Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

Contax 645 adapter to EOS (SOLVED)
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Adapters and other accessories
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:53 am    Post subject: Contax 645 adapter to EOS (SOLVED) Reply with quote
I've just received a lens which I believe has a Contax 645 mount, so what I need is an adapter to enable me to use it on my Canon 7D. I've searched online but can only find an adapter which has it's own aperture assembly built in. I don't need that because this lens is all manual (plus they want £175 Shocked ).
Has anyone here ever bought what I'm looking for?

Last edited by SonicScot on Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:05 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
You would need an electronic adapter that can control the lens aperture using Canon EF electronics
Such a thing would be greatly expensive and would probably require a hardware conversion of the lens in it's electronic parts
(lens which would then lose all it's value for resale)
so the built in aperture in the adapter is the most cost-effective and logical way.

Having that said, I would rather spend 200 Euros on a native 135 format lens, than on an adapter for a medium format lens.
Even when excellent, medium format lenses have a hard time competing with native 135 format lenses.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm not sure I understand the need for any electronic connection between lens and camera, my other lenses don't need it. Can you tell me what I'm missing here?
The lens has a manual aperture ring, just like my other lenses.
I'm confused. Confused


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Maybe I'm wrong about the mount, perhaps someone will identify it from this picture.



This is why I'm confused by the need for electronic connection, I can't see any contacts on the mount. (of course I could be wrong)


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio is thinking at the Contax lenses for Contax 645 because you didn`t specify the lens, brand, etc.
That`s why his answer.
Obviously that is not a Contax. I don`t recognize the mount.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
Orio is thinking at the Contax lenses for Contax 645 because you didn`t specify the lens, brand, etc.
That`s why his answer.
Obviously that is not a Contax. I don`t recognize the mount.

Ah, right. My fault, I should have been more specific. It's a Hartblei Super-Rotator 45mm f3.5 TS-PC as seen here http://www.hartblei.com/lenses/lens_45mm.htm
According to that site it comes in four mounts: Pentacon Six, Mamiya 645, Contax 645 and Pentax 645. Not knowing what any of those look like I don't know what mine is. The inside diameter of the mount is 66mm, that's really all I know.
I have a couple more photos, which might help.




PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Now that you say it, it looks like a P6 mount to me eyes.
I`m looking forward to seeing some pictures with that lens.
The PC functions mainly.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
Now that you say it, it looks like a P6 mount to me eyes.

That would be fantastic because it's easy to get adapters to Canon. The guy I got it from was unsure but thought it was Contax 645.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
How much was it?
I suspect 2-300$ .


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Contax 645 lenses have the aperture ring, but the iris can only be operated electronically.
Hopefully your lens could be a Pentacon 6 mount, in that case adaptation is easy.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
How much was it?
I suspect 2-300$ .

You wouldn't believe me if I told you Wink but it was a lot less Razz


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
The Contax 645 lenses have the aperture ring, but the iris can only be operated electronically.
Hopefully your lens could be a Pentacon 6 mount, in that case adaptation is easy.

The aperture ring is opens and closes the blades, just like all my other mf lenses. I can't see where electric connection could be made. Their website recommends the Pentacon Six mount as a 'universal mount' because adapters are easy to use. I wonder, if this is Contax 64, if I can change the mount myself,..?


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Once again, Orio is talking about Contax 645 lenses not third party lenses with Contax 645 mount.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
SonicScot wrote:
Himself wrote:
How much was it?
I suspect 2-300$ .

You wouldn't believe me if I told you Wink but it was a lot less Razz

Actually no cash changed hands, I fitted a new front door and a kitchen window in exchange for it. The work took about 90 minutes.
On ebay these cost a lot of money Click here to see on Ebay Shocked


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
Once again, Orio is talking about Contax 645 lenses not third party lenses with Contax 645 mount.

Ok Smile I said I was confused Laughing

Last edited by SonicScot on Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:17 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
Once again, Orio is talking about Contax 645 lenses not third party lenses with Contax 645 mount.


Yes.
Third party lenses (if they exist) if lacking the electronics should be operated manually
(and the camera of course used in stop down manual mode).


