M42 Lens On Nikon F Mount Modification – On Fujifilm S1 PRO

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Adapter Information On This Blog

Long story short-

I have modified my Fujifilm S1 PRO to accept M42 lenses directly without need of an optical adapter.
I have destroyed the sensor on the Fujifilm S1 PRO through carelessness – not related to the actual modification.

See my warning at the bottom of the right hand column on this blog regarding doing anything I describe on this blog. In this case, maybe I should have read it myself

Long story-

I noticed the thickness of the original mount on the S1. It eyeballed with a rule as ~2.5mm. Then I compared it to the thickness of the M42 to Nikon F mount adapter that I recently purchased. It eyeballed at ~1mm. This meant, if all went well, the 1mm difference between the registration of the Nikon F mount and the registration of an M42 lens would be more than made up.

Since the plate is held by only 5 screws, I removed it. The adapter appeared to be able to fit in the original mounts place if the electronic contact piece was removed. Two screws and a small pry later that was out of the way. Yes – the adapter fit nicely in place.

Using the original as a template, I drilled five holes with detents for the screw heads in the adapter. Then I put three of the screws in place, took a picture and proceeded to put the remaining screws in place. Disaster struck when the screwdriver slipped on the fourth screw. The tip of the screwdriver hit the shutter curtain leaving a small dimple. I figured that it wasn’t a big deal and finished the mounting.

I took a couple shots inside (it was around Midnight) to check close up focus and then put the leash on my Yellow Lab and went outside looking for something bright enough to check infinity focus. A store a few blocks away with a nicely lit up sign gave me that opportunity.

Returning home, I downloaded the TIFFs onto my computer and did a quick look. OOPS! (not really what I said) There was a huge black spider web in the images. Assuming what the problem was, I proved it by opening the shutter as if I was going to clean the sensor. Yup, the cover over the sensor was smashed.

Bottom line –

The actual modification works. The two images with the spiderweb were taken with a cheap Tamron 70-210mm M42 mount via adaptall. The closeup of the digital clock was approximately at a distance of ~7 feet, the sign at a distance of ~400 feet. In fact, the lens actually focused beyond this distance.

NOTE: Make sure to have the M/AF switch on the front of the camera near the lens release set to M to ensure the focus motor doesn’t try to operate.

Being a klutz ruined the camera. Please read my warning referred to above before attempting this yourself.

In retrospect, since this was to be a non-reverse able modification anyways, if I were to do it again I would simply use a good brand of gel super glue in the place of the whole drilling of holes and use of screws to hold the adapter in place. (read the disclaimer)

I Never Learn

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The Bimat project is off another day at least. Today I went back to my favorite photography store, just to look. Right. I wound up with a set of macro rings for the FujiFilm S1 and three old 135mm lenses to be used as donor bodies for the vintage Kodak lenses I have on the workbench.

I took some images with the VPK Meniscus and the 2A HawkEye lenses. Getting used to focusing lenses that are in themselves soft focus will take some time. Hopefully the next couple days will have some Sun so I can try some exterior shots. The pictures (one from each lens) of the Amaryllis that just now opened in the kitchen window are in the HawkEye and VPG pages.

M42 Adapter on FujiFilm S1 – Nikon F Mount – and General Information on Registration

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I recently picked up a FijiFilm S1 DSLR at a very low price – $100. A quick description – it is a Nikon body with electronics by Fuji. Fuji first claimed it to be a 6.4MB sensor, but later descriptions rolled it back to 3.2MB while allowing a larger image size through software due to Fuji’s Super CCD sensor. The F mount allows a lot of Nikkor and 3rd party lenses to be mounted directly. The features that the body can use depending on the lens version. I grabbed a Nikkor 2.8 28mm Series E to have something to use while I shopped around for a more suitable lens. With this lens I have to use the M setting and dial in the shutter speed manually and set the aperture manually on the lens. What I discovered was the reviews saying the color range is fantastic, and the capture speed being slow using the TIFF format were spot on.

***A quick addition – I am unable to mount, on the S1, my shift adapter for Pentacon Six lenses on M42; this due to the knob that shifts the lens is hitting the flash housing and preventing the mount from turning.***

While looking for a better lens, I ran across an M42 to Nikon adapter. As is many times the case, a seller will purchase a batch of generic adapters from out of country and then present it with claims that are misleading if not downright false when re-selling. I ‘knew’ this was the case here, since everywhere on the Internet this type adapter is reported as *NOT* allowing a focused image on the sensor at infinity. Since I had multiple M42 lenses already and converters to allow MF lenses to be mounted on an M42 base, I figured the less than $10 delivered price to be worth having it for the macro capabilities alone.

