall inside the lens!).