Episode 86: Adapting Vintage Lenses

Episode 86 of the Camerosity Podcast tackles a listener-requested topic: adapting vintage lenses to modern (and sometimes not-so-modern) cameras. Hosts Anthony, Paul, Theo, and Mike are joined by a large roster of returning and first-time callers to explore just how far lens adapting can go, from mounting old 35mm SLR lenses onto a Crown Graphic Graflex press camera to using photocopier lenses, projector lenses, enlarging lenses, and even telescope optics. The conversation makes clear that adapting isn't limited to conventional camera lenses—if it focuses light, someone on the show has probably tried mounting it to something.

The group digs into technical considerations that matter for successful adapting, including flange distance and why the Nikon Z system's narrow flange distance and thin sensor stack make it especially well-suited for adapters. They discuss image circle size as a key concern when mixing lenses across formats, and cover specific adapter challenges like the finicky nature of DKL mount adapters (with David Jentz sharing his struggles finding a good one) and tips for removing a stuck Leica M to LTM adapter. Various callers share personal projects and gear: Alyssa's ambitious 35mm-to-Graflex adaptation, Theo's experience adapting Mamiya press lenses and Pentacon Six glass to Micro 4/3, Miles's purchase of a Canon F-1 modified to accept Contarex lenses, and Paul's recommendations for adapting Nikon rangefinder lenses. They also debate whether premium adapters are worth the extra cost compared to inexpensive Chinese options from eBay, and touch on quirks like lenses with floating elements not always focusing correctly once adapted, plus uses like PC-Nikkor lenses for pseudo-panoramic shots.

Overall, the episode frames lens adapting as a rewarding rabbit hole rather than a simple topic, with the hosts and callers agreeing that imperfection is part of the appeal—adapted lenses often bring character precisely because they weren't designed for the camera they end up on. The episode serves as a broad survey of adapter options, mount combinations, and practical troubleshooting rather than a single definitive verdict, encouraging listeners to experiment widely. The team also announces an in-person appearance at the Cincinnati Camera Show on March 22nd and previews the next episode, a closed-format deep dive into Kodak Retina and Kodak AG cameras featuring guests David Jentz and Todd Gustavson.

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We return with yet another exciting episode of the Camerosity Podcast. For Episode 86, we dip into the listener mailbag and select a topic you all have told us you wanted to hear about, adapting vintage lenses. Taking an old film camera lens and mounting it to a modern digital camera isn’t exactly anything new, as adapting lenses from one mount to another camera has been done since the early 20th century.

But what about the crazy number of lenses that weren’t meant to be adapted? How about uncommon Angenieux lenses from French Kodak Retinettes, photocopier lenses, or astronomy telescopes? If it has glass and it focuses light, it can be adapted, and that’s what got us going on this episode.

Joining Anthony, Paul, Theo, and Mike are returning callers, AJ Gentile, Miles Libak, Nick Marshall, Pat Casey, Patrick Rapps, Ray Nason, Stephen Strangeway, Will Pinkham, and first time callers Alyssa Micha, David Jentz, and Rollin Banderob.

On this episode, we talk about a huge number of lenses we mount to various digital and film cameras, but Alyssa starts us off with an ambitious project of adapting 35mm lenses to a Crown Graphic Graflex press camera, Stephen gives us some education on flange distance, why the Nikon Z mirrorless camera is ideally suited for adapting lenses, and Theo gives us his thoughts on how well a Mamiya press lens performs on micro 4/3rds.

We discuss whether it is wise to spend extra money on premium adapters vs the cheap Chinese ones you can find on eBay, David Jentz talks about adapting DKL mount lenses and the struggles to find a good DKL adapter, and why you need to be concerned with image circle size when picking lenses from differing formats.

Miles Libak shares with us a purchase he just made of a Contarex lens mount converted Canon F-1, and Paul talks about the best adapters to use for adapting Nikon rangefinder lenses to modern digital cameras.

This episode proved that a relatively simple topic of adapting lenses included a deep wormhole into a huge amount of combinations of lenses including Paul’s tip on how to remove a stuck Leica M to LTM adapter.

For those of you who can’t get enough of the Camerosity Podcast and would like the chance to meet 3/4 of the hosts, Anthony, Paul, and Mike will be at the Cincinnati Camera show in West Chester, Ohio on Saturday, March 22nd! If you have nothing going on that day and can make it to the Cincinnati area, come and join us!

