This is basically a reformatting of the wonderful list published by William-Jan Markerink, which has unfortunately disappeared from the Web. There are several other extensive lists; here are a few.
There is also a wonderful page with photographs of different mounts.
I have made a number of changes to the original list; most of these are listed at the end of this page.The same list is available sorted in order of register distance here.
At first glance, adapting a lens to fit a camera seems quite straightforward, if the two registers relate in the correct way. That is, the new camera has a register distance less than that of the camera originally intended for the lens. Unfortunately, several things can get in the way.
Back in the 1930s, the only connection between lens and camera body was structural; the lens mount simply had to hold the lens at a precise distance from the film. As time went on, however, things got more complicated. First came automatic stop-down of the lens aperture for SLRs: the photographer could focus and frame the shot with lens wide open, and as soon as the shutter release was pressed, the lens would stop down to an aperture set beforehand. Then, as SLRs acquired through-the-lens metering systems, the lenses of some cameras had a mechanism to signal what aperture had been selected. After that came automatic exposure, and the camera needed to control the lens aperture (and to know the aperture range of the lens). Finally came automatic focus: the camera could focus the lens, mechanically or electrically.
These more sophisticated connections, however, are far harder to adapt between different lens mounts. Once you have built an adapter (or modified mount) to connect a lens from system A to camera body B, you still lack the connections to make automatic aperture, exposure, and focusing work. Typically this means that many functions are lost; you stop the lens down manually, use manual exposure, etc. This can run afoul of the electronics of modern SLRs; Canon SLR's, for example, usually require a chip in the adapter if you want to use the autofocus system as a guide to focussing manually. Realistically, this full-manual functionality is all that can be hoped for, given the diversity of mechanisms and the lack of space to build any sort of lever arrangement.
These difficulties exist even where such adapters were planned as part of the mount design; Pentax, for example, offered an adapter to use M42 lenses on the K bayonet, but none of the automation works. The Contax/Yashica bayonet is so similar to the Pentax K that apparently a bit of work with a file or Dremel tool can get one to mount on the other, but the aperture mechanisms are completely different.
One happy exception is the Rollei/Voigtländer QBM mount used in the Rolleiflex SL35 and kin; this uses a stop-down pin copied from the M42 mount, so an M42 lens on a Rollei with the factory-supplied adapter retains the original aperture function of the lens. Another is the Sigma SA mount, which copies the electronic protocol of the Canon EF mount, as well as its register distance. Apparently it is possible to modify a Canon lens with a Sigma mount, or a Sigma body with a Canon mounting flange, and have full automation and autofocus.
It is also possible, in principle, to build electronics to convert between lens protocols for two systems; a company called Conurus offers such a modification for Contax N lenses to mount on Canon EF or Sigma bodies.
I have tried to code each entry by color corresponding to the original image format:
35mm full-frame is yellow |
Smaller formats are blue |
Larger formats are green |
Cinema and video formats are white |
Camera System | Mount Type | Register | Diameter | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
1/2″ video | bayonet | 35.74 | Most 3-chip SD video cameras not from Sony. From a Sandia National Labs technical report. | |
4/3 System digital | bayonet | 38.67 | 44 | Designed by Olympus, this mount is apparently mechanically identical to the Olympus OM mount, but with a smaller register. An OM-to-4/3 adapter is just an extension tube. |
