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Tair 11 133mm f2.8 M39 Mount Can't Focus
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 4:45 am    Post subject: Tair 11 133mm f2.8 M39 Mount Can't Focus Reply with quote

Recently purchased the Tair-11 133mm f2.8 (Silver) lens but it couldn't focus by using the M39 to Sony E adapter on my Sony A7R. Looks like the focal flange distance is much longer. Any friend used this lens, and how to resolve this problem? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You Dog


PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:54 am    Post subject: Re: Tair 11 133mm f2.8 M39 Mount Can't Focus Reply with quote

cellotone wrote:
Recently purchased the Tair-11 133mm f2.8 (Silver) lens but it couldn't focus by using the M39 to Sony E adapter on my Sony A7R. Looks like the focal flange distance is much longer. Any friend used this lens, and how to resolve this problem? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You Dog


Are you perhaps using a RANGEFINDER 39x1 adapter?


PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 11:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It seems to me likely that you have a lens with a 39mm mount which is intended for a Zenit camera. As the Zenit was an SLR its lenses have, just as you surmise, a longer flange distance. So your lens is not one that is designed for a Leica camera (or Fed etc).

The Zenit has a flange distance almost identical to that of an M42 (i.e. 45.2mm for the Zenit compared with 45.46mm). So the way around your problem is as follows. Go to eBay and buy a 39mm to 42mm ring adapter. This ring is like a collar that screws onto your 39mm lens thread making it fatter - so when mounted, the lens mount thread will become 42mm in diameter. The cost is tiny - a couple of dollars typically. For example https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M39-Lens-to-M42-Pentax-screw-mount-39mm-to-42mm-step-up-screw-adapter-ring/151941722610?hash=item23606eb1f2:g:RFYAAOxyq5NRB-9h

Once the ring is mounted you now have, effectively, an M42 lens. Which you can mount on an M42 - Sony lens adapter or an M42 to M4/3 adapter etc etc. The fact that the Zenit flange distance is 0.26mm different from what it should be merely means that your lens will now focus a little beyond infinity. This should not be an issue at all when your lens is being used on a mirrorless camera. As I indicated in another thread below somewhere I am doing exactly this with a Schneider 180mm f5.5 lens which turned out to be for a Zenit too.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 12:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Tair 11 133mm f2.8 M39 Mount Can't Focus Reply with quote

Ultrapix wrote:
cellotone wrote:
Recently purchased the Tair-11 133mm f2.8 (Silver) lens but it couldn't focus by using the M39 to Sony E adapter on my Sony A7R. Looks like the focal flange distance is much longer. Any friend used this lens, and how to resolve this problem? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You Dog


Are you perhaps using a RANGEFINDER 39x1 adapter?


Thanks Ultrapix! Yes, I was using the L39 to Sony E adapter. After did a bit studies, I realized that the lens has a Zenit M39 mount. Thinking to use an adjustable helicoid or extension ring.


Last edited by cellotone on Mon Nov 09, 2020 12:16 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yoyomaoz wrote:
It seems to me likely that you have a lens with a 39mm mount which is intended for a Zenit camera. As the Zenit was an SLR its lenses have, just as you surmise, a longer flange distance. So your lens is not one that is designed for a Leica camera (or Fed etc).

The Zenit has a flange distance almost identical to that of an M42 (i.e. 45.2mm for the Zenit compared with 45.46mm). So the way around your problem is as follows. Go to eBay and buy a 39mm to 42mm ring adapter. This ring is like a collar that screws onto your 39mm lens thread making it fatter - so when mounted, the lens mount thread will become 42mm in diameter. The cost is tiny - a couple of dollars typically. For example https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M39-Lens-to-M42-Pentax-screw-mount-39mm-to-42mm-step-up-screw-adapter-ring/151941722610?hash=item23606eb1f2:g:RFYAAOxyq5NRB-9h

Once the ring is mounted you now have, effectively, an M42 lens. Which you can mount on an M42 - Sony lens adapter or an M42 to M4/3 adapter etc etc. The fact that the Zenit flange distance is 0.26mm different from what it should be merely means that your lens will now focus a little beyond infinity. This should not be an issue at all when your lens is being used on a mirrorless camera. As I indicated in another thread below somewhere I am doing exactly this with a Schneider 180mm f5.5 lens which turned out to be for a Zenit too.


Thank you for the very detailed information! It’s a great tip, and simple way to resolve the problem too. Since I already have the m42 to Sony e adapter, will just need find the m39-m42 adapter ring on eBay or Amazon.

