Novoflex OM to SL adapter

[ggw10]

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I have purchased a Novoflex Olympus OM to SL adapter, and, whereas it fits the OM lenses very well, it is difficult to

get on to the SL body: it's very tight and stiff, so much so that I am afraid to damage the camera. Is this normal? Has anyone

had this experience with Novoflex adapters (which generally seem very well made).

 

Graham

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[ramarren]

I've not had that experience with Novoflex mount adapters, but I would treat it exactly as I did with other adapters showing those issues (including the first Leica R Adapter M I had received): send it back in exchange for another.

 

If an adapter is very very tight like that, it's obviously out of spec and should not be used.

[helged]

I use a Novoflex adapter for a Canon FD lens on the SL (Novoflex LET/CAN), no problems at all. I have a few other Novoflex adapters to Leica M mount, again without problems. So yes, it appears that there is a problem with your adapter.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Make sure the code on both the box and the adapter states LET/OM … if it isn't then send it back. Novoflex adapters are a snug fit - unlike many Chinese adapters which can can be a loose / sloppy fit. When the Novoflex adapter is mounted into the SL it's quite normal to feel some resistance and it will require a little effort to turn it fully onto the mount. If you're not used to Novoflex adapters it might seem as if there's too much resistance - a firm-ish twist should overcome the resistance. Similarly when removing the adapter - it will require a firm twist to remove it after initially pressing the camera's lens release button. 

 

dunk

[ramarren]

Make sure the code on both the box and the adapter states LET/OM … if it isn't then send it back. Novoflex adapters are a snug fit - unlike many Chinese adapters which can can be a loose / sloppy fit. When the Novoflex adapter is mounted into the SL it's quite normal to feel some resistance and it will require a little effort to turn it fully onto the mount. If you're not used to Novoflex adapters it might seem as if there's too much resistance - a firm-ish twist should overcome the resistance. Similarly when removing the adapter - it will require a firm twist to remove it after initially pressing the camera's lens release button. 

 

 

It should be firm and snug, at least when brand new, but not a struggle. I only had this problem once, with the first R Adapter M I received, and I felt it was simply too snug. When I sent it in to Leica USA, they confirmed that it was a couple ten-thousandths of an inch off the specified dimensions making it too tight.

 

Too tight can cause damage. It's best not to risk damage; exchange it for another one that is in tolerance if it is a struggle to fit the adapter properly. 

 

One friend of mine had an adapter that was right on the verge of too tight to fit. He wiped the lens mounting flange with a tiny bit of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, then wiped it again with a dry cloth until it was utterly dry to the touch. After that, the adapter fitted with the usual snug feel.

 

I tried the same technique with the recalcitrant one I had, but it remained too tight to fit safely. So there's a limit, and it's best to exchange rather than risk damage if you're unsure. 

[ggw10]

Yes, it is marked LET/OM (on the box and on the adapter), so it ought to be the right one. I bought it from their UK representatives, Speed Graphic, and when the first one was very tight, they replaced it with no quibbling. The replacement showed exactly the same problems, which is odd: if it was just being "out of spec", as ramarren says, you would not expect both of them to have the same problems. (Unless they were from the same batch, of course ...). Will try the Vaseline trick and see if that has 

any effect. 

[cpclee]

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When I first got my SL and the M adapter the fit was very tight. It didn't help when I switched to a different copy of the adapter. So I asked the Leica service center here to put a bit of lubricant on the mount and the fit is now perfectly silky.

[ramarren]

I would try the lubricant and see if that works. A very, very small amount is all that's needed.

 

Hopefully that will solve the problem. If it doesn't, communicate with Novoflex and see what they have to say about it. 

[Suteetat]

I have M to T and Nikon to T mount adapters and find both fit quite a bit tighter  on the SL, more so than any adapters, Novoflex, Kipon etc   xx to E mount adapter. However, it is only tight but not difficult to put it on of pull it off.