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Contax C/Y to SD14 mount Replacement kit , status report
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:45 am    Post subject: Contax C/Y to SD14 mount Replacement kit , status report Reply with quote
I am happy to report that the SD14 to Contax C/Y Mount replacement kit project has finally reached the status of Prototype , as you can see here:










The Prototype stage is just a validation of Feasability of the project . It is far from what is required to start production , For that the project needs to go trough another validation , this time of Manufacturability.

I am confident though that most of the obstacles that have surfaced could be overcome. What I am not so sure is if a Mount Replacement KIT can be made that can be installed by a non skilled user.

It looks promissing , but the Planar and another C/Y Zoom lens , have both required the REMOVAL of those Aperture levers that project into the Mirror Cavity. The Good News is that after that there is no Interference with the Dust Filter.

However , because of that , and some other issues ,at this point it looks like the first SD14-ZY offerings will be of Converted cameras , rather than Mount replacement kits. This way perhaps some useful information can be gathered from user feedback regarding lens usability .

The Planar is surprisingly good . Very Sharp and Contrasty and yet with a beautiful , Creamy Bokeh. Color , as well known is a bit on the Blue side, that seems to be a Zeiss trademark .

There is also a certain "Glow" on some images that is reminiscent of the "Leica Glow" that for some images works very nice.

See for yourself here:http://www.sigmacumlaude.com/sigmacumlaude/Sigma%20SD14%2DZY%20Gallery/Sigma%20SD14%2DZY/

If you have an interest in this mount please email me at luis@sigmacumlaude.com so I can put you on my mailing list for further news.



Luis

--
http://photo.net/photos/Luis-A-Guevara
http://www.pbase.com/luis_a_guevara/galleries
http://luis-a-guevara.deviantart.com/

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/LUIS+A+GUEVARA/
http://www.summiluxart.com/
http://www.sigmacumlaude.com/

luis@sigmacumlaude.com


PostPosted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Great news Luis - I'm very glad to hear it works as I'm about to try this myself, although my efforts may be a bit more heath robinson than yours. Smile
My intention is to fit a modified mount from a Contax to the SD14. It seems it should work but I haven't taken apart the SD 14 as yet.
I'd be very interested to see haw you progress with this.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Xpres wrote:
Great news Luis - I'm very glad to hear it works as I'm about to try this myself, although my efforts may be a bit more heath robinson than yours. Smile
My intention is to fit a modified mount from a Contax to the SD14. It seems it should work but I haven't taken apart the SD 14 as yet.
I'd be very interested to see haw you progress with this.


That is one of the avenues that I am exploring , but it is not an easy one.

The SD14 SA mount register distance is 44mm and the Contax C/Y MM is 45.5mm so you only have 1.5mm to play with . This is not too dificult for a Watch makers Lathe , but very demanding if you have to work with regular tools to achieve eveness.

It is conceivable that a certain mount will allow the conversion of the lens, but not necessaryly the SA

. I explain. When you try to install a different lens mount on a lens , that mount opening has to be equal or larger than the exit pupil of the lens. SA mounts are on the small side so they could work on small lenses like Olimpus OM and the like , so I am really thinking on my Leica-R converted SD14 , so they could broaden the range of lenses available for particular missions.

I think the Planar 50 would be amenable to that, but it is something I need to comfirm. In the case of Contax lenses seem to me that converting them to Leica-R mount is a better and easier alternative than converting the camera to Contax C/Y mount which ,although feasible, is proving to be a very difficult and challenging proposition.

I will continue to post regularly on this Topic and provide more info.

Luis


PostPosted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Gosh, this looks so good!!


PostPosted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
LucisPictor wrote:
Gosh, this looks so good!!


Thanks, Lucis. It does . The Planar really look at home in the SD14 and that lens shade that I borrowed from a Nikon 50f1.4 really adds character to it , besides eliminating stray light reflections and flare.

Many German lenses feel at home with the SD14 , my favorite the Summiluxes:






And the Magnificent Apo Macro Elmarit with Apo 2X Extender

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