Leica M - Nex, quality or cheap adapter ?

[Jani_from_Finland]

I just got my Nex-5N and also a Summilux-m 35mm (M.i.Canada, V.2 i think) and now i need to attach the lens to the body, so is there any cheap adapters out there that is accurate or should i just get a Novoflex or Voigtländer (any other quality adapters?) for it?

Thanks for all the help you guys and gals can possibly give me regarding this issue.


Jani

[craygc]

Im not sure if any of them are consistently accurate and whether the registration distance variances are in the adapter, camera or both. I have a Voigtlander adapter and it was off at infinity (and all other distances). It came with 0.3 mm of factory shims and I needed to add another 0.4 mm to make it accurate. Probably not an issue if you don't use the barrel markings to zone focus.

[Jani_from_Finland]

I've noticed that i do Zone focus quite a lot these days, so this might be an issue perhaps?
How can i test the accurate focus and how is the actual adding of missing 0.mm made?

[clear2000]

Congrats on the Sony Nex5N. I have 2 E to M mount adapters. One is a $20 generic from Hong Kong and the other is a $180 Hawk Helicoid adapter. Both work great but the Hawk stays on my Nex5. The Hawk adapter reduces the focus distance. It's very solid and worth the money.

[dweekie]

I second the helicoid adapter. It allows close focus on the M lenses similar to what SLR lenses have been able to do for a long time. I have the Hawk as well, and infinity is great. There are cheaper copies now, but I have no experience with their quality. If only somebody would design an M body with a close focus helicoid built in .......

Link to a cheap copy....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140780841091...84.m1438.l2649

[dweekie]

I found a review to show how close these adapters can get.

http://jbhildebrand.com/2012/gear/ha...dapter-review/

[segedi]

+2 for the Hawk's helicoid adapter. Use mine all the time and the ability to close focus is very nice.

An example with the Hawk's + 5n + Zeiss ZM 21mm f4.5:

[vrgard]

Originally Posted by segedi

+2 for the Hawk's helicoid adapter. Use mine all the time and the ability to close focus is very nice.

An example with the Hawk's + 5n + Zeiss ZM 21mm f4.5:

Beautiful shot segedi!

-Randy

[segedi]

Thanks Randy

[peter_n]

I have two adapters for M lenses and one for Exakta lenses. The Novoflex and LME helicoid (a Hawk copy) both work well but the Novoflex has a more positive feel to it when you put a lens in or remove it. The Exakta adapter seems to work really well too and it was a cheap one.

[Speedfreak]

Originally Posted by Jani_from_Finland

I've noticed that i do Zone focus quite a lot these days, so this might be an issue perhaps?
How can i test the accurate focus and how is the actual adding of missing 0.mm made?

If at all then Novoflex.

[semordnilap]

I like the Hawk's Helicoid as well... really nice to have the closer focus option.

[burancap]

I am either goofy or I am missing something, so please help me...

Is the mount accuracy really of any importance when using a live view camera... Nex or otherwise?

You are seeing what the sensor is seeing (i.e.) it is either "in focus" OR "out of focus." I was always of the opinion this only made a difference when dealing with a proper RF where you don't really have any "live" focus confirmation as such. I say that having suffered with some front/back focus issues on the M8.

FWIW, I have never had any issue with M, OM, or Nikon mount adapters, cheap or not -to include the HAWK. I even mounted a Hasselblad 150 on my Nex using two combined adapters and was able to focus just fine.

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by burancap

I am either goofy or I am missing something, so please help me...

Is the mount accuracy really of any importance when using a live view camera... Nex or otherwise?

You are seeing what the sensor is seeing (i.e.) it is either "in focus" OR "out of focus." I was always of the opinion this only made a difference when dealing with a proper RF where you don't really have any "live" focus confirmation as such. I say that having suffered with some front/back focus issues on the M8.

FWIW, I have never had any issue with M, OM, or Nikon mount adapters, cheap or not -to include the HAWK. I even mounted a Hasselblad 150 on my Nex using two combined adapters and was able to focus just fine.

The issue is not 0.Something mm of error in the register distance.. Surely LV will compensate for it through focus movements.. However if the flange to couple to the lens was 0.1mm "higher" at the right than what it was compared to it's height at left, then you will have focus differences between the left and right side of your shot while the center was perfectly focused. The most frequent failures of relatively cheap adapters are;

- Different flange heights wrt the sensor plane around periphery.

- The flange bayonets loose their spring characteristics after few mountings (you need to open the slits a little with the tip of a pocket knife after some time..)

- Inside no baffles to cut reflections but plain surfaces painted matt black.

I am using relatively medium cost adapters from "jinfinance" at the auction site, quality is fine and flanges were accurately placed. And in case of height differences, one can adjust it with very thin papers (cellaphone) cut as shims.

[craygc]

Originally Posted by burancap

I am either goofy or I am missing something, so please help me...

Is the mount accuracy really of any importance when using a live view camera... Nex or otherwise?

Jeff, focusing as you are suggesting where you actually "focus" the image provides basically no issue what so ever. The problem comes when you want to zone focus. If I set the lens to 2 mtrs at f/2.8 I can judge the distance ok but if my lens is off due to the adapter my DoF isn't going to save me. Its often just useful to do, even if you use the view finder to frame purely for the speed of shooting.

