Leica Bellows R with 16863 adapter

[kdt]

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I have a Leica Bellows R and just purchased the Leitz adapter 16863 which allows the use of the M 65mm Elmar, 90mm Elmarit and the 135mm Tele Elmar heads. Can anyone tell me what adapter would be required to use the 135mm f4 Elmar and the 135mm f4.5 Hektor heads with the 16863 ? 

I am also interested if there is a reverse mount adapter available for this Bellows R so I can use my other non Leica lenses in the reverse position for greater than 1to1 magnification? 55mm thread would be prefered.

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[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello kdt,

Welcome to the Forum.

A 16472 is the proper adapter tube for mounting a 135mm f4.5/ Hektor or 135mm f4.5 Elmar lens head to a system designed to accept a 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar, etc. lens head.

You can also put a 16471 adapter tube between the 16472 lens tube & the 16863 adapter for added extension of the Hektor & Elmar lens heads you asked about. Or the 16471, simply by itself, alone, can be added between the 16863 and the 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar, etc. lens head for additional extension.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited December 12, 2022 by Michael Geschlecht

[kdt]

Many Thanks Michael,

Appreciate your help with this! I used to have the reference material for these systems but no more.

Any suggestions for a reversing ring in Leica R?

[a.noctilux]

Reversing ring ?

Out of curiosity, as I never see any reversing ring in Leica R, I search in my 16860 bellow's French manual.

To see at page 12 that Leitz offered customer to use Photar lenses to go further than 1:1.

Photar has M40 x 0.75 mont so to use on the bellow-R, we need ring 500935 + 542150 for 2.5/25mm and 4/50mm

[kdt]

On 12/13/2022 at 1:19 PM, a.noctilux said:

Reversing ring ?

Out of curiosity, as I never see any reversing ring in Leica R, I search in my 16860 bellow's French manual.

To see at page 12 that Leitz offered customer to use Photar lenses to go further than 1:1.

Photar has M40 x 0.75 mont so to use on the bellow-R, we need ring 500935 + 542150 for 2.5/25mm and 4/50mm

My inquiry into the reverse ring was primarily to experiment with some of my old Nikon Pentax and Minolta SLR lenses on the bellows for greater than 1:1 magnification. These lenses are easier to use for reverse shooting than most M or R Leica lenses as the filter thread is easier to adapt. I have since been using a Leica Bellows II for M Visoflex mount with a Canon LTM to 55mm macro reverse adapter. I have been getting very good results with a 40mm f2.8 Pentax pancake lens and a 28mm f3.5 Minolta MC lens reversed. The reverse lens works best when shooting closer than 1:1.

Over all one of my favorite lenses for macro up to 1:1 has been a 1950 Leica 90mm f4 Elmar head in the Bellows II. I have tried this reversed as well for 1:1 but it does not seem to improve its quality. This lens is not as sharp as a modern Macro lens but the focus roll off and the Bokeh is wonderful. The multi bladed diaphragm makes for nice round circles of confusion.

Edited July 5, 2024 by kdt

[dkCambridgeshire]

On 7/5/2024 at 3:55 PM, kdt said:

My inquiry into the reverse ring was primarily to experiment with some of my old Nikon Pentax and Minolta SLR lenses on the bellows for greater than 1:1 magnification. These lenses are easier to use for reverse shooting than most M or R Leica lenses as the filter thread is easier to adapt. I have since been using a Leica Bellows II for M Visoflex mount with a Canon LTM to 55mm macro reverse adapter. I have been getting very good results with a 40mm f2.8 Pentax pancake lens and a 28mm f3.5 Minolta MC lens reversed. The reverse lens works best when shooting closer than 1:1.

Over all one of my favorite lenses for macro up to 1:1 has been a 1950 Leica 90mm f4 Elmar head in the Bellows II. I have tried this reversed as well for 1:1 but it does not seem to improve its quality. This lens is not as sharp as a modern Macro lens but the focus roll off and the Bokeh is wonderful. The multi bladed diaphragm makes for nice round circles of confusion.

Please consider exploring 'greater than 1:1 magnification imaging' techniques / apparatus via the Photomacrography Forum, e.g., https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=44950

The many techniques available are well illustrated by forum participants using various lens types – including infinity focus microscope objectives used in conjunction with 'tube lenses' – latter include e.g., regular 200mm SLR lenses, regular zoom lenses, and simple Raynox c/u lenses used as 'tube lenses'. The 'tube lenses' focus the microscope objective's infinity image.

Tube lenses explained: https://www.closeuphotography.com/tube-lens-test

BW, dunk 

Edited July 7, 2024 by dkCambridgeshire