Contax/Kiev RF to Nikon F mount adapter.

[alchemy_film]

I have a couple old Jupiter (jupiter-8 and jupiter-12) lenses that i have wanted to try on my Nikon F-mount body. Unfortunately its seemingly impossible to find an adapter for such a thing. I understand the flange distance and focusing to infinity can be an issue. does anyone know of an adapter that tackles one if not both those issues? something with glass on the rear element would probably work best for focusing to infinity. thanks.

 

[Tons o Glass]

There are adapters for Nikon F cameras that employ corrective optics to allow infinity focus, but this approach is typically only used for relatively small differences in flange distance (a few millimeters at most). Those optics are mild teleconverters (1.2x give or take) and they are simple (often a single element).

With Nikon F having a register distance of 46.5mm, and Contax/Kiev RF having a register distance of 34.85mm, along with some Contax/Kiev lenses having significant protrusions deep into its mount that would need to clear Nikon [D]SLRs' mirrors (35/2.8 Biogon / Jupiter 12), may mean that the corrective optics would need to be much stronger than 1.2x and would thus limit the lens' usefulness a lot more, if such a teleconverter is possible at all.

So personally I would say goodbye to infinity, and then make (or design then 3D-print) a Contax/Kiev RF to Nikon F adapter that would be purely for close-up/macro work.

As an aside, however, Nikon released some oddball fisheye lenses back in the day (6mm and 10mm) that required mirror lockup as the lenses protruded deep into the cameras. So if you're shooting film, and you don't mind not being able to use the viewfinder to confirm focus, maybe you could focus a bit farther with a 3D print if the mirror box was routed out a bit and the adapted lenses could fit inside Nikon F's throat.

 

[alchemy_film]

There are adapters for Nikon F cameras that employ corrective optics to allow infinity focus, but this approach is typically only used for relatively small differences in flange distance (a few millimeters at most). Those optics are mild teleconverters (1.2x give or take) and they are simple (often a single element).

With Nikon F having a register distance of 46.5mm, and Contax/Kiev RF having a register distance of 34.85mm, along with some Contax/Kiev lenses having significant protrusions deep into its mount that would need to clear Nikon [D]SLRs' mirrors (35/2.8 Biogon / Jupiter 12), may mean that the corrective optics would need to be much stronger than 1.2x and would thus limit the lens' usefulness a lot more, if such a teleconverter is possible at all.

So personally I would say goodbye to infinity, and then make (or design then 3D-print) a Contax/Kiev RF to Nikon F adapter that would be purely for close-up/macro work.

As an aside, however, Nikon released some oddball fisheye lenses back in the day (6mm and 10mm) that required mirror lockup as the lenses protruded deep into the cameras. So if you're shooting film, and you don't mind not being able to use the viewfinder to confirm focus, maybe you could focus a bit farther with a 3D print if the mirror box was routed out a bit and the adapted lenses could fit inside Nikon F's throat.

Thanks for your knowledge on this issue, this is helpful. yeah i was worried about the length of the rear element, it would most definitely make contact and cause issues with the mirror without the proper adapter to keep it out of the way... i have an M42 - Nikon F mount adapter with infinity glass that works great with some other lenses i have. i was hoping to use the jupiter-12 35mm f2.8 on my Nikon FE2.

 

[alchemy_film]

Also Kipon makes one for Nikon Z mount but not F mount. :-(

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www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[rich_cx139]

Difficult and messy to cobble some sort of adapter together - even without correction optics and so using them close in.

I have quite a few post war contax RF and Kiev 4 lenses. I use them on the RF bodies sometimes but have checked them out on an MILC. The sonnars and its copies are “interesting” but not for me - not a fan of that look wide open.

 

[bokesan]

Also Kipon makes one for Nikon Z mount but not F mount. :-(

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1455217-REG/kipon_contax_rf_nik_z_integrated_version.html

AFAIK, the Jupiter-12 has an outer mount and its own focusing helicoid, so a much simpler outer mount-only adapter will do. For the Jupiter-8, you need an inner mount adapter with a helicoid. But for F mount, it's simply not possible. Freelensing with the mirror locked up and live view is all I can think of that might work.

 

[spiffariffic]

Sadly it’s just not possible… the lens would have to be mounted well inside the body if you wanted it to function with all focus distances.

Mirrorless cameras are really the way to go if you want to adapt vintage rangefinder lenses.

 

[Heritage Cameras]

So personally I would say goodbye to infinity, and then make (or design then 3D-print) a Contax/Kiev RF to Nikon F adapter that would be purely for close-up/macro work.

As an aside, however, Nikon released some oddball fisheye lenses back in the day (6mm and 10mm) that required mirror lockup as the lenses protruded deep into the cameras. So if you're shooting film, and you don't mind not being able to use the viewfinder to confirm focus, maybe you could focus a bit farther with a 3D print if the mirror box was routed out a bit and the adapted lenses could fit inside Nikon F's throat.

Agreed. The optical correction route is never going to work for this combination.

However... a combination of the above information could work. A simple adapter isn't feasible, but an LTM lens could be re-housed in a recessed mount to achieve infinity. Voigtlander introduced some very wide 12mm and 15mm lenses initially in LTM (Leica Thread Mount), but later offered them with a Nikon F bayonet as well:

https://www.cameraquest.com/VCSL1215.htm

These lenses are deepy recessed inside the camera, so are best used on mechanical cameras like the F2, where the mirror can be permanently locked up. It should be possible to 3D-print or machine a similar mount for the Jupiter lenses as well.

Even if it's possible, though, I doubt it's practical. The cost of the modifications would be much higher than a suitable LTM body, and an external viewfinder would be required.

 

[Janer_2]

Some of these lenses can be adapted as great macro lenses for still subjects, I've done it with quite a few. It's fun to play around with even though you won't get infinity. The rule of thumb is to always keep the F mount flange distance in mind. That's where the rear element on a 3D printed mount will be, then there's the focal length (distance from centre lens element to the sensor), that should be the same distance in mm as stated on your lens.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that's how I've been thinking when working with the F mount.

With projector lenses I simply put the rear end as far back as possible, then fit it on a helicoid so that I can focus it to infinity at the right spot.

The shorter the focal length, the closer macro focus you will get, flange distance also plays a part. For old film camera lenses (not slr's) I'm not quite sure as they don't have flange distanced per say, that's the closest macro I have gotten to this date (sorry for getting of track).