Basically to test my CV adaptor I check the barrel markings alignment at infinity and measured to 2 mtrs from the sensor, focused at full magnification - its the 2 mtrs one I'm concerned about! Once I realised it was off I decided to unscrew the Sony mount side - looked easier to work with - need to watch that the little spring for the M-mount lock isn't lost. There already was a 0.2 mm and an 0.1 mm shim washer on each screw. Adding more is a little trial and error - if you can get more washer shims it would be much easier. I couldn't find any so I used aluminuim foil - 0.1 mm thick. It took me two attempts to get it right. The first one with 2 layers then 4. Basically cut out the circles from the foil and used a hole punch for the screw holes. It's just a fiddly process...

[Hatch]

I only buy Novoflex now.
Used a few cheap adapters and most had play.
On the adapter to body side or lens to adapter.

On my Minolta adapters I could even turn the lens past it's locking point.
When trying to focus that's baaad.

The M bajonet has a much easier (read cheap) to manufacture mount so that last problem might not surface.
The feeling of my lenses attached without any discernible play sold me even though it's twice as dear.

[funkydog]

Originally Posted by Jani_from_Finland

...so is there any cheap adapters out there that is accurate ...

I personally wouldn't buy an adapter that's almost 1/2 the price of my camera. You have live view on the 5N. Any $20 M to Nex adapter is fine. Unlike Leica M body film users, you'll know right away when you can't get infinity focus. And if it doesn't work right, you'll only be out $20+ shipping - then you can go down the high priced adapter route. Roxen and Jinfinance on Ebay sell inexpensive yet good quality adapters.

[peter_n]

The one inexpensive adapter I have is fine, it's for the Exakta mount and was bought from eBay dealer kenny.lio. So many beautiful (and cheap) CZJ lenses out there...

[Kent]

In contrast to some others here, I only use the budget adapters and have very good experiences with them.

For one Novoflex you can get 10 budget ones. You don't expect all of them to be lemons, do you? Even if every second one is a bad copy, you would get 5 working ones for the price of one Novoflex.

The Hawk's helicoid adapter is a great solution, though.

[Kent]

Originally Posted by Jani_from_Finland

I've noticed that i do Zone focus quite a lot these days, so this might be an issue perhaps?

I honestly wonder why you use zone focussing on your NEX.
The peaking mode is fantastic!

[burancap]

As already posted... I agree with Kent.

With that said, I must admit that my least favorite adapter is almost my most expensive. My early HAWK has no lock so it is constantly spinning -causing for all intents and purposes a situation a lot worse than any cheap adapter that might be out .05mm! Well made, yes. Easy to use, no. Really, its only redeeming quality is the macro.

My only concern with the "cheapies" is that they are at least made well enough so as not to fall apart and/or damage the bodies or lenses.

[Ken Ford]

Originally Posted by Kent

I honestly wonder why you use zone focusing on your NEX.
The peaking mode is fantastic!

Some styles of shooting call for zone focusing.

I'm using a few cheap adapters right now, but the inaccurate register is bothering me - plus my OM one (my most used one) doesn't lock at 12:00. I'm tempted to order a Novoflex for my OM lenses and be done with it.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by Kent

. . . . For one Novoflex you can get 10 budget ones. You don't expect all of them to be lemons, do you? Even if every second one is a bad copy, you would get 5 working ones for the price of one Novoflex. . . .

At which point you have may have several bad adapters, and one working cheap one, which may not maintain its precision, PLUS the hassle of buying them all. I can see your point but there's a reason why Novoflex stuff is expensive: it's beautifully made. Frances and I both use Novoflex tripod heads (completely different models). If I wanted to use my Leica lenses on anything other than a Leica, I'd probably buy Novoflex adapters.

Cheers,

R.

[GaryLH]

Originally Posted by Ken Ford

Some styles of shooting call for zone focusing.

I'm using a few cheap adapters right now, but the inaccurate register is bothering me - plus my OM one (my most used one) doesn't lock at 12:00. I'm tempted to order a Novoflex for my OM lenses and be done with it.

So far I have only had two cheap adapters that was spot on at inf. the rest I had to spend time shimming them for good inf focus.. Without that the no use even attempting zone focus. Some adapters cannot be taken apart to add the shimm or the screws being used are too short. But so far I have been lucky with the adapters I have ordered.

Gary

[GaryLH]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

At which point you have may have several bad adapters, and one working cheap one, which may not maintain its precision, PLUS the hassle of buying them all. I can see your point but there's a reason why Novoflex stuff is expensive: it's beautifully made. Frances and I both use Novoflex tripod heads (completely different models). If I wanted to use my Leica lenses on anything other than a Leica, I'd probably buy Novoflex adapters.

Cheers,

R.

Fwiw.. Bwcolor in a post several months back said he bought an adapter from Amazon which was bad at inf and sent it back asking for a replacement.. The second one he received was spot on...

In terms of build quality, as they say u get what u pay for... I would say Novaflex is the gold standard here. However, if your camera manufacturer has their own mount adapter, their quality level should be just as good.

Gary