Leica M to T mount?

John Noble · 05-07-2008

So I've take a silly notion to stick my CL + Visoflex II to the back of a telescope ... but I can't seem to find a Leica M to T mount adapter.

Edmund Optics has a LTM (they think[1]) to T mount, but I'd rather skip the LTM->bayonet ring if I can.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[1] The folks at Edmund claimed that the "Leica M (screw mount)" ring was for the "older M mount". According to them, Leica recently changed their camera mounts. They didn't believe me when I told them that (a) there is no such thing as a "Leica M screw mount" and (b) that the "recent" change was in the 1950s. I was talking to the "engineers", too...

bmattock · 05-07-2008

Took me a minute to visualize what you're asking for.

You have a telescope, correct? It has a t-mount?

You want to use your Leica CL with Visoflex II adapter to attach to the back of the telescope?

So you're looking for a T->M adapter. Not an M->T adapter.

I think.

In that case, no, I do not know of such a beast. I suspect a T-LTM adapter and then an M adapter on that is going to be your best bet.

However, I wonder about the focusing to infinity. It confuses me and angries up my blood thinking about it. I feel someone should hit me over the head now!

John Noble · 05-07-2008

Thanks for the reply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmattock

Took me a minute to visualize what you're asking for.

You have a telescope, correct? It has a t-mount?

Yes.

Quote:

You want to use your Leica CL with Visoflex II adapter to attach to the back of the telescope?

Yes, as silly as it sounds.

Quote:

So you're looking for a T->M adapter. Not an M->T adapter.

I think.

Er, I suppose.

Quote:

In that case, no, I do not know of such a beast. I suspect a T-LTM adapter and then an M adapter on that is going to be your best bet.

However, I wonder about the focusing to infinity. It confuses me and angries up my blood thinking about it. I feel someone should hit me over the head now!

Oh, I tested it by holding the Viso at prime focus and it looks fine.

Telescopes have huge amounts of focus travel since they have to accommodate accessories like 90 degree diagonals and such.

Just think of it as a 1250mm f/13.9 cadiotropic T-mount lens and you won't be far off.

Given the ridiculously wide range of accessories made for and by Leica over the years, someone has to have made an adapter.

dlove5 · 05-07-2008

John,

I have done a fair amount of research into trying to find various adapters. I think you're going to be hard pressed to find a T (lens) -> M (camera/viso) adapter. There might have been somebody somewhere that made one, but I haven't found one. If I had, I probably would have bought it. I agree your better off going the LTM -> M adapter in between. There have been a lot more things made over the years to fit an LTM mount than an M mount.

Good luck.

John Noble · 05-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlove5

John,

I have done a fair amount of research into trying to find various adapters. I think you're going to be hard pressed to find a T (lens) -> M (camera/viso) adapter. There might have been somebody somewhere that made one, but I haven't found one. If I had, I probably would have bought it. I agree your better off going the LTM -> M adapter in between. There have been a lot more things made over the years to fit an LTM mount than an M mount.

Good luck.

You may be right, though it's an odd omission given all the other weird things people have done over the years with Leicas.

Have you ever run across a LTM to T adapter? If I had a manufacturer or a part number to go on, maybe I could find something cheaper or better made (read: machined the Olde Fashioned Way) on the used market. I also have serious doubts about the source I found: for all I know, it is a "Leica M screw mount" ... i.e. it's mounted to the camera with several screws.

Glenn2 · 05-07-2008

The way to do it is via a T to LTM adapter. You then add a LTM to M adapter and you're good to go. I bought my T to LTM ring from the folks who sold Questar scopes many years ago. Don't know where you'd get one today. The 3.5" Questar gives an effective
focal length of 1400 mm @ f/11 using a Viso 3 and M4.

Glenn

dlove5 · 05-08-2008

Found this as a possibility. It is called a Swift T-Ring for Leica S Mount. Located several sources. One is http://focuscamera.com/product.asp?id=964599573. Hope that helps. Let us know how it goes.

Livesteamer · 05-08-2008

I got a T mount for LTM on e bay not long back. Just search for T mount. I've had fun mounting all kind of old lenses on my M6. Go for it. It's fun.
Joe

John Noble · 05-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlove5

Found this as a possibility. It is called a Swift T-Ring for Leica S Mount. Located several sources. One is http://focuscamera.com/product.asp?id=964599573. Hope that helps. Let us know how it goes.

I think we have a winner, and it's only twenty bucks!

Thanks so much for the link, your karma runneth over.

Thanks also to everyone else who took an interest in my quixotic little quest. I'll post some Moon shots when I get this working. Anything else needs a better telescope and especially a better equatorial mount than what I have.

What film for the moon? HP5+, of course.