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Manual Focus Lenses Forum

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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Seeking Infinity with a Bell & Howell 2" f/1.2
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 9:20 am
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 9:20 am
Post subject: Seeking Infinity with a Bell & Howell 2" f/1.2
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On several websites I've visited regarding adapting this lens to modern digital cameras (for example: https://cjo.info/outlandish-lenses/projector-lenses/16mm-cine-projector-lenses/bell-howell-51mm-f1.2/ and others on this same MFlenses forum), I see that the difficulty of adaptation is pointed out due to a very short engagement distance that doesn't allow for the necessary proximity to the sensor. As a result, focusing is only possible at a few centimeters (generally less than a meter). Obviously, this type of lens isn't the most suitable for landscape photography, but for anyone who might be interested in achieving infinity focus with this lens, I thought of using it in reverse position. When I manually mounted it on the camera, I observed that it needed a certain distance to focus at infinity.
I've attached photos of the result of the adaptation, which consisted of gluing TWO M52-M42 adapters together with Araldit. (one at each end of the lens); in reverse position and with a 10-15mm extendable M42 screw mount (plus a flat M42 to NEX-E adapter for the Sony A7), focusing is achieved from 0.5m to infinity. In the "normal" position, the focusing range with the same screw mount is approximately 0.2-0.4m.
Needless to say, the setup mounted on a Sony A7 is far from glamorous, but it works.





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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 1:15 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 1:15 pm
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I don't know how similar your 50/1.2 is to my Russian one
Projector lens 1 by Mike Kanssen, on Flickr
Mine had quite a bit of excess metal behind the rear element that could be carefully trimmed off, increasing the clearance to the sensor.
Despite this I've been reluctant to try it at long subject distances so I've not tried it beyond portrait distances.

IIRC the rear of my lens now protrudes about 10mm from the rear of the M42 helicoid adapter (maybe 15mm behind the M42 flange) which ensures there's no fouling.

I have to admit I've never tried it reversed.

Nailing the focus wide open is challenging, especially as it's usually necessary to shade the subject
50mm/1.2 projector lens test shot wide open by Mike Kanssen, on Flickr

I've often ended up using paper apertures outdoors to make exposures a little longer


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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:26 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:26 pm
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DConvert wrote:
I don't know how similar your 50/1.2 is to my Russian one

I have to admit I've never tried it reversed.

Nailing the focus wide open is challenging, especially as it's usually necessary to shade the subject

I've often ended up using paper apertures outdoors to make exposures a little longer



The LOMO RO 109-1A and the Bell & Howell 2" f/1.2 don't look much alike (I think both inside and out); I also have that Russian one, and it was actually one of the easiest adaptations: all you need is a short (8mm) M42 extension tube and insert it halfway into the RO 109-1A's tube (it fits snugly) and secure it in that position with Araldite (yes, I'm addicted to Araldite). Then you insert it into a long M42 helicoid (30-60 Pixco; not all helicoids allow the rear section of the RO 109-1A's tube to fit) and you get a decent focusing range.

And yes, achieving focus with the shallow depth of field resulting from such fast apertures is quite a challenge.


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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:59 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:59 pm
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..two examples with the Bell Howell 2" f/1.2 in "normal" position (not reversed)





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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 9:43 am
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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 9:43 am
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...two more examples, this time in the REVERSE position; They are edited to touch up the contrast, but without cropping (the full format); It can be seen that in addition to a slight vignetting (maybe due to a homemade "lens hood") they are a fairly complete sample of aberrations, one with focus at infinity and another at about 60 cm..



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