An appeal for other mount systems

[Tom Caldwell]

Tom and all,

Very informative thread, I am waiting to receive the RJ's M42-M adapter, this seems to open up access to many great lenses in the M42 mount, I am wondering which one should I buy first to try it on CZ Flektogon 35 2.4, CZ Sonnar 180 2.8, a whole lot of Takumars 50, 135, 200, the Rikenon 55 1.4....so many good lenses

Yes, it is a big field with many wonders to choose from. Of course if you are travelling with a "kit" of lenses then RF lenses take less space. But where space is less of a problem and around your own locality ex-slr lenses do work well.

There is an addded benefit with Russian lenses as their M42 versions seem on the whole better built than their RF ltm cousins.

I recently obtained a MIR-20M 20mm f3.5 Flektogon in excellent condition. Did not have much time to try it before I went on our trip, but some test shots were encouraging. It is a big lens and makes a statement with a 90mm external object diameter. If you want to cause a riot when you are out shooting this lens will get lots of attention. I also have the CZJ "real" Flektogon 20mm f4.0. This is a slightly smaller lens but mine has the "zebra" finish - another riot-inducing lens. Its external object diameter is a mere 80mm.

However they both handle quite well on the GXR-M, with the push-fit lens caps on you can park the outfit face down for further effect.

Dispite all the hilarity they are both very good lenses well made very obviously sharing a design heritage. I like them both.

I also liked having a Rikenon 55 f1.4 for the simple fact that it is a good lens and it seems right to fit the GXR-M with a Ricoh lens.

Tom

[Irenaeus]

You all may be right that the M mount is quite adequate and the best we can hope for given the relatively small market share Ricoh has. Still and all, however, I'd LOVE to see them do something for the Contax G lenses ~ not only optimizing the sensor for the lenses, as they have for the M lenses, but making them autofocus by using the existing Contax autofocus mechanism built into each lens!

All the best,

Irenaeus

[Tom Caldwell]

You all may be right that the M mount is quite adequate and the best we can hope for given the relatively small market share Ricoh has. Still and all, however, I'd LOVE to see them do something for the Contax G lenses ~ not only optimizing the sensor for the lenses, as they have for the M lenses, but making them autofocus by using the existing Contax autofocus mechanism built into each lens!

All the best,

Irenaeus

Ultimately Ricoh really want to sell their own lens modules. However it must be a real challenge to develop and market lens modules quickly enough to keep their GXR owners happy. So they picked a common mount system that was not tied up by patents and released it. Presumably this was to allow their users to sate their lust for new lenses and keep them amused until Ricoh could supply more of their own lens modules. Obviously it is very odd for any manufacturer to make a mount for which they supply no lenses of their own.

More lens modules might be technically possible but I don't think there is enough interest in alternative mounts to allow Ricoh to make a succesful investment in their production.

Tom

[Cristian78]

I got my M42 - M adapter from RJ from ebay - very fast service and the adapter is very well made, very solid and fits the GXR M mount well.
I tested it with the Reveuenon 135 2.8 here viewtopic.php?f=63&t=8619 - pretty happy with the results!