The bottom line for the M42 to Nikon F mount situation is this. There are two versions of the M42 to Nikon adapter – (the same two that exist for using Canon FD mount lenses on EOS frames) – one with a glass lens and one without the glass lens. The glass lens version does allow focus to infinity, however at the loss of picture quality, this due to the glass not being the same quality as a name brand lens manufacturer uses. The same mount without the glass lens will mount the lens, but in my experience, the furthest object in focus – and this depends on the lens you are mounting – will be around twelve feet away. If you want to use the lens as a macro without infinity focus then this is just might be what you want.

The following paragraph further qualifies my experience with the version I bought from eBay without the glass lens and contains some irony : The auction description said it allowed focusing to infinity with any M42 lens. And physically it does just that. (Irony warning) You can spin the focus ring on the lens right over to the infinity setting without a hitch. However, when using a Sears f1.4 50mm M42 lens and/or a Cosinon f1.8 50mm M42 lens, I found nothing beyond about twelve feet to be in focus. (Further irony warning) A very fine line drawn in the sands of truth in advertising. As a macro adapter for using M42 lenses on the camera, it works nicely – as I had assumed before ordering it. A further problem with this adapter- there is no pin or catch to keep the adapter from turning clockwise or counter-clockwise when the lens is in place. Simply turning the focus ring sometimes spins the whole thing rather than changing focus. This hunk of metal borders on being as cheaply made as a paper napkin.

Note here – the registration of the Nikon and registration of the M42 are different. The basic premise here – if the lens you want to use on your camera has a larger registration figure than the registration distance for your camera, then it is probably physically possible to find/make an adapter for the two that does NOT need optical elements. If the opposite is true – then optical elements will be needed in order to get Infinity focus capability. See this link for some registration information.

Registration Information

I picked up the S1 for an upcoming trip to Cancun. This is based entirely on the presumption that I would have a second DSLR as a spare at home and if the camera turns up missing or salt water damaged during the trip – it won’t hurt as much in the wallet as my XTi and L glass. As for the camera itself, it works very nicely. The colors are fantastic and it’s ability to work with backlit scenes is super. I have used it with a 2GB CF card. I recently let all my SmartMedia cards go when I sold an older Fuji. I got some sticker shock on the premium prices the SmartMedia cards are getting on eBay when the capacities of SM to CF are compared. Yes, this camera has two media slots and both can be populated at the same time. If this was a true 6.4MB sensor and the card writing speed faster, I would be hard pressed to tell it from my Xti in performance. The battery story is a bit bizarre, four AA’s for some functions, a button battery for time/date, and two CR-123’s for other features.

I have posted a few images from the Cancun vacation on my companion blog: Cancun Pics

Below is an image shot across a frozen lake with the Sun directly backlighting the scene. Taken with the S1 and Series E lens mentioned above.

Windsurfing on ice. Onondaga Lake, Syracuse, NY

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Gotta stop going to camera shops

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Well, I bit again yesterday. There on the counter was a sealed, never opened Nishika n-8000 (Nimslo) and on top of that box was a sealed case for it. I looked quickly away, vowing to never look at it again. A few minutes later, after a quick look around the shop, I was back at the counter. It was still there. “He’ll take $10 for it.” Its now on the basement shelf while I look on the web at all the modifications available for it. 

Nimslo update 03-2009: It’s a piece of junk with no redeeming value and is now residing in the local landfill. Save your money.

I know; I have the digital stereo project on hold for decent weather, the re-lining of the film transport to stop the scratching in the homemade wood stereo camera, the twin film stereo electronic modifications project, the newly acquired Realist has to be sent for CLA, and now this one…………………………………..

Now the good news. I was able (and not without a lot of thought) to resist a FujiFilm S1 in mint condition for $150. An M43 to Nikon F adapter is only $10 and I’d have a dedicated digital camera for my collection of various screw base lenses. I walked out and haven’t looked back more than a few times.

Fujifilm update:March 2009 – Not only did I go back and buy it in January 2009, it went with me to Cancun in February and performed well. See my companion blog My other Blog for some of the pictures.