Fully mechanical SLR for a M-mount Voigtlander lens

sanflisan · Jan 14, 2014

Hello,

My name is Enrico, I'm from Italy and I've just registered on this beautiful Forum! I have a question for the more expert photographers among you

I've just bought the new Sony ILCE-7 (Sony's FF mirrorless) with a beautiful lens: the Voigtlander 21mm f/1.8 Ultron (M-mount). Obviously I bought also an adapter ring to fit the lens on the body.

Well, I'd like to use this lens for film photography too. I don't have any particular requirement, except for getting a fully mechanical SLR (i.e. no telemeter and no battery needed) to use if for example for star trails shootings.

So, would you please suggest me a fully mechanical SLR which can be fitted on a M-mount Voigtlander lens (in case, with a dedicated adapter ring)?

Thank you very much!
Enrico

compur · Jan 14, 2014

The Leica M Visoflex: Link

The M lenses were made for rangefinder cameras and rangefinder lenses rarely work well on film SLRs so there isn't much of a choice in the film camera world. There are some M adapters for DSLRs but you already know that.

If you want to use Leica lenses on an SLR I suggest getting a Leicaflex or R-series Leica SLR and use their lenses on them.

minicoop1985 · Jan 14, 2014

^^^ What he said. Leica R-series cameras (well, R3s and R4s) aren't overly valuable and trade hands around $150 pretty often on eBay.

vintagesnaps · Jan 14, 2014

I was thinking too that you'd find rangefinders that would be compatible with your lens; I have one of the Voigtlander (Cosina) rangefinders that's mechanical, it just takes a battery for the meter. I don't know if considering a rangefinder instead of an SLR would be an option or not.

edit - I see that Compur already linked you to Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest website, he's an authorized dealer for Voigtlander and has a lot of articles and info. including a new page on adapters. (From what I understand cheap ones are made of aluminum? and are more likely to get stuck; the better quality ones aren't exactly cheap.) Adapters: One Lens to Another Body

Also Pacific Rim has info. about and sells vintage cameras and accessories and might have something on Leica M mounts. If you want a mechanical SLR as others mentioned you might consider getting a used camera body and a lens in another brand.

sanflisan · Jan 15, 2014

Thanks to everybody for your answers!

Well, looking around in the internet, I found that mounting a M-lens on a R-body (like Leicaflex, R3s, R4s...) is not possible! Leica FAQ — R + M lens mount adapters

So, do you agree with me that what I asked is (unfortunately) not possible? And the only solution seems to be a rangefinder (telemeter) body, for a M-lens like the Voigtlander 21mm f/1.8 Ultron.

And as before I prior excluded the rangefinders, in favor of SLRs, for their difficult with wide-angle lenses like a 21mm... Now, after these considerations, should I learn to use a rangefinder camera?

Thank you again for any suggestion,
Enrico

compur · Jan 15, 2014

sanflisan said:
So, do you agree with me that what I asked is (unfortunately) not possible? And the only solution seems to be a rangefinder (telemeter) body, for a M-lens like the Voigtlander 21mm f/1.8 Ultron.

The Leica Visoflex system pictured above is the only film SLR that can use M lenses but it is expensive and not very easy to use.

And as before I prior excluded the rangefinders, in favor of SLRs, for their difficult with wide-angle lenses like a 21mm... Now, after these considerations, should I learn to use a rangefinder camera?

There are plenty of SLRs that can use a 21mm lens, just not your M-mount lens. If you prefer SLRs then buy one and get a wide lens for it. Nikon 20mm lenses are excellent and plentiful and there are lots of Nikon SLR bodies around too.

sanflisan · Jan 21, 2014

Well, I "obtained" a Canon 7. Now I have this

And I'm still wondering if I'll be able to mount the Voitgtander 21mm f/1.8 Ultron (which is a M-bayonet Mount lens) on that Canon 7 (which is a LSM Leica Screw Mount body).

Could someone please help me?

Thanks in advance!

Derrel · Jan 21, 2014

The issue as I see it is the requirement for a fully mechanical SLR....if you were willing to use say a Sony A7 or A7r, then the M-lens could be EASILY used with a pretty inexpensive lens adapter...

compur · Jan 21, 2014

sanflisan said:
Well, I "obtained" a Canon 7. Now I have this

And I'm still wondering if I'll be able to mount the Voitgtander 21mm f/1.8 Ultron (which is a M-bayonet Mount lens) on that Canon 7 (which is a LSM Leica Screw Mount body).

Could someone please help me?

Thanks in advance!

To my knowledge there are no adapters that allow mounting M-mount lenses on LSM bodies.

minicoop1985 · Jan 21, 2014

Derrel said:
The issue as I see it is the requirement for a fully mechanical SLR....if you were willing to use say a Sony A7 or A7r, then the M-lens could be EASILY used with a pretty inexpensive lens adapter...

The ADAPTER isn't expensive. The CAMERA, on the other hand... :lol:

gsgary · Jan 22, 2014

Derrel said:
The issue as I see it is the requirement for a fully mechanical SLR....if you were willing to use say a Sony A7 or A7r, then the M-lens could be EASILY used with a pretty inexpensive lens adapter...

Or an expensive adapter Voigtlander make a nice one that allows the lens to focus closer than on an M camera im very tempted by the A7r

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