Adapting a Series VII ELPRO for Macro on Vario-Elmar-TL 18-56 e52?

[M9reno]

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Is there an adapter currently on the market for adapting a Series VII ELPRO for use on the 18-56 zoom’s 52mm thread?

I already have these ELPRO filters for use on old R lenses and would rather not have to go hunting for the newer e55 version ELPROs, which I gather are easier to adapt.

I would be grateful especially if someone could post a link to the correct adapter for sale on-line.

Many thanks!

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[jaapv]

Maybe this one?

https://www.budget-camera-store.nl/index.php/products/leica/leica-14161-adapter.html

This is Schouten Select.

[M9reno]

8 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Maybe this one?

https://www.budget-camera-store.nl/index.php/products/leica/leica-14161-adapter.html

This is Schouten Select.

Thanks, Jaap, but I’m afraid not.  I have two of these 14161 and just double-checked them.  They serve to hold plain (threadless) series VII filters in place on e54 lenses: the 14161 goes over the series VII (colour, uv etc) filter.  
 

What we need here is a step-up adapter for the Vario Elmar (e52) that will allow the 1970s ELPRO series VII threads to be screwed in.

[a.noctilux]

I have a set of VII to xxmm adapters when I bought some years ago one of those F-E adapter in S7 screw

 

Searching a bit, I found this adapter S7/52 at Fnac

Now I use one Elpro VIIa on many lenses in 46/49/55mm but no more the F-E adapter, very bad results.

Happy though to have available those adapters S7/46/49/55 to use S7 filters and Elpro VIIa on many lenses.

 

[M9reno]

34 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

I have a set of VII to xxmm adapters when I bought some years ago one of those F-E adapter in S7 screw

 

Searching a bit, I found this adapter S7/52 at Fnac

Now I use one Elpro VIIa on many lenses in 46/49/55mm but no more the F-E adapter, very bad results.

Happy though to have available those adapters S7/46/49/55 to use S7 filters and Elpro VIIa on many lenses.

 

Thank you very much. This one looks similar:

https://www.srb-photographic.co.uk/52mm-series-7-adaptor-step-ring-10577-p.asp

Or this:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/121751-REG/General_Brand_52mm_Series_7_Step_Up_Adapter.html

My only hesitation is the thread size and pitch assumed for "series 7", which might not be the same as that of the ELPRO.  ‘Series 7" is strictly speaking a reference to a threadless filter of a specified diameter, I believe.  

Anyway, it probably won’t hurt to try one of these.  They are cheap enough!

[ramarren]

If I recall correctly, Series VII is a 58mm filter thread. I don't have my case readily to hand, but I believe I have step up/ step down adapters for 39, 49, 52, 55, 60, and 67 mm to 58mm filter thread that allow me to use my Series VII ELPRO close up lenses with a wide variety of my M, R, and other lenses.

--- correction ---

Found my filter case with the ELPRO VIIa/VIIb set. The Series 7 thread is 54mm.   I evidently had trouble finding S7(54mm) to all the other threads, but S7 to 52mm was no problem, so I bought a couple of S7 to 52mm and stack them with 52mm to whatever the other thread required might be. 

G

Edited July 7, 2021 by ramarren

[jaapv]

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Not quite - Leica used to update series filter thread to E thread (different pitch) on older lenses like the earlier versions of the Telyt-V 280 and Apo-Telyt 180 3.4.

[gbealnz]

Before I dig my bastardised one out, are you meaning the Elpro 1Va or 1Vb, the ones that screw straight onto the early V1 50mm Summicron R, like I have for my Leicaflex SL?

Gary

[M9reno]

Well, the e52 -> e54 step up filter arrived.  This one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/52mm-to-54mm-Male-Female-Stepping-Step-Up-Filter-Ring-Adapter-52-54-52mm-54mm-UK-/184120856289?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

The good news is that the ELPRO filters screw on. The pitch is obviously a little off, so it’s unwise to tighten the ELPRO on the ring, but it works. ELPRO VIIa can even be stacked on VIIb, like this:

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[M9reno]

The bad news is that I am not seeing a great deal of magnification, even from such a stacked arrangement at the 56mm end of the zoom. And there is vignetting with either ELPRO at the 18mm end of the zoom.  I wonder if the dedicated TL ELPRO is a much better way to go.

[gbealnz]

I don't have the zoom, or any genuine TL lenses. In my case I use the R 60 macro. Works for me.

[ramarren]

On 7/9/2021 at 4:45 AM, M9reno said:

The bad news is that I am not seeing a great deal of magnification, even from such a stacked arrangement at the 56mm end of the zoom. And there is vignetting with either ELPRO at the 18mm end of the zoom.  I wonder if the dedicated TL ELPRO is a much better way to go.

None of the ELPRO close up lenses are going to produce a "lot" of magnification increase, and you're always going to see some vignetting with the zoom lens set to its shorter focal lengths. These are simply the limitations of using a modest close up lens on a general purpose, mid-range zoom rather than a more highly specified macro setup. 

See the ELPRO 52 information sheet for information about achievable magnifications and lens compatibility: 

https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-CL-TL2/Accessories/Elpro-52?SearchText=ELPRO&cat=suggesterList

[M9reno]

Thank you all.  My first instinct is always to put equipment that is already at hand to use, hence the original desire to use the R system ELPRO lenses.  However, this time around, the best solution I could find (short of buying the new TL e52 ELPRO, which seems a little insane) are the e52 B+W NL 3 and NL2 near distance lenses, just £14 used on eBay.  They screw on perfectly, need no adapter, can be combined without any vignetting at any distance, and produce strong magnification.

[ramarren]

On 7/14/2021 at 1:12 PM, M9reno said:

Thank you all.  My first instinct is always to put equipment that is already at hand to use, hence the original desire to use the R system ELPRO lenses.  However, this time around, the best solution I could find (short of buying the new TL e52 ELPRO, which seems a little insane) are the e52 B+W NL 3 and NL2 near distance lenses, just £14 used on eBay.  They screw on perfectly, need no adapter, can be combined without any vignetting at any distance, and produce strong magnification.

Sounds like a good solution!  Whatever works to your needs is all that matters.

G