What Is A Camera Mount

Interface between a camera body and lens

Lenses sold per twelvemonth by mountain type

A lens mount is an interface – mechanical and often also electrical – between a photographic photographic camera body and a lens. It is a feature of camera systems where the body allows interchangeable lenses, most usually the rangefinder camera, unmarried lens reflex type, unmarried lens mirrorless blazon or whatever movie photographic camera of xvi mm or higher judge. Lens mounts are too used to connect optical components in instrumentation that may not involve a photographic camera, such as the modular components used in optical laboratory prototyping which join via C-mount or T-mount elements.

Mount types [edit]

A lens mount may be a spiral-threaded blazon, a bayonet-type, or a breech-lock (friction lock) type. Modern withal camera lens mounts are of the bayonet type, because the bayonet mechanism precisely aligns mechanical and electric features between lens and body. Spiral-threaded mounts are fragile and do not align the lens in a reliable rotational position, still types such as the C-mountain interface are still widely in use for other applications like video cameras and optical instrumentation.

Bayonet mounts generally have a number of tabs (often 3) around the base of the lens, which fit into appropriately sized recesses in the lens mounting plate on the front of the camera. The tabs are often "keyed" in some manner to ensure that the lens is only inserted in one orientation, often by making ane tab a different size. Once inserted the lens is fastened by turning it a modest amount. It is so locked in place by a leap-loaded pin, which can be operated to remove the lens.

Lens mounts of competing manufacturers (Sony, Nikon, Canon, Contax/Yashica, Pentax, etc.) are virtually always incompatible. In addition to the mechanical and electrical interface variations, the flange focal distance from the lens mount to the film or sensor tin as well be different. Many^{[ who? ]} allege that these incompatibilities are due to the desire of manufacturers to "lock in" consumers to their brand.^{[ commendation needed ]}

In movie cameras, the two virtually pop mounts in current usage on professional digital cinematography cameras are Arri's PL-mount and Panavision'south PV-mount. The PL-Mount is used both on Arri and Scarlet digital cinematography cameras, which as of 2012^[update] are the most used cameras for films shot in digital. The Panavision mounts are exclusively used with Panavision lenses, and thus are only available on Panaflex cameras or third-party cameras "Panavised" by a Panavision rental house, whereas the PL-mount fashion is favored with near other cameras and cinematics lens manufacturers. Both of these mounts are held in place with locating pins and friction locking rings. Other mounts which are now largely historical or a minority in relation to current practices are listed below.

List of lens mounts [edit]


Mount name	Flange focal distance	Frame size	Throat or thread bore	Mount thread pitch	Mount blazon	Main use	Camera lines
Canon SV	32.00 mm				Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Canon RC-701 & 760
Canon EX	20 mm	one/2"			Bayonet	Photography
Canon FL	42 mm	35 mm	48 mm		Breech lock	Photography
Canon FD	42 mm	35 mm	48 mm		Breech lock	Photography	Canon F series, A series, and T series SLRs
Canon FDn (a.grand.a. "New FD")	42 mm	35 mm	48 mm		Bayonet	Photography	completely interchangeable with earlier FD lenses
Canon EF	44.00 mm	35 mm	54 mm^[1]		Bayonet	Photography	Canon EOS 35mm film SLR, Full Frame & APS-H DSLR
Canon EF-S	44.00 mm	APS-C	54 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Catechism EOS APS-C DSLR
Canon EF-G	18 mm	APS-C	47 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Catechism EOS G series Mirrorless APS-C Cameras
Catechism RF	20 mm	35 mm	54 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Canon EOS R serial Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras
Nikon South	34.85 mm	35 mm	49 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Nikon Rangefinder
Nikon F	46.5 mm	35 mm	44 mm^[ii]		Bayonet	Photography	Nikon F 35mm film SLR, Full Frame & APS-C DSLR
Nikon 1	17 mm	13.2 x eight.8mm	40 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Nikon 1 serial
Nikon Z	xvi mm	35 mm	55 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Nikon Z - Mirrorless Total Frame & APS-C
Sony Mavica	57 mm				Bayonet	Photography (Digital)
Sony E \| FE