For sale is a personal collection of C/Y and R mount lenses professionally converted to the universal M42 mount and a few remaining M42 mounting plates so that somebody else can manage a similar conversion of the extant bargains in Contax C/Y and Leica R mounts to M42.
The purpose of this undertaking was rather obvious – M42 lens can be adapted to almost any camera; especially for the likes of Sony Alpha or Sigma SA, which simply cannot be adapted to C/Y or R lenses, M42 becomes the only practical way of using these wonderful optics (yes, Sigma SD1 was heavily on my mind).
I’ve factored in one hundred dollars for the plate and the conversion (though it cost me way beyond that, as I’m trying to recoup my expenses to finance another silly idea) in addition to an average Ebay price.
The plates are machined from black anodized aluminum. The lenses look and behave as if they were born this way in terms of clicks and infinity focus.
A note on clicks – for the C/Y conversions the clicks are identical to the old way since it’s accomplished by the aperture plate with holes going over a bearing ball independent of the mounting plate. In the Leica case, the ball rolls from one indentation in the mounting plate to another. As much as we tried to duplicate those indentations, it was not 100% perfect – the half-stop clicks are still there but a little less precise than in the old lens.
Also, not being a bayonet, the lens, once in the M42 adapter may not align to a perfect 12 o’clock position but maybe somewhere between 11:30 and 12:30 (These things are difficult to nail down with a thread before drilling holes; 12:30 is actually easier to see).
All lenses are in excellent mechanical and optical condition, no scratches, marks, fungus. I’ll eat the PayPal fees, though checks are o.k. too, but the shipping with insurance would be extra. Here they are:
1) Contax Distagon 28mm f2.8 with both caps - $425.00 + shipping
2) Contax Planar 50mm F1.7 with both caps - $315 + shipping
3) Contax Sonnar 85mm F2.8 with both caps - $410 + shipping
4) Leica (formerly R) Summicron 50mm F2.0 with a rear cap and a clip-on hood (half-pictured and sold lately on Ebay for $138) - $525 – plus shipping
5) Leica (formerly R) Elmarit 90mm F2.8 with both caps - $500 – plus shipping
6) 4 (four) M42 mounting plates for Contax C/Y lenses, three are for MM type and one for AE (MM differs from AE by the positioning of screws in the mounting plate). The Planar 50/1.7 and Sonnar 85/2.8 sometimes come in AE version. The MM types could be identified by the green minimal aperture number. Make sure you see screws on the back of the mounting plate - some latest Contaxes have no screw holes on mounting plates. Each plate - $45.00, or all for $150.00
7) 2 (two) M42 mounting plates for Leica R lenses, one is a hybrid with a back of the original R mount and native aperture indentations - $100.00 each
For those who choose the plates, I’ll provide further instructions and answer any questions. It’s not that difficult; just do not let that bearing ball jump off the table.
I’m new at this forum, but you can check my feedback on Ebay (also as ‘vdeakin’).
E-mail or call if you have any question. You can reach me at v_deakin at yahoo dot com, or call 847 eight hundred eight two seven three. I prefer to sell within the USA.
Regards and thanks, Victor
The purpose of this undertaking was rather obvious – M42 lens can be adapted to almost any camera; especially for the likes of Sony Alpha or Sigma SA, which simply cannot be adapted to C/Y or R lenses, M42 becomes the only practical way of using these wonderful optics (yes, Sigma SD1 was heavily on my mind).
I’ve factored in one hundred dollars for the plate and the conversion (though it cost me way beyond that, as I’m trying to recoup my expenses to finance another silly idea) in addition to an average Ebay price.
The plates are machined from black anodized aluminum. The lenses look and behave as if they were born this way in terms of clicks and infinity focus.
A note on clicks – for the C/Y conversions the clicks are identical to the old way since it’s accomplished by the aperture plate with holes going over a bearing ball independent of the mounting plate. In the Leica case, the ball rolls from one indentation in the mounting plate to another. As much as we tried to duplicate those indentations, it was not 100% perfect – the half-stop clicks are still there but a little less precise than in the old lens.
Also, not being a bayonet, the lens, once in the M42 adapter may not align to a perfect 12 o’clock position but maybe somewhere between 11:30 and 12:30 (These things are difficult to nail down with a thread before drilling holes; 12:30 is actually easier to see).
All lenses are in excellent mechanical and optical condition, no scratches, marks, fungus. I’ll eat the PayPal fees, though checks are o.k. too, but the shipping with insurance would be extra. Here they are:
1) Contax Distagon 28mm f2.8 with both caps - $425.00 + shipping
2) Contax Planar 50mm F1.7 with both caps - $315 + shipping
3) Contax Sonnar 85mm F2.8 with both caps - $410 + shipping
4) Leica (formerly R) Summicron 50mm F2.0 with a rear cap and a clip-on hood (half-pictured and sold lately on Ebay for $138) - $525 – plus shipping
5) Leica (formerly R) Elmarit 90mm F2.8 with both caps - $500 – plus shipping
6) 4 (four) M42 mounting plates for Contax C/Y lenses, three are for MM type and one for AE (MM differs from AE by the positioning of screws in the mounting plate). The Planar 50/1.7 and Sonnar 85/2.8 sometimes come in AE version. The MM types could be identified by the green minimal aperture number. Make sure you see screws on the back of the mounting plate - some latest Contaxes have no screw holes on mounting plates. Each plate - $45.00, or all for $150.00
7) 2 (two) M42 mounting plates for Leica R lenses, one is a hybrid with a back of the original R mount and native aperture indentations - $100.00 each
For those who choose the plates, I’ll provide further instructions and answer any questions. It’s not that difficult; just do not let that bearing ball jump off the table.
I’m new at this forum, but you can check my feedback on Ebay (also as ‘vdeakin’).
E-mail or call if you have any question. You can reach me at v_deakin at yahoo dot com, or call 847 eight hundred eight two seven three. I prefer to sell within the USA.
Regards and thanks, Victor