M42->MAF Adapter With Focus Confirmation

Yes AF confirm works with the switch in MF, also when set to MF you don't usually get any AF drive at switch on.

I'm using a Haoda adapter and a cheapy Hong Kong one, (at least it was cheap before the exchange rate went haywire).

Some cheap versions available on eBay exhibit the AF gear noise at start, while current JamesLaoT ones don't. (don't know about the Haoda one, but I've heard that it was very similar to the JamesLaoT one)

Advantage of JamesLaoT vs Haoda: JamesLaoT can set custom focal lengths within its adapters, you just have to ask him.

I've ordered James Lao adapter for 58mm F1.2 lens. It looks like nice solution for that lens. I'll post my impressions and sample photos after conversion.

P.S.
I have to wait a few weeks for delivery and of course, I can't wait, I'm impatient...   

Problems with the the 'adapter home page link'when I open it the page is in Chinese (okay that really isn't a problem) can do a translate.. ..that I did.. and the home page is for a web/ISP provider not the photographic adapter

Edited by urban-wombat - 01 December 2008 at 02:36

Hi -- I'm looking for some help. Thanks in advance.

I am getting a frequent "camera error" problem using James's chipped adapter and A200. The error seems different from the one described by others in this forum. Here's all the relevant info I can think of.

The adapter is programmed for 60mm/f2 for use with a 58mm Helios 44-2. I can NOT create the error with this lens. Works perfectly.

However, I also want to use my Vivitar 28mm f2.5 lens (without AS), in order to get the focus assist. I plan to buy another adapter from James soon with the correct parameters for this lens, but in the meantime, is there any reason I shouldn't be able to use it on my Helios-spec Lao adapter (with AS off)? Because when using this combination -- and ONLY this combinatio -- I often get "camera error" and camera locks up.

It's apparently random -- I often get the error when shooting wide open, when stopped down, and it doesn't matter whether or not I tell the camera when the lens is stopped down. I get the error with lens set to Manual or on Automatic. I have set the lens to manual and taped the pin down just to make sure that it wasn't interfering with anything in the camera, and tried it at different apertures -- made no difference, I still got the error. Doesn't matter whether I have AS turned on or off either. Aperture-priority mode, manual mode -- doesn't matter. It's frequent but unpredictable. I can get a good shot and then get the error on the next shot without changing any parameters. I can't shoot more than 4 or 5 shots without getting an error, and sometimes I get a bunch in a row. Each time I get an error I have to turn the camera off and delete the black picture that was taken.

Since I only get the error with the Vivitar lens it doesn't seem to be a camera problem. Since I never get the error with the Helios it doesn't seem to be a problem with the adapter.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the camera is confused by what it sees through a 28mm lens when it's being told that the lens is 60mm. But I have no idea why that would matter.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what is likely going on?

Don't think the problem can be related to the focal length - I use a JamesLao adapter for a 16/f2.8 with a variety of lenses up to and beyond 200mm. I think it has to be something to do with the depth of the thread of the Vivitar - either shorting out or forcing the adapter to lose contact with one or more of the pins in the camera.

Have you tried screwing both lenses (the one that works and the one that doesn't) into the adapter when it is off the camera and seeing what sort of difference there is between the amount that they protrude beyond the back of the adapter? Does the Vivitar still give the error if you only screw it in part way (I know this will prevent infinity focus, but it might help in diagnosis of the problem).

Hi guys, thanks for your quick responses.

@ Pete, the camera's a Sony A200.

I compared the helios mount with the Vivitar mount and the threaded part of the Viv mount is taller and extends farther into the camera.

I then screwed the Viv only part way in (a couple of turns, just enough to keep it from falling off), and took a couple dozen snaps. I did NOT get the error.

I had also been using the Viv with an unchipped adapter (before I got the JamesLao) and I never got the error.

So it seems that the Vivitar mount is interfering with the aperture actuator. It's not the aperture pin but the threaded barrel of the mount. So it looks like the Viv is just not compatible with any chipped adapter. Rats!

But my big worry now is -- did I do anything bad to the camera? I probably got the error a couple dozen times as I was trying to diagnose the problem.

Thanks again to all.