Aaton PL-40 | breech lock | 40 | 50 | |
Adaptall | bayonet(?) | 50.7 | 54 | |
Alpa | bayonet | 37.8 | 42 | |
Altix | breech lock | 42.5 | 34 | |
Argus | 33mm thread | 41.9 | 33 | Used for C3; register from the Argus Collectors' Group site. |
Argus | 38mm thread | 39 | 38 | Used for post-war Model 21 |
Argus | bayonet | 44.45 | Used for C44 | |
Arri Maxi PL | breech lock | 52 | 64 | |
Arri PL | breech lock | 52 | 64 | |
Arriflex | bayonet | 52 | ||
Asahiflex | M37×1 thread | 45.46 | 37 | Predecessor to the Pentax with pentaprism finder and M42 mount. The later Pentax was badged “Asahiflex” in a few countries (Finland and South Africa, for starters) due to trademark complications. |
B4 | bayonet | 48 (air) | ||
Bolex | breech lock | 23.22 | ||
Bolex H8RX | 1″×32tpi thread | 15.31 | 25.4 | |
Bronica ETRS | bayonet | 69.0 ±0.03 | Measured to back of body (mount surface for film back); see service manual | |
Bronica GS1 | bayonet | Register must be greater than that of Pentax 645 or Mamiya 645, as FotoDiox makes infinity-focus adapters to both of those cameras. | ||
Bronica S2A | bayonet & 57×1 thread | 101.7 | 57 | |
Bronica SQ | bayonet | 85 | 78 | Leaf shutter in each lens |
C-mount | 1″×32tpi thread | 17.526 | 25.4 | (0.69″) |
C-S mount | 1″×32tpi thread | 12.526 | 25.4 | According to Ikegami. Thread is also known as “1-32 UN 2A.” |
Canon EOS | bayonet | 44 | 54 | |
Canon EX1/2 VL camcorder | bayonet | 20 | ||
Canon R/FL/FD | breech or bayonet | 42 | 48 | 42.1mm according to this list, 42.00mm according to Wikipedia, 42.13mm according to a Japanese list that seems to have vanished from the Web. The Canon service manuals of the time specify a “42.14 Dial Gauge”, whatever that might be, to adjust the flange distance |
Canon screw | M39×24tpi | 28.8 | 39 | Known as Canon J mount and used only on the earliest cameras; most Canon rangefinders use Leica screw mount. |
Contarex | bayonet | 46 | No aperture ring on lenses; aperture set by control on body | |
Contax G1 | bayonet | 29 | 44 | Autofocus rangefinder cameras from Kyocera |
Contax N | bayonet | 48 | 55 | Autofocus SLR cameras from Kyocera |
Contax RF | dual bayonet | 34.85 | 44 | Measured to outside of outer bayonet; see this page. Most lenses mount to inner bayonet and have no focusing helical; focus is in camera body. Lenses mounting to the outer bayonet (usually longer lenses) have focusing capability. |
Contax S | M42×1 thread | 45.5 | 42 | This post-WWII product from Zeiss in Jena (Soviet sector) actually originated the ubiquitous M42 mount made famous by Pentax. |
Contax/Yashica | bayonet | 45.5 | 48 | This mount is very similar to the Pentax K bayonet; enough so that, like the mounts of the Retina Reflex and Voigtländer Bessamatic, modification is possible for compatibility |
D-mount | 0.625″×32tpi thread | 12.29 | 15.88 | Originally used for 8mm movie cameras |
Éclair CA-1 | bayonet | 48 | 46 | |
Edixa Rex | bayonet | 53 | ||
Exakta 66 | breech lock | 74.1 | 60 | Same as Pentacon 6 and Kiev 60. |
Exakta | bayonet | 44.7 | 38 | Fundamentally identical to Topcon RE mount, but aperture coupling is different. |
Fujica X | bayonet | 43.5 | 49 | 35mm film cameras; discontinued in 1985 |
Fujifilm X | bayonet | 17.7 | Mirrorless digital cameras | |
Hasselblad 1000F/1600F | multi start thread | 82.1 | 78 | Focal-plane shutter (no shutter in lens) |
Hasselblad V System | bayonet | 74.9 | 69 | Leaf shutter inside each lens; used on Hasselblad 500/2000. |
Hasselblad H System | bayonet | 61.63 | ||
Hasselblad Xpan | bayonet | 34.27 | 46 | |
HDTV 2/3″ | B4 bayonet | 48 | ||
Icarex | breech lock | 48 | Aperture ring on camera, not lens. | |
K-mount | bayonet | 45.46 | 44 | |
Kiev 10,15 | bayonet | 44? | 43.6 | Diameter measured by Kari Valikorpi |
Kiev 60/Kiev Six | breech lock | 74.1 | 60 | Same as Exakta 66 and Pentacon 6 |
Kiev 88, Salut, Zenit 80 | multi start thread | 82.1 | 78 | Very similar to Hasselblad 1000F/1600F; may or may not fit |
