Adapting vintage M42 lenses to mft – focus issues?

[James Wallace]

I have two Canon APSC cameras (50d & 60d) and two MFT cameras (Panasonic G7 & GH4). I also have a set of vintage Soviet lenses which are all M42 mount – Mir 20M – 20mm, Mir 1b 38mm, Helios 44 58mm, Jupiter 9 85mm.

All these lenses perform perfectly when used on the EOS cameras with simple M42-EF adaptors. However when adapting to MFT I’m not achieving anywhere near infinity focus.

I have two MFT to EF adaptors. One is a Viltrox EF-M2 Speedbooster the other is a simple cheap ebay glass free adaptor and I’m using the M42 lenses with the same M42-EF adaptors I use on the EOS cameras. In both cases I cannot achieve focus anywhere close to infinity.

I’m aware that the Viltrox is adjustable, but even when adjusted to its furthest extremes all four lenses are way off the correct focus distance.

I’ve tested the Viltrox with an L-series 17-40mm and a Sigma 18-35 ART and it seems to work fine with both these lenses. I’ve tested the glass free adaptor with pentax lenses using pentax K to ef adaptors and they also work great, but the M42 lenses are way off.

Is this a common issue? Has anyone had success using the Vlitrox M2 with vintage glass or do I need to look at an original Metabones ultra? I’m reluctant to spend the money on the Metabones without being confident it will work.

I really love the look of the Soviet lenses would really like to use them with the MFT cameras if I can. Appreciate any advice you can offer.

Thanks