Recently on the Facebook pentaxian group, there was mention of an adapter for using Leica M lenses on K-mount. We have all heard that the lens mount to shutter plane distance is just wrong and beyond fixing with an adapter. "Infinity focus will not be possible!” So I took the challenge. I bought the adapter in question($19.95), noting the warning on the listing that infinity focus would not be possible. Yeah, ok, I get it. But how about focus at 100 feet? At 10 feet?
I have Leica 28, 35, 50, and 90mm lenses that were my father-in-law’s. The adapter is a smooth comfortable fit on my K-1 - no binding, no looseness. In turn I mounted each of the 4 lenses, through trial-and-error using LiveView on the camera I found the appropriate distance at which I was able to focus on a coin on the table. Short answer: the physics of optics wins out over naive hope. See here: http://photos.stanhalpin.com/p566717840/e80d9dab3 for test shots. Check the image Titles for identification of the lens used. And check the interspersed shots of the setup which should allow you to approximate the max distance you could shoot with focus set at infinity. (About 4' from focal plane in the case of the 28mm.) All shots at f/16, including one with the PK D FA 100/2.8 Macro, then a series of one each shot from the 50, 35, 28, and 90mm lenses in that order. If anyone is interested in conducting their own test, send me your address and $15 and I will have this like-new-in-box adapter on its way to you. It would be a trifle more if you would also like to buy the Leitz lenses to use for the test. stan -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