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
From what I can find, Pentacon Six lenses have three flanges (?) around the mount, my lens has four. Contax 645 has four.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I do install windows and doors.
A small window could take 60-80 min, a simple front door + lockers, no side lights, up to 3 hours.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
I do install windows and doors.
A small window could take 60-80 min, a simple front door + lockers, no side lights, up to 3 hours.

The door was prepared with locks and hinges, so it took ten minutes to hang and adjust. The poor joiner who was doing the work broke his leg and arm skiing on holiday.
The window was made to measure, the old one had never been fixed in place Surprised so it practically fell out. easy and quick job. Very Happy


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hmm, so the door was actually only the slab. Take out old slab put the new one.
As for the lens, if it`s the real Hartbley made in Germany with Zeiss optics, you had the heck of a deal.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
Hmm, so the door was actually only the slab. Take out old slab put the new one.
As for the lens, if it`s the real Hartbley made in Germany with Zeiss optics, you had the heck of a deal.

The unlucky joiner replaced the rear door and five other windows before he went on holiday, he planned to finish off when he came back.
The house owner is a friend of a friend, I was recommended to finish the job. He knew me from my photography and offered a deal, I tried to look calm when he pulled this lens out and offered it for the work. He doesn't do photography but was given a case full of gear last year as a bonus at his work. He works on oil rigs out east and often comes home with bonus electronics. Very Happy


PostPosted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I emailed Hartblei themselves to ask if they had some kind of adapter I could use, or even if I could change the mount to Pentacon Six myself. They're reply, "The Contax 645 / Canon EOS adapter is not possible. And the lens has fixed mount. Sorry, but we are not able to help you."
Now, personally, I see that as a challenge. Twisted Evil Maybe I can find a knackered Pentacon Six lens that I can steal the mount from and swap them over.... Razz


PostPosted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
SonicScot wrote:
They're reply, "The Contax 645 / Canon EOS adapter is not possible.


This is a stupid reply. The adapter is possible, register distance allows for it.
It may be awkward (for the built in iris), expensive (for the 200 Euros), not worth it, but it certainly is possible.


PostPosted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
SonicScot wrote:
They're reply, "The Contax 645 / Canon EOS adapter is not possible.


This is a stupid reply. The adapter is possible, register distance allows for it.
It may be awkward (for the built in iris), expensive (for the 200 Euros), not worth it, but it certainly is possible.

That's what I thought too so I emailed them again to ask about changing the mount to a Pentacon Six one, their reply was "The replacement is possible by technicians only. But this lens is no longer available for sale and we don’t have appropriate mount."
I bet that somewhere they will have the 'appropriate mount' lying in a storeroom gathering dust, they just don't seem inclined to help.
'Technicians only' ha! There's three small screws holding the mount in place, I can't see how it takes a 'technician' to remove three screws. Confused
So I've now emailed Zoerk, who make adapters, for help and also Kipon who make the very expensive adapter with aperture assembly. I've explained how I don't require the aperture blades and asked to buy a basic 'shell' of the adapter. My email was very polite and extremely complimentary of their design and build quality Razz perhaps flattery will get me what I want. Laughing


PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I came across an old blog entry by a photographer in England, in which he described the exact same problem I've been having finding a way to connect this obscure lens to my Canon. The blog was from back in 2007 and it named the engineering firm which eventually solved his problem.
Today I contacted the same firm, in fact the same engineer, and despite the fact that they haven't kept a record of the previous job (likely lost the drawings when there was a merger), they are going to convert my lens to fit my 7D! Razz
This engineering company have a lot of work on so it isn't easy to fit in these one-off jobs, it's amazing that they'll do the work at all. I've posted the lens to this company today and probably won't see it again for 6 weeks but I don't mind. The cost of the work is half the price of the Kipon adapter I found on ebay. Twisted Evil
If anyone else has an adapter issue that they can't seem to fix, get in touch with these guys.
http://www.srb-griturn.com/index.asp

Edit; forgot to mention, I've heard nothing from Zoerk since I emailed them.
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Adapters and other accessories
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2