135mm Hecktor on MF Bronica

[FrankS]

I read a reference to this on another site: The 135mm Hecktor lens covers 2 1/4" and it was sometimes adapted and used by Bronica 6x6 SLR users. This evening I tried holding the lens in front of the lensless Bronica C, and found that I had to remove the head of the lens because the barrel was too long and got too close to the mirror. Sure enough, I was able to form an image on the groundglass. The Bronica would work well for this because of its built in shutter. (Like a barrel lens on a Speed Grafic.) Does anyone have any information on this adaptation and the adaptor?

[JasonC]

I first read about this on the medium format mega site. Only the lens head is used and adapted via the 57mm mount.

[David Goldfarb]

Bronica originally made a threaded disk that could be used like a lensboard to adapt press lenses to the 57x1mm screwmount. The disk would be drilled like a lensboard, and the lens could be attached with a normal retaining ring. To adapt a lens like the one you're describing, you would have a machinist make you a threaded disk to adapt the head of the Hektor to the screwmount, and since it would be a custom job, you could even have a tube made for correct infinity focus. I've had this sort of tube made by S.K. Grimes for a 500/5.5 Tele-Xenar for use with the Komura Uni Helical II on my Bronica S2a.

That said, the Nikkor-Q 135/3.5 is a very nice lens, so unless there is something really attractive about the look of the Hektor (which there might be, because it's a Heliar type isn't it? The Nikkor-Q is a Tessar-type), there might not be much of a reason to make this adaptation.