Hi,

I am new to the Leica world, having been a long-time user of Nikon SLR's and thus have an assortment of manual Nikon lenses built up over the years.

I just read on Steven Gandy's website (www.cameraquest.com) that there is an adapter available which will allow the use of Nikon wide angle lenses on a M6. Cost = $125, which is very reasonable considering that I have a 24mm f2.0 Nikon lens and Leica does not make one, so the option opens up at a low cost.

http://www.cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm

Has anyone tried this accessory? Any comments? Is the quality of the pictures high? Or are they better on the Nikon camera? (I have a F2AS and a FE.)

Thanks, Sikaan

-- Sikaan (sikaan4@aol.com), December 20, 2001

Answers

I don't have that specific one, but I got one from Leicatime in Italy before Cameraquest started selling theirs. It works very well. I have used it with my Nikon 20. keep in mind that you DO have to scale focus it. So that F2.o lens might not always yeaild sharp results wide open, even though the wide angle will give you a little more depth of field. I might actually sell mine, as I got a voigt 24 that I use with my CL now. E-mail me if you are interested.

Josh

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), December 20, 2001.

Hi, I havent tried Mr. Gandy's adapter, but I have a Novoflex adapter for Nikon lenses to screw mount bodies-- I used this quite often with a sm-b adapter and a Nikon 16mm fisheye. I no longer have the lens, but the combination. I picked up the adapter on ebay like new in the box for about 30.00. Maybe an alternative if you also have srew mount bodies? Best,

-- Marke Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), December 20, 2001.

Don't forget, you'll need a shoe mount 24mm finder as well (that cost more than the adapter)and as mentioned above, that you will be guessing the distance with no rangefinder coupling. I thought about this at one point, and then I realized I'd just be better off using Nikon lenses on a Nikon camera where I could focus and frame correctly. I guess it could come in handy in a pinch when you don't want to carry the extra Nikon body with you.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), December 20, 2001.

I got this adapter in a deal with a CLE, I did nit use it much but the quality was very good and the lenses fitted just fine.

The quality of the pictures is likely to be worse than on a Nikon (especially on the larger appertures) due to the guess the distance but to be able to use a Nikon lens that you have it is OK.

I don't have it anymore

-- Kaj Froling (kf@draupnir.dk), December 21, 2001.

I borrowed one for a bit to see whether I wanted to buy it. I used it with a Nikkor 20/3.5 AIS lens, which I tended to scale focus even on the SLR because it's so hard to focus except in close up situations. The results are fine ... just like what a good Nikkor lens can produce.

I ultimately decided to trade off the lens for other stuff so I didn't buy the adapter. Remember that the adapter is almost 1/3 the price of a new Voigtländer 21/4 lens, which is smaller and at least as good as the Nikkor 20 I used ... and the 21/4 couples with the rangefinder.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), December 21, 2001.

I use the Cameraquest Leica R-to-M lens adapter so I can mount the 16mm Leica Fisheye-Elmarit onto my Ms. Works well, solidly made and doesn't wobble about.

Found one gotcha though - the interior black light baffle in the Cameraquest adapter is anodized glossy black. I repainted mine matt black to cut down on internal reflections.

-- Andrew Nemeth (azn@nemeng.com), December 21, 2001.