Leitz Wetzlar R to M Adapter 22228/500934 Problem

[CaptainYooh]

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Hi guys:

 

I am having a problem with the Leitz Wetzlar R to M Adapter 22228/500934.  I can't understand why it wouldn't let me mount Elmarit-R 16mm/2.8 fisheye on it.  My lens was made in 1975 and is a 2-cam version.

 

I did search the forum and found a couple of threads suggesting that this particular adapter was not made specifically for R-lenses and doesn't work with some of them.  There is a small metal part sticking out right beside one of the prongs on the R-side of the adapter (see the photo):

 

 

I thought that was the reason.  But I was wrong.  As you can see from the photos below, I have a spare R-mount, which looks exactly the same as the one on the lens.  Yet, that spare mount fits into the adapter perfectly well and clicks in place, while the lens mount doesn't.  The same rear Leica cap fits both the lens mount and the spare mount equally well. 

 

What could be wrong?  What should I do?  Help!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CaptainYooh]

Well, I just swapped the mounts and it worked.  The lens can now be mounted onto the adapter easily.  This means that the original lens mount was the problem.  But why???  They look identical...

 

 

 

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[beewee]

Not sure if it's the perspective but you original lens mount looks like it has a wider/longer flange (curved bit that stick out) on the bottom right section compared to your spare.

[CaptainYooh]

I think you've got it.  It goes a little past the screw on the right, while spare one stops a bit short of it.  How's that possible though?  This is Leica-R mount.  Aren't they all supposed to be the same?

[CaptainYooh]

Here's my very first shot with this lens.  Handheld.  Distortion corrected in LR4. I think I'm gonna like it!

[beewee]

Here's my very first shot with this lens.  Handheld.  Distortion corrected in LR4. I think I'm gonna like it!

Just realized you're from Calgary as well. Same here. There were definitely some nice rainbows today. Quite a view from Nose Hill looking towards downtown with a bright rainbow in the background around 8:30pm.

 

I have a late model (2000s) 180/3.4 Apo-telyt which has the same flange as your spare. Don't really have any other R lenses at the moment to compare against.

[CaptainYooh]

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Cool!  Yeah, the rainbows came out right after the hailstorm.

 

Actually, I have quite a few R-lenses; but all of them, except for this fisheye, have been Leitax'd by David Llado in Spain to NIkon F mount.  I do have all of the original R-mounts though. I should have a look to see if there are differences between them.  Still boggles my mind that they could differ from one another...

[Martin K]

The 16mm fisheye and a few other lenses came on the market with the Leicaflex SL2. They were Minolta designs which needed more space inside the camera than what the Leicaflex SL had. Hence, the bayonet mount was changed to ensure you could not mount the fisheye on the Leicaflex SL and earlier cameras as the mirror would hit the lens and get damaged. You will see a small outside ridge on the original fisheye bayonet that precludes that. Your adaptor has the old bayonet, hence the fisheye could not be mounted. By changing the bayonet you have made it possible. Just remember you can now also mount the fisheye on a Leicaflex SL, but you will mess up the mirror when making an exposure.  

[CaptainYooh]

Thanks for this information, Martin.  Much appreciated.  This explains the difference and makes sense.  I knew of the Minolta origin, of course.  But I didn't know it didn't work with Leicaflex SL2 (and I never had a Leicaflex SL2, so no worries there ).

[jip]

It works on the SL2 and newer but not the original SL  

 

Thanks for this information, Martin.  Much appreciated.  This explains the difference and makes sense.  I knew of the Minolta origin, of course.  But I didn't know it didn't work with Leicaflex SL2 (and I never had a Leicaflex SL2, so no worries there )

[eilert anders]

Two other Leica R lenses that could not be mounted to the Leicaflex and SL:  the 15mm f3.5 Elmar R and the 24mm f2.8 Elmarit R