Anyone familiar with M42 to M39 adapters?

[SquealinVilen]

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone here is familiar with M42 to M39 adapters? I am interested in several soviet lenses as well as some others which have M42 mounts, so they will not fit on my Bessa-R. Do the adapters work well, and are there any focusing issues?

Thanks!

[Laika]

The only ones I've seen are for fitting M39 SLR type lenses (ie. Helios-44, MIR-1) to the later more standard M42 SLR thread size. These are for cameras like the old Zenit SLRs. The lens to film distance is wrong for an RF (the SLR lens distance is longer because of the mirror box), the only was to get them to work on a RF would be to use an extension tube to get the correct lens/film distance, and of course you would have no RF coupling so only wide angles would be practical to use ...well almost

[taffer]

Hi and welcome !

Not familiar but interested, there are m39-m42 adapters with built-in extension to provide correct lens to film distance. Lenses are, however, non rf-coupled, unless you machine your own rf cam like on this pn thread:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009Pyg

[RML]

I bought the adapter from Gandy's site. It works fine with the lenses for my Praktica. I have a 30mm, a 50/1.4, and 135mm lens for the Praktica but I hardly ever use them on my Bessas. Why? Because these lenses are enormous compaired to the CV and Russian LTM lenses. They aren't RF coupled, so you must guestimate, which is fine for 30mm lens, and perhaps doable for the 50 at f4 or up, but useless IMO for the 135mm.

Unless you have an overwhelming reason to buy such an adapter, I'd say you're better off keeping the $125 in you pocket for something else. But that's my opinion. :)

[taunusreiter]

"focussing issues": using m42-(SLR-)lenses with an adaptor means no rangefinder coupling
Most Russian lenses are available with M39 and RF as well - which not means this is always working... my last Russian lens was unable to focus from 6m ft to infinity (focussing ring blocks Rangefinder roll), and viewing an object through the finder 25m away the focussing ring of the lens says 1.8m... :-(
I thinks this was the reason why this 2/85 lens looks relatively good.. it could not have been used ever this way.

[bmattock]

Originally posted by SquealinVilen
Hi there, I was wondering if anyone here is familiar with M42 to M39 adapters? I am interested in several soviet lenses as well as some others which have M42 mounts, so they will not fit on my Bessa-R. Do the adapters work well, and are there any focusing issues?
Thanks!

Vilen,

Am I to presume that you are the same Vilen I met in Union Square yesterday? If so (and even if not), welcome to Rangefinderforum.com!

I think you will find that this is one of the nicest places you could ever visit online if you are a rangefinder camera enthusiast - or even just a shutterbug of any stripe! Folks here are kind, considerate, do not engage in flame wars, and respect each other's opinions. We all strive to contribute and help each other out, and I hope you'll partake of our little community!

Folks, if this is the same Vilen I met yesterday in Union Square, Vilen was out shooting his Bessa R at the same time I was shooting mine. I noticed he was also using a vintage folding Polaroid rangefinder - MOST COOL!

Anyway, on with the show. Just wanted to pop in and say hi and I'm glad you're here!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[back alley]

wow, i think bill is our first ambassador!

good going bill!

joe

[jfbell20]

The price list from this specialist company http://www.srbfilm.co.uk/index1.html gives a lot of details about adaptors.

[SquealinVilen]

Yeah Bill, its me...I doubt theres too many other Vilen's out there haha. I have been looking through the site and it does seem to offer a lot of good information and resources, so thank a lot for letting me know...where has the site been all my life!

[back alley]

we are only about a year old.

if you stay up late for a few evenings you can read all the old threads and catch up!;)

joe

[SquealinVilen]

While on the topic of M42 and M39...does the Jupiter 9 85mm fit the Bessa-R mount? I have heard that it does not, but am not sure. Thanks

[RML]

Vilen, the J-9 fits the Bessa R and L, and with an LTM-M adapter will fit all other Bessas.

I started a thread about my recent experiences with my LTM J-9. I think it's still visible on the RFF home page.