APSC2 (APS-C Squared) Rotate-and-Stitch Adapter by profhankd

Last crawled date: 2 years, 11 months ago

Use your APS-C Sony E-mount body to capture the largest square format images most full-frame lenses are almost certain to cover -- as shown in the last three images above.
This is a simple four-part adapter for Leica M to Sony E -- except it is offset and rotates. The idea is simple: the diagonal of a 36x24mm full frame is approximately 43.27mm, so most full-frame lenses should be able to cover a square with approximately the same diagonal, which would be 30.59x30.59mm. Sony APS-C is approximately 23.6x15.6mm, thus by offset rotation in 90-degree steps it should be possible for four shots to cover up to 31.2x31.2mm. Of course, alignment is never perfect, but allowing for that, it's still possible to get about 30.6x30.6mm... allowing for minor stitching errors, etc., let's call it 30x30mm. Using a 24MP APS-C body, that means you'll get roughly 58MP worth of scene detail (although image stitching software might give you any number of pixels). Of course, you'll need things mounted firmly while rotating to hold fractional mm alignment, but it is surprisingly easy to do that by clamping the lens.
Why Leica M? For the same reason the TechArt Pro LM-EA7 uses it: nearly all old lens mounts can be adapted to Leica M, so this adapter is reasonably universal. For example, to use a Canon FD lens, simply mount a Canon FD to Leica M adapter on this and then mount your FD lens on the front. Not only are lots of adapters commercially available, but I've also designed and posted free 3D-printable M adapters for: Argus C3, Minolta/Konica-Minolta AF / SonyA, Canon FL/FD/FDn, Minolta SR/MC/MD, M42, and Kiev 10/15.
Notes: There have thus far been several major versions of this adapter. The first two versions were tiny, but required welding parts together and were thus awkward. The current 20210607 version instead uses a screw thread for assembly; the thread is a bit touchy/sticky, but it's still better than welding. The 20210607 design does mount on most Sony E bodies other than the A3000, but is a VERY tight fit going on to an A6500 or A7II, so expect a revised design to be posted here shortly.