M42 mount variations

[Julio1fer]

I would bet it is for Zorki-Fed bodies, as Titrisol guessed above. Also useable in Barnack Leicas. The fact that it focus to 30 cm in a Nikon is a giveaway. Look out for the RF cam or ring (should be a ring) that moves in and out in the back as you focus.

[Julio1fer]

The adapter could be used to mount old Zenit SLR lenses (they have 39 mm thread) in M42 bodies.

[GrahamS]

Then it's for first Zenit cameras if Im not wrong.

M39 will fit any M39 Leica mount camera, will it not? Zenit, FED, Leica, and many more. I still can't work out why anyone would want to mount a M39 lens on a "T" mount adaptor. It surely cannot focus correctly on any camera?

[titrisol]

NICE! a M39 J8 !

Problem solved! I stupidly did not realise that the knurled ring at the back of the lens was actually an adaptor screwed onto the lens. It was very tight but it did come off. On the rim, it says "M39 Leica - T2"The lens itself is actually M39 Leica mount, as it should be. Like I said, age usually brings wisdom, but sometimes it shows up alone - you never know.

[titrisol]

I still can't work out why anyone would want to mount a M39 lens on a "T" mount adaptor. It surely cannot focus correctly on any camera?

It is useful for macro work, I have done that with M40.5 and M39 lenses

[Julio1fer]

M39 will fit any M39 Leica mount camera, will it not? Zenit, FED, Leica, and many more. I still can't work out why anyone would want to mount a M39 lens on a "T" mount adaptor. It surely cannot focus correctly on any camera?

The old Zenit SLRs, such as the 3M, had M39 thread but a longer focal distance than RF cameras. With your adapter, lenses made for those old Zenits can be used in M42 bodies. This includes the Helios-44, Industar-50, 37 mm Mir and Jupiter-9.

[GrahamS]

M39 will fit any M39 Leica mount camera, will it not? Zenit, FED, Leica, and many more. I still can't work out why anyone would want to mount a M39 lens on a "T" mount adaptor. It surely cannot focus correctly on any camera?

The old Zenit SLRs, such as the 3M, had M39 thread but a longer focal distance than RF cameras. With your adapter, lenses made for those old Zenits can be used in M42 bodies. This includes the Helios-44, Industar-50, 37 mm Mir and Jupiter-9.

Thanks Julio. Every day is a learning experience.

[melek]

That was a very interesting thread. So, the lens was M39 adapted to T2. There are still so many undiscovered surprises in the camera world.

[GrahamS]

That was a very interesting thread. So, the lens was M39 adapted to T2. There are still so many undiscovered surprises in the camera world.

Indeed, Mike. A new surprise every day!

[PFMcFarland]

By its construction the lens is definitely for an early Zenit camera (they later switched to M42), won't work on any LTM rangefinder. I'm thinking someone tried to use the lens on another SLR, and just couldn't make it work.

PF