Kilarflex | M39×26tpi | 92.3 | Reflex attachment like Visoflex or Flektoskop for rangefinder camera. Available to mount on either Leica M39 or Contax RF; I think all the lenses used M39 mount. | |
Kilarscope | M39×26tpi | 78.8 | Reflex attachment like Visoflex or Flektoskop for rangefinder camera. Unlike the Kilarflex, provides an eye-level finder. | |
Kodak Retina Reflex | bayonet | 44.7 | Very similar to Voigtländer Bessamatic mount. Kodak used the same mount on their Kodak Instamatic Reflex. | |
Konica Autoreflex | bayonet | 40.5 | 47 | According to the Konica manual. Markerink’s original list had it as 40.7. |
Konica F | bayonet | 40.5 | ||
Konica Hexar RF | bayonet | 28.00mm ± 0.03mm (pressure plate rails) 27.76mm (film rails) |
Designed for compatibility with Leica M lenses, but nominal distances are slightly different. | |
Reflex Korelle | 40.5 × 0.75 thread | 77.5 | 40.5 | Register according to AllPhotoLenses; thread size from Camerapedia. |
Kowa Six/Super 66 | breech lock | 79 | ||
Leica M | bayonet | 27.80 | 44 | Measured to pressure-plate rails. 27.76 to film rails. See this page for a discussion of the subtleties. |
Leica R | bayonet | 47 | 49 | Used by Leitz's 35mm SLR cameras: Leicaflex and Leica R series |
Leica S | bayonet | 53 | Register mentioned in passing on a Luminous Landscape forum. Choice of lenses with leaf shutter or without. | |
Leica screw | M39×26tpi | 28.8 | 39 | This and the Visoflex mount are sometimes mistaken for M39×1mm, a tiny difference, but enough to cause problems with some non-Leica M39 lenses. |
Leitz Visoflex I | M39×26tpi | 91.30 | 39 | 28.8 body + 62.5 housing → 91.3 total |
Leitz Visoflex II, III | Leica M bayonet | 68.80 | 44 | 27.8 body + 41 housing → 68.8 total; discussion in a Leica forum. |
M42 screw | M42×1 thread | 45.46 | 42 | Used by Contax S, Pentax, Praktica, and many Yashica, Chinon, Cosina, Ricoh, and Soviet cameras. |
Mamiya 7/7II | bayonet | 57.85 | 49 | Register from a forum post on Luminous Landscape. Diameter according to this measurement. Shown as 62mm here. |
Mamiya 645 | bayonet | 63.3 | 62 | |
Mamiya/Sekor CS | bayonet | ~43.5mm | Forerunner of Mamiya E mount | |
Mamiya/Sekor E | bayonet | ~43.5mm | 49 | Used in the Mamiya/Sekor ZE series cameras. Electronic upgrade of Mamiya CS mount with only partial compatibility. |
Mamiya RB | bayonet | 112.00 | 60 | 111.00 according to this message on pentaxforums.com. |
Mamiya RZ | bayonet | 105.00 | 60 | 108.00 according to this message on pentaxforums.com. |
Mamiya/Sekor SX | M42×1 thread | 45.46 | 42 | Modification of the M42 mount to enable full-aperture metering. Usually requires modification to mount on M42 cameras. |
Micro Four Thirds | bayonet | 19.25 | 38 | From Wikipedia |
Minolta AF | bayonet | 44.5 | 49.7 | variously listed elsewhere as 44.5, 44.6, 44.7; Konica/Minolta’s digital SLRs were taken over by Sony, who uses the same mount. |
Minolta SR/MC/MD | bayonet | 43.72 +0.01 -0.02 | 41 | Measured (I think) to pressure plate rails: see
this service manual for specifics. 43.7 +0.02, -0 according to this page. |
Minolta V | bayonet | 38 | Used for the Vectis SLRs for APS film, as well as the Dimage RD-3000 DSLR. From CameraWiki. | |
Miranda dual bayonet/screw | 4-claw bayonet and 44×1mm screw mount | 41.5 | 41.46 according to this page. Apparently the M44 thread originated in first Miranda of 1954, and was retained for compatibility when a new bayonet was introduced. Starting in 1974, the "TM" models used M42, and a Miranda-branded K-mount SLR was sold in the U.K. | |
Mitchell BNCR | breech lock | 61.468 | 68 | (1966) |
Narcissus | M24×1 thread | 28.8 | 24 | |
Nikon 1 | bayonet | 17 | 40 | |
Nikon F | bayonet | 46.5 | 44 | |
Nikon S | bayonet | 34.54 | 49 | Identical to Contax rangefinder mount, but with slightly different lens register. Diameter given as 44mm here. |
Novoflex | bayonet | 100 | ||
Olympus OM | bayonet | 46 | 46 | |
Olympus Pen F | bayonet | 28.95 | ||
Opema | 38mm thread | 28.8 | From a Brazilian site. Image was 24×32mm. | |
Camera System | Mount type | Register | Diameter | Comments |
