M39-M42-EOS advice needed

RSalles · Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 4:41 pm Post subject: M39-M42-EOS advice needed

Guys,

I'm tempted to try this setup:
M39 to M42 step-up ring - as this one which I saw at ebay,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181030158818?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

... and screw a M39 lens with this ring in a M42 - to EOS adapter, to use the lens with a EOS 5DMkII.

Questions:

Will it work?
Will it allow the lens to achieve infinity focus?
If it works, can i use with any/all M39 lens?

Thanks!

CHeers,

Renato

Riku · Expire: 2017-04-30

There are two types of M39 lenses:
-SLR lenses made for Zenit
-Rangefinder lenses (Leica thread mount, LTM)

With SLR lenses you may achieve infinity or close to it. With rangefinder lenses you don't. Some lenses (usually wideangles) may hit the mirror of 5D and damage your camera.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M39_lens_mount

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4745 Location: Cheshire, England

RSalles · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:35 am Post subject:

Riku, and philslizzy,

Thank you for your answer. If i understood right what you wrote and also the wikipedia website, the only M39 lenses made for SLR were that made for the Zenit camera pre-M42 mount type.
Is there a way to know without ask to the seller, if the lens is made to fit SLR when they describe the lens as having a M39 thread but don't write specifically if it is intended to fit only rangefinders like Fed, Zorki, etc? I'm fear to buy a M39 lens to adapt to a M42-EOS adapter and discover too late that i have a macro-only lens in my hands, which was not my intention right now,

Cheers,

Renato

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7572 Location: Hong Kong

The Mir-1 , Helios 44, Tair 3 and 11 are all SLR lens. They can be adapted to M42 but may lost infinity on certain copy especially the first two.

The jupiter 9, jupiter 11 have rangefinder and SLR version. Usually the RF version are more slim than the SLR version.

There are some m39 lens like those make for Braun Paxette. They can use on a standard m42 adapter but will lost infinity due to small register difference. The INDUSTAR-69 is a half frame lens which will not be able reach infinity on SLR.

You could find information for rangfinder lens in this link http://www.sovietcams.com/.

RSalles · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:05 am Post subject:

Calvin,

A big thanks to you, actually i found some tables with the register distances, mount type and resolution for almost all russian lens - not only rangefinders - in the site you pointed to. And now, i can just look at the table and decide if the lens worth ask to the seller if it hits the mirror of FF EOS or can go til infinity. And if he don't knows, i have this forum to ask for!

[]s,

Renato