As always, the topics we discuss on the Camerosity Podcast are influenced by you! Please don’t feel like you have to be an expert on a specific type of camera, or have the level of knowledge on par with other people on the show. We LOVE people who are into shooting or collecting cameras, no matter how long you’ve been doing it, so please don’t consider your knowledge level to be a prerequisite for joining!

The guys and I rarely know where each episode is going to go until it happens, so if you’d like to join us on a future episode, be sure to look out for our show announcements on our Camerosity Podcast Facebook page, the Camerosity Discord server, and right here on mikeeckman.com. We usually record every other Monday and announcements, along with the Zoom link are typically shared 2-3 days in advance.

For our next episode, we are are taking another suggestion from you all and dedicating a whole show to the Kodak Retina and other cameras made by Kodak AG, the German arm of Kodak in Stuttgart, Germany. We will be welcoming author and Kodak Retina expert David Jentz, along with Kodak historian from the Eastman Kodak Museum, Todd Gustavson to talk with us. This will be a closed episode, so we won’t be taking any callers for this one, but rest assured, the Camerosity gang has a long list of great questions to ask our esteemed guests. Episode 87 will be recorded soon and should be available by the end of February.

In This Episode

Ramir’s Rare Adapters / Argus Brick to Micro 4/3s
Adapting 35mm SLR Lenses to a Crown Graphic Graflex / Learning About Image Circle Size
Flange Distance and Why it is Important When Adapting Lenses
Adapting DKL Lenses to Nikon DSLRs and Z-Mirrorless Cameras / DKL Adapters are Finicky
Nikon Z Cameras have the Narrowest Flange Distance and a Very Narrow Sensor Stack
More Love for Ramir Rare Adapters Sold on eBay
Adapting Nikon Rangefinder Adapters / Amedeo Adapters / Wide and Telephoto Lenses Only Need the External Bayonet
Paul’s Adapted Angenieux 45mm Lens from a Retinette / David Jentz explains the origin of French Lenses on German Kodaks
The Reason You Should Adapt Lenses is Because They’re Imperfect / Perfection is Boring
Adapting Lenses from Projectors and Photo Copiers / Enlarging Lenses
Theo Has Adapters for Mamiya Press Lenses and Pentacon Six to Micro 4/3rds
Adapting Lenses Intended for the Visoflex is Great on Digital
PC-Nikkor 28mm and 35mm Lenses Are Great for Pseudo-Panoramics
Pentax Q Lenses / Akarelle Lenses / Auto Focus Lens Adapters
Third Party Licenses for the Nikon Z Mount / Nikon AF Teleconverters
Miles Bought a Canon F-1 Modified to Accept Contarex Lenses / Zeiss Lens Separation
DAG Modified Color-Minotar Converted to LTM and Mounted to a Corfield Periflex
Shooting Macro on a Yashica-Mat / Rollei Bay Filters / Parallax Correction on TLRs
Is it Worth Spending More Money on Premium Adapters? / What Brands Should You Avoid?
Do All LTM to Leica-M Adapters Work on Every Camera? / Removing Stuck LTM Adapters With a Lens Cap
Adapting Telescopes to Cameras / Nikon F Mount Telescopes
Lenses with Floating Elements Can Sometimes Not Focus Correctly When Adapted

Links

The Camerosity Podcast is now on Discord! Join Anthony, Paul, Theo, and Mike on our very own Discord Server. Share your GAS and photography with other listeners in the Lounge or in our dedicated forums. If you have questions for myself or the other guys, we have an “Ask the Hosts” section as well where you can get your question answered on a future show! Check it out! https://discord.gg/PZVN2VBJvm.

The Camerosity Podcast is now on BlueSky @camerosity.bsky.social. This modern, and clean replacement for Twitter is a nice alternative to cluttered social networks out there. Follow us there for show announcements and other content.

If you would like to offer feedback or contact us with questions or ideas for future episodes, please contact us in the Comments Section below, our Camerosity Facebook Group, Instagram page, or Discord server.

David Jentz – https://www.blurb.com/user/hsrc028N

Amedeo Lens Adapters – https://www.ebay.com/usr/amedeo.m

The Official Camerosity Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/camerositypodcast

Camerosity Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/camerosity_podcast/

Theo Panagopoulos – https://www.photothinking.com/

Paul Rybolt – https://www.ebay.com/usr/paulkris – https://thisoldcamera.net/

Anthony Rue – https://www.instagram.com/kino_pravda/

Camerosity can also be heard on the following services:

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@camerositypodcast

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Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/camerosity/id1583252688

Amazon Music – https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9d316c9e-5461-4fa5-9e04-24fd27fffc3f/camerosity