Panavision PV | breech lock | 57.15 | 49.50 | (1972) |
Paxette | M39×1 thread | 44 | ||
Pentacon 6 | breech lock | 74.1 | 60 | Identical to Exakta 66 and Kiev 60. |
Pentax 6×7 | bayonet | 84.95 | 72 | (74.10?) |
Pentax 645 | bayonet | 70.87 | 61.2 | |
Pentax Auto 110 | bayonet | 27 | ||
Pentax/Praktica | M42×1 thread | 45.46 | 42 | add film thickness, and get 45.50mm... |
Pentax K | bayonet | 45.46 | 44 | Register identical to Pentax M42 mount |
Pentax Q | bayonet | 9.2 | ||
Pentina | breech lock | 54.95 | ± 0.03, according to the Carl Zeiss Jena service manual | |
Petri | bayonet | 45.5 | 43 | |
Petriflex | breech lock | 43.5 | ||
Praktica | bayonet | 44.4 | ||
Praktiflex | M40×1 thread | 44.0 | 40 | |
Praktina | breech lock | 50 | 46 | |
Rectaflex | bayonet | 43.4 | ||
Ricoh | breech mount | 45.5 | As best I can tell, this mount was exclusive to the Ricoh 999 rangefinder, also sold as the Anscomark M. | |
Robot | M26×0.5 thread | 31 | 26 | used in all models except Royal |
Robot | bayonet | 31 | Robot Royal models only | |
Rolleiflex SL35 (QBM) | bayonet | 44.6 | 46 | 44.5mm according to Schneider, 44.7 according to another list that has since disappeared from the Web, 44.46 according to Wikipedia |
Rolleiflex SL66 | bayonet | 102.8 | according to this message on pentaxforums.com. | |
Rolleiflex SLX | bayonet | 74.00 | ||
Samsung NX | bayonet | 25.50 | ||
Sigma SA | inner bayonet | 44 | Similar to Pentax K, but incompatible. A discussion on dpreview has the Sigma mount using the same electrical signals as the Canon EOS mount, with which it shares a register of 44.0 mm. | |
Sony 1/2" Video | bayonet | 38 | Canon designation is SY14 | |
Sony Alpha | bayonet | 44.5 | 49.7 | Variously listed elsewhere as 44.5, 44.6, 44.7; identical to Minolta AF mount. |
Sony E | bayonet | 18 | ||
Start | breech lock | 42.00 | ||
T2 mount | M42×0.75 | 55 | 42 | Also T-mount, Sigma YS. T stands for "Tamron". |
Topcon RE | bayonet | 44.7 | 38 | Identical to Exakta, but with different mechanism for automatic diaphragm. |
Topcon UV | bayonet | 55 | Used on leaf-shutter cameras with shutter behind the lens. | |
Voigtländer Bessamatic | bayonet | 44.7 | This is a leaf-shutter camera, but designed with the shutter behind the lens, so the entire lens can be removed and used elsewhere. The aperture ring is part of the camera, not part of the lens. Someone will sell you a Nikon F adapter for this mount that includes an aperture control ring. The Bessamatic mount is so similar to that of the Kodak Retina Reflex that apparently it is possible to modify a lens to fit both cameras. | |
Voigtländer Vitessa T | bayonet | 44.7 | A variant of the Deckel mount,but including the aperture control ring in the lens, rather than in the body. Also used on the Braun Colorette. | |
Werra | breech lock | 54 | 44.5 | ± 0.03 according to the Carl Zeiss Jena service manual |
Wrayflex | M41.2×26tpi | 42.05 | ||
Yashica Pentamatic, Pentamatic II | bayonet | 43.00 | 47 | This mount predates the M42-mount Yashica SLR’s, which were introduced in 1962. Judging by the photos of Exakta and M42 adapters found in the manual, the register is significantly less than the 45.46mm of the M42 mount. Not to be confused with the shared Contax/Yashica bayonet mount, which has a register similar to that of the M42 mount. |
ZM39 | M39×26tpi | 45.2 ±0.02 | 39 | An oddity that apparently uses the Leica thread, but with different register (almost, but not quite, the same register as M42.) Used on Zenit 1, Zenit S, Zenit 3, Zenit 3M, and Kristall. |
Zeiss Ikon Flektoskop, Flektometer | screw | 119.35 | A rangefinder-to-SLR converter à la Leitz Visoflex: 34.85 body + 84.5 housing → 119.35 | |
Zeiss Ikon Panflex | bayonet | 99.35 | total: A rangefinder-to-SLR converter à la Leitz
Visoflex: 34.85 body + 64.5 housing → 99.35. Uses the large outer Contax bayonet to mount to camera and provides another to mount the lens on the front. |
|
Zenit 4, 5, 6 | bayonet | 49.9 ± 0.02 |
I have made a number of changes to Markerink's original list: