Alexander Boyd Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 I'm wondering if the rehoused Leica R or Nikon lenses would fit a 35mm reflex camera such as the Aaton 35-III or Penelope? Obviously they are PL so they fit the mount, but would their protrude too much, potentially touching the mirror? Thanks for your help, Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Young Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Zero Optik says their rehoused Nikkors will work on a film camera, but I'm skeptical simply because of the math for the focal flange distances. If you get to test these out with an SLR motion picture camera, please share the results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 I know that a lot of the natural history cameramen at the BBC used to use Nikon lenses with both 35mm and 16mm cameras, so it can be done, but you'd want to be very careful to check the clearance with the lens focused at Inf. before you ran the camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcel Zyskind Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 Leica R's, Nikon's, Canon FD's and Contax lenses were rehoused long before digital cameras and used on 35mm, so I can't see the trouble in this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Joel W Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) 19 hours ago, AJ Young said: Zero Optik says their rehoused Nikkors will work on a film camera, but I'm skeptical simply because of the math for the focal flange distances. If you get to test these out with an SLR motion picture camera, please share the results! While the flange distance of PL mount is greater than that of F mount, the rear elements in many (most?) PL mount and Arri B mount lenses seem to extend much deeper back. I don't want to lead anyone to break their mirrors (the NIKKOR-O 2.1cm F4 I bet will hit the mirror, for one) but I think 99% of Nikkors should be good! Edited February 16, 2020 by M Joel W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Dom Jaeger Posted February 16, 2020 Premium Member Share Posted February 16, 2020 Since PL is a standard for both film and digital, manufacturers tend to specifically mention if their PL mount lens would protrude into the mirror of a PL mount film camera. They don't want to be liable for destroying a camera. This probably doesn't apply to no-name adapter sellers on ebay or something, but reputable lens rehousing companies like P&S Technik, TLS or Zero Optik wouldn't make that mistake. There are relatively few "digital only" PL lenses around, and companies like Angenieux have actually discontinued their digital DP zoom lines to go back to the old standard. It makes sense for companies to stick to a standard, as even digital cameras have OLPFs and sensor cover glasses at different depths, which caused issues with the Angenieux DP zooms for instance. A PL lens needs to protrude more than an inch past the PL flange to potentially hit a film camera mirror. It's a little more complicated than a simple measurement, since the mirror is at an angle to the lens so the rear diameter and bevel depth add variables, but essentially if the lens doesn't protrude past the actual PL mount rear cylinder, it won't hit a mirror. Looking at pictures of rehoused Leicas and Nikkors, I don't see any that protrude past the PL mount cylinder: You can always email a manufacturer to confirm, but I think they would be safe to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Young Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Dom Jaeger said: Since PL is a standard for both film and digital, manufacturers tend to specifically mention if their PL mount lens would protrude into the mirror of a PL mount film camera. They don't want to be liable for destroying a camera. This probably doesn't apply to no-name adapter sellers on ebay or something, but reputable lens rehousing companies like P&S Technik, TLS or Zero Optik wouldn't make that mistake. There are relatively few "digital only" PL lenses around, and companies like Angenieux have actually discontinued their digital DP zoom lines to go back to the old standard. It makes sense for companies to stick to a standard, as even digital cameras have OLPFs and sensor cover glasses at different depths, which caused issues with the Angenieux DP zooms for instance. A PL lens needs to protrude more than an inch past the PL flange to potentially hit a film camera mirror. It's a little more complicated than a simple measurement, since the mirror is at an angle to the lens so the rear diameter and bevel depth add variables, but essentially if the lens doesn't protrude past the actual PL mount rear cylinder, it won't hit a mirror. Looking at pictures of rehoused Leicas and Nikkors, I don't see any that protrude past the PL mount cylinder: You can always email a manufacturer to confirm, but I think they would be safe to use. Thank you for the insight! I'm pretty convinced now that the lenses will be safe to use on a film camera. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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