Thank you again!


PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 12:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

@ yoyomaoz

Sorry I’ve question that Zenit M39 45.2mm vs. M42 45.46mm FFD, by using the M42 adapter for ZM39 lens would focus beyond the infinity, or wouldn’t reach the infinity? Sorry if I misunderstood.


Last edited by cellotone on Tue Nov 10, 2020 1:00 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 1:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is a simple solution to get it to infinity. You already have a LTM adapter, you need to put on a 16.4mm extension tube as can be found in a set like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Macro-Extension-Tubes-4-metal-rings-M39-screw-Zorki-Leica-Jupiter-Industar/254601397128


PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

D1N0 wrote:
There is a simple solution to get it to infinity. You already have a LTM adapter, you need to put on a 16.4mm extension tube as can be found in a set like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Macro-Extension-Tubes-4-metal-rings-M39-screw-Zorki-Leica-Jupiter-Industar/254601397128


Thanks DINO, appreciated the info. Like 1 small Thank you!


PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cellotone wrote:
@ yoyomaoz

Sorry I’ve question that Zenit M39 42.2mm vs. M42 45.46mm FFD, by using the M42 adapter for ZM39 lens would focus beyond the infinity, or wouldn’t reach the infinity? Sorry if I misunderstood.


Thinking about it, I mispoke and it would be correct to say that it should not quite reach infinity as on the M42 adapter, the lens will be positioned very slightly further way than the lenses' original flange distance specification. But I have just re checked mine at infinity and found that on my Schneider which I have adapted in the manner I described it definitely focuses to or slightly beyond infinity. This is what I was thinking of when I wrote my post. Though perhaps the reason for this is that many lens adapter makers deliberately make their adapters a little thinner than the correct flange distance to avoid infinity focus problems with people who will be mounting who knows what kind of lens on them. Mine is a good quality adapter (though not absolute top quality as these are highly expensive) made by K & F Concept adapters - perhaps it does the same. This is the M42 to Sony adapter I am using https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001039015099.html?src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=494-037-6276&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&&albagn=888888&albcp=11492545420&albag=112296941236&trgt=539263010115&crea=en4001039015099&netw=u&device=c&albpg=539263010115&albpd=en4001039015099&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7qP9BRCLARIsABDaZzgsHKR6by5LSo3ciu9kQCuUz7F-p3uKX_OE93NYuW71orN9fgOUoX4aAke1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

If it does not do so with your Tair stopping down the lens to a smaller aperture will increase the depth of field and should take care of it. I repeat I am definitely not having any issue at all with my adapted lens not reaching infinity.


PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 4:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yoyomaoz wrote:
cellotone wrote:
@ yoyomaoz

Sorry I’ve question that Zenit M39 42.2mm vs. M42 45.46mm FFD, by using the M42 adapter for ZM39 lens would focus beyond the infinity, or wouldn’t reach the infinity? Sorry if I misunderstood.


Thinking about it, I mispoke and it would be correct to say that it should not quite reach infinity as on the M42 adapter, the lens will be positioned very slightly further way than the lenses' original flange distance specification. But I have just re checked mine at infinity and found that on my Schneider which I have adapted in the manner I described it definitely focuses to or slightly beyond infinity. This is what I was thinking of when I wrote my post. Though perhaps the reason for this is that many lens adapter makers deliberately make their adapters a little thinner than the correct flange distance to avoid infinity focus problems with people who will be mounting who knows what kind of lens on them. Mine is a good quality adapter (though not absolute top quality as these are highly expensive) made by K & F Concept adapters - perhaps it does the same. This is the M42 to Sony adapter I am using https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001039015099.html?src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=494-037-6276&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&&albagn=888888&albcp=11492545420&albag=112296941236&trgt=539263010115&crea=en4001039015099&netw=u&device=c&albpg=539263010115&albpd=en4001039015099&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7qP9BRCLARIsABDaZzgsHKR6by5LSo3ciu9kQCuUz7F-p3uKX_OE93NYuW71orN9fgOUoX4aAke1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

If it does not do so with your Tair stopping down the lens to a smaller aperture will increase the depth of field and should take care of it. I repeat I am definitely not having any issue at all with my adapted lens not reaching infinity.


Believe so, because the 0.26mm difference is small. But I will look it carefully due to the adapter ring stacks on the top, it usually takes at least another 1mm of the distance. Might be we can sand it out little bit. Thank you!