As many others, Bjørn’s high speed images have inspired me enough to push me to gather a few of these high speed lenses and do my own exploration. To extend the focusing distance, in addition to the usual Nikon, I ended up with a NEX-5, a Nikon V1 and the need for an adaptable way of mounting these lenses on various mounts with changing lens to sensor distance. Luckily, most of these lenses have the same M80 1.0 pitch external thread: Rayxar 50/0.75, Rayxar 50/0.88, TV-Heligon 50/0.75, Kowa 77/1.1. Some have a M70 1.0 pitch: TV-Heligon 75/1.25 and TV-Heligon 42/0.75 (wich also has an internal M48 0.75 but this is another story). Few have aM90 1.0 pitch like the Rodenstock XR-Heligon 100/1.5.
With short 52mm reversing rings for almost any mounts available for cheap online, I’m using now a custom made M80 1.0 to M52 0.75 adapter. For 70 mm 1.0, I’m simply using a custom M70 to M80 ring inside the adapter.
With various 52mm based contraptions of various length and various mount I can now use these lenses on any mount with a focusing distance between a few cm to sometimes almost a meter, depending of course on the mount and the lens.
A fully equipped Heligon 50/0.75 and a Nikon V1 contraption
