Hi everyone,

I did manage to find a LSM to M adapter which is fairly common but I am interested in looking for a M to LSM adapter considering that I enjoying using the screw mounts but want to use the M lenses :) Any tips on that phase? :)

Alfie

-- Albert Wang (albert.wang@ibx.com), November 07, 2001

Answers

I don't believe a simple adaptor is possible - the lens would be too far from the film plane to focus correctly. Leica did, however, release a limited run of some current lenses with screwmounts quite recently (but they aren't cheap).

-- Richard Williams (richardw@icr.ac.uk), November 07, 2001.

The LTM to M adapter for lenses is possible because the diameter of the LTM is smaller than the M mount, so the M mount is outside of the thread mount on the adaptor ring. The internal threads on the LTM camera body would be too narrow to allow the M mount lens to be "inserted" into the camera, so even if some unique adaptor could be rigged up, infinity focus would be impossible.

Your best bet for the use of M lenses is on M cameras. To enjoy the more modern designs on you LTM camera, you could look for examples of the limited issue of the current 35mm and 50mm lenses that were offered in LTM a while back.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), November 07, 2001.

Lens flange to film plane distance on the M is 1mm less than on the thread mount bodies, making a simple adapter impossible if you desire to retain infinity focus or rangefinder calibration.

This was done by design in order that Leica could produce a thread mount to M-bayonet adapter, ensuring backwards compatibility from the M bodies to the existing thread mount lens line.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), November 07, 2001.

Leica did a batch of current formula 50mm Summicrons with SM. I've got one and use it on both types of bodies. It was in chrome only, consequently fairly heavy for a screw mount body. I know of no adapters of the sort you want. Possibly some lenses could be made to work that were designed to be compatable with the Visoflex system, but why would one want to do t

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), November 07, 2001.

Why Leica doesn't produce screw mount lenses for the same price as their M mounts is beyond me. I would even suggest making the screw versions about $75 less. Low enough so the Summicron would be only a few hundred dollars more than the popular Nokton but just expensive enough so M users (because of additional cost of the adapter and minor inconvenience) wouldn't buy them in place of the regular mount. Everybody knows Leica glass is the best but at a reasonable price would tempt all those Voigtlander body users. Also many of us might be using a Dual Range Summicron on an old M body and also using an III series and might upgrade knowing they could use the lenses on both bodies.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), November 07, 2001.

Yeah, I agree in fact I saw those limited edition Leica LSM 35mm and 50mm but they were way too expensive!!! I nearly died from looking at all of it seriously because it was nothing but over 800 bucks for each piece. I think that Leica ought to price these lower than the M mounted ones because they are of an older design and get into some serious competition with Voigtlander lens. It's no doubt that Voigtlander has been winning on top for so long. I just wish that Leica's marketing dept. wasn't so overpricing in their techniques... : ( :p

Alfie

-- Albert Wang (albert.wang@ibx.com), November 07, 2001.

Leica will produce a LTM version of any current M lens. You might want to get a few friends together though as the minimum order is for one hundred units. The LTM 50/1.4, 50/2 and 35/2 that they just produced are pretty much gone but they did not fly off the shelves. Leica had a significant rebate on them at the end. As a matter of fact they ended up being cheaper than the M version.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), November 07, 2001.

Leica i'm sure makes a nice profit when we buy their M lenses. They would have to be priced just high enough so M users wouldn't buy the cheaper screw version. The Collapseable Elmar 50/2.8 which if reconfigured with the same glass they used on the O series for the same price of around $450 that the current Lens sells for would probably be hard to keep up with demand.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), November 07, 2001.

This year I got back into LTM (I wanted a 15mm, and Voigtlander had the best solution). I have purchased 3 wide angles (15, 21, 28), all Voigtlander, new. Would I have considered Leica glass IF it were available in LTM? Yes, but price would be an issue. For what I paid for 3 Voigtlander lenses I would be able to get 1 Leica lens & viewfinder. Maybe.

I do want a 50mm f/1.4. Is the Leica glass that much better than a Nocton 1.5 or a used Nikkor 1.4? I bought a used Summitar f/2 and a black Canon 50mm f/1.8. to tie me over.

Rather than Leica making LTM lenses I'd rather see Canon, Nikon, and Olympus introduce LTM versions of their best lenses.

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@lsqgroup.com), November 07, 2001.

While we're on that subject, they can make bayonet versions of their best, as well--assuming the price is right. I think a 75mm f/2 is overdue. If a Summicron is not forthcoming, then how about a Nikkor, or a Zuiko, Takumar, etc.

A 75mm F/2 ought to have a diaphragm opening of 37.5mm, a tight squeeze for a 39mm filter. But I think I'd give up filter interchangeability with my 35, 50, and 90, to get a full f/2. 42mm ought to do it.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), November 07, 2001.

Leitz converted some lenses from an M to S mount in ‘50-70es. The M- flange of the lens to be converted was cut off and replaced with SM- flange being 1mm shorter of the previous. So, the 1-mm difference between the M’ and SM’ lens registered distance was kept. After that the SM to M adapter was fitted up. This is similar to the standard SM to M adapter but has a pan shape and a tiny plug preventing its unscrewing from a lens thread mount. So, the lens converted could be used on both an M and SM Leica. The lens with adapter has registered distance 27.8mm and 28.8mm without one. I have 2.0/35mm and 3.4/21mm lenses converted.

-- Victor Randin (ved@enran.com.ua), November 08, 2001.