Leica Bellows adapter for M lens

[eudemian]

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I wonder if there is a way to attach any of my M lenses to Bellows unit and a Visoflex?

If anyone can suggest a part number, or give me a clue as to where to search I would appreciate it.

The bellows unit I am considering is the 11 version part number 16556,it has a large adapter at the front end but I believe it will not take a normal M mount.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree, can a bellows only be used with specific lens like the photar 50 f/4?

I am sure there is someone on the forum who can help me with this.

Tom

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[Laki]

16596G thats the one i have on my bellows II and i bought mine here https://www.leicashop.com/

[eudemian]

That was a quick response, thank you Laki.

Just to be sure, will this adapter allow me to attach any M mount lens, and will this adapter fit into the bellows unit without further adapters? Sorry to be persistent but I have never seen these items in the flesh and want to be certain of the facts before I splash out.

Tom

[Laki]

no problem all my m lenses fit into the adapter and the adapter itself screws into the bellows II

 

just found it on ebay eBay: LEITZ UOOND 16596 M LENS MOUNT ADAPTER Wetzlar GERMANY (Artikel 160134502251 endet 14.07.07 17:13:43 MESZ)

[luigi bertolotti]

With the splendid devices Leitz manufactured in the golden sixties, keep in mind that the rule is "find the right items, and you can achieve all the combinations you can think of":

 

- Bellows II 16556 you quote (excellent device, superb mechanic) : it included a front adapter on which you can mount the 90mm lens units (Elmar or Elmarit - screw), that are very apt to it: you can focus from infinity to 1:1 repro with Viso+bellows !. (1,33:1 with M8, of course)

 

- With the same adapter you can mount also the 65mm Elmar ("naked" - say with no its focusing unit) : you can focus from infinity to 1,6:1 (about 2:1 on M8).

 

- If you find one for sale (not difficult) is better it has the above ring (it was also available separately for spare : 16558); you can achieve very good results with an Elmar 90 (cheap, if you haven't one) or Elmar 65 (if you haven't, search for the black 2nd type - better and more costly than The Elmar 90).

 

- With the adapter ring 16596 you can mount any BM lens : is the item you look for; I think is not difficult to find one (I have it, don't sell, sorry...)

 

- Number of other adapters exist... for lens unit of Summicron 50, Summicron 90 etc... on the Net you can easily find the complete list & codings (for example, look at Summilux )

 

- I have never had the special macro/micro lenses like Photar - Summar - Milar: surely there are devices to mount them on the bellows II, as I said, Leitz was fantastic in providing any kind of adapters in those years, and their mechanical precision is still fascinating.

 

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[volkerhopf]

Hi Tom,

You can also use the 16596G adapter on the bellows II. This is the bajonet adapter. I use the head of an Elmar 135 f4 with it (I just used a normal Voigtlander screw to M adapter on it) and it works really well

Regards

Volker

[artur5]

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Luigi, if I'm not wrong, the magnification doesn't change at all using a M8 or a M film camera. What changes is the crop. At 1:1 you get a FOV of 18x27mm. on the M8 and 24x36mm on a M7, but the size of the subject is the same on both cases.

[luigi bertolotti]

Right, Arturo, am sorry, I wrote a stupid thing ... of course... with same lens/some bellows extension you catch a smaller frame with M8... but in terms of ratio is the same... I was confused by the wish to explain that with M8 + bellows you, in a certain sense, make a "stronger macro" than with film Ms...