How to Mount Nikon F Lenses on Rangefinder? – In-Depth guide with FAQs, Tips, Advice, & More

Do people often ask How to mount Nikon F Lenses on Rangefinder?

Let’s find out!

How to Mount Nikon F Lenses on Rangefinder?

  1. Set rangefinder at dial 3-foot mark.
  2. Unscrew the cap from idle gear, which couples the rangefinder dial to the lens.
  3. Lift out idler gear.
  4. Unscrew the lens by turning it to the left.
  5. Take the Nikon F lens, and screw the lens into the camera by turning it to the right past the resistance point until seated firmly.
  6. Turn lens back to left until a wide range of gear teeth are opposite idler gear shaft.
  7. Drop in idler gear.
  8. Turn the lens to right as far as it would go. This will position the lens exactly at infinity.
  9. Lift out idler gear again. Be careful not to disturb the lens position.
  10. Set the rangefinder dial exactly on infinity by turning to the right.
  11. Replace idler gear, careful not to disturb the lens position or rangefinder dial.
  12. Set rangefinder dial at 3-foot mark.
  13. Screw on the idler gear cap.
  14. Your rangefinder is now ready with Nikon F Lens.

The rangefinder has a built-in motor drive system which allows you to take pictures without having to turn the camera body. It’s not a true autofocus lens, so it won’t automatically focus on subjects. To manually focus, move the focusing ring around the front of the lens.

Note: If you want to know a complete guide about rangefinder click HERE.

Lens Adapters Inexpensive or Pricier Ones?

Lens adapters are inexpensive. You can get them for less than $10. There are also expensive ones. They are made out of high-quality materials.

Aluminum doesn’t wear as well as stainless and brass. With time, regardless of how tightly the fit may be when brand new, the fit between lens, adapter, and camera body can develop a measurable amount of play, which in the end can compromise image quality.

Pentax M ScrewMount and KMount Lenses

The M42 screw mount dates to 1938. It was first designed by Carl Zeiss for use with a new line of PRAKTICA cameras. In the 1960s, it also became known as the Pentax screw mount when Asahi PENTAX adopted the lens mount for their newly introduced Pentax SLR cameras. M42-mounted lenses were also produced by ZEISS IKON, ZEISS JENA (formerly EAST GERMANY), VOIGTLANDER, FUJICA, RICOH (now the parent company of PENTAX), YASHICA, PETRI, and SEARS, which was also manufactured under the name RICOH.

Which manufacturers use the M42 Screw mount?

Several lens manufacturers used the M42 screw mount, including Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Ricoh, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Voigtländer, Zeiss, and others. Pentax eventually switched to a new, more modern bayonet-style lens mounting system in 1975. Many of the older Pentax screw-mount lenses were very high quality and still perform well today.

What are the famous Pentax screw-mount superzoom lenses

Some of the most famous Pentax screw-mount superzoom lenses include the 50mm f/2.8 Macro Takumar, the 60mm f/2.5 Macro Takumar, the 90mm f/3.5 Macro Takumar, and the 120mm f/2.0 Macro Takumar.

Compact Pentax Super Takumar lenses are designed to be used with Pentax DSLR cameras. Used Pentax Super Takumar lens prices range from $50-$100. New Pentax Super Takumar prices start at $300.

Note: If you want to know Leica LRF 1200 Rangefinder 2002 Model click HERE.

Nikon

Nikon was founded in 1894 by two brothers named Nishikino Kinejirō and Masatoshi Kinejiro, both engineers. Their company name was Nippon Kogaku. In 1924, Nikon was officially established. In 1928, the company produced the first 35mm film SLR camera called the Nikon FT.

This camera was very popular because it was cheap and easy to use. In 1936, Nikon released the first 35mm SLR camera with interchangeable lenses called the Nikon FE. After World War II, Nikon became known for its cameras and lenses. In 1954, Nikon introduced the Nikon FM2. In 1957, Nikon released the Nikon F3.

In 1960, Nikon released the Nikon FM4. In 1962, Nikon released the Nikon FG. In 1963, Nikon released the Nikon AF. In 1964, Nikon released the Nikon FX.

Nikon’s early lenses were mostly copies of other manufacturers’ lenses. Nikon developed its own lenses as well, including the famous Nikkor 105mm f/2,5 portrait lens.

A tank lens is built like a tank. A classic lens is made in Japan. There are some great lenses out there today. These are some of them.

Note: If you want to know how to use the 19TH Century Rangefinder, click HERE.

Canon FD Manual Focus Lenses

Canon’s autofocus technology is superior to Nikon’s. Canon’s manual focus FD-series lens production stopped because of R&D money directed towards new Canon EF autofocus lens development. This caused the value of many really great Canon FD lenses to drop like an Arctic Express.

Canon EF lenses were made from 1963 to 1970. These lenses had the same formula as the FD-series lenses they were replacing. Most of them still work today. You can adapt most of them to your camera body.

Canon L-series lenses are among the most expensive lenses available today. Many of them were used by famous photographers such as Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Edward Weston. These lenses are still produced today, but they are very rare and cost thousands of telephoto dollars. Some of these lenses are extremely wide angles, while others are fast.

Note: If you want to gain information about How to Use West Marine Rangefinder Reticle 7×50 click HERE.

How to Mount Nikon F Lenses on Rangefinder?

How to Mount Nikon F Lenses on Rangefinder?

Olympus OM Zuiko Lenses

Olympus OM film cameras were small and compact. Olympus OM film-era lens are also small and compact.

makes great compact cameras. Their most notable products include the Zuiko lens line. These lenses are very fast and sharp.

produces a 35mm f/1.4 shift lens, a fast 50mm f/1.2 shift lens, a fast 85mm f/1.8 shift lens, and a 135mm f/2.0 shift lens.

Leica M mount

Leica is an iconic camera brand known for producing high-quality cameras. Leica produces M mount lenses but also makes lenses for other mounts such as Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Olympus OM, Sony A, and others. There are several different types of Leica lenses, including Summilux, Summarit, Summaron, Elmarit, and more.

Conclusion

M mount lenses are still being produced today. They are surprisingly sharp and well-built. They were first introduced in 1885 and have been around for over a hundred years.

If you want to know more information about rangefinder, click HERE.

Author

  • John Moses

    John is the Editor in Chief here at The Outdoor Stores. His area of expertise ensures that there is no one better to suggest which rifles are most suitable for your hunting experience. He is also available for you to contact him personally to discuss the types of animals you want to hunt and the terrain you will be hunting on. Feel free to read his posts for expert opinion on Rifles, Scopes, Rangefinders, Bonoculars and Monoculars.

You Might Be Interested In...

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Might Be Interested In!