Q: Some *really* old and distorted lenses to pair with an X-pro1. Ideas?

[yuckysamson]

Hi photocats,

I have an X-pro1. Wonderful design, sensor, and IQ. What I'm looking for are some suggestions as to lenses that are old, and have a very different, either with distortions, abhorations, vignetting, etc. I was inspired by what THIS guy did:

102-Year-Old Lens Plus Canon 5D Mark II Equals Instant Vintage Photos

And I'm looking for some models that could be adapted to this body. I understand that Rayqual makes adaptors for most mounts but I also don't want to have a lens that CANNOT be retrofit because of the fact that the sensor in the Fuji is so close to the lens mount, for example I don't know if a Jupiter 12 would fit even with an M39-M adaptor.

Anyway, any suggestions for specifically old, interesting lenses would be greatly appreciated.

 

[unpopular]

No. Just get an appropriate adapter for the camera, and the minimum distance between the rear element and the sensor would be the same as the rear element was to the film. So if you had a lens with 7mm focus distance at infity on a leica thread mount camera, provided that you have a leica thread mount adapter built to leica mount specifications, the distance from the rear element to the sensor will still be 7mm.

The greater problem is if the sensor to flange distance is greater on a given camera than the lens is designed for. At this point you'd have to either draw the lens into the body or use a corrective lens to compensate. Because the XPro 1, NEX and Micro 4/3 have such little sensor to flange distance, this is not generally a problem.

If the distance is shorter, then all you need to do is incorporate a barrel into the adapter, offsetting it by a given amount to compensate.

 

[unpopular]

BTW - some lenses will benefit from a focussing mechanism, such as a bellows set typically used for macro. Mounting some of these lenses may require working with a machine shop or specialty shop such as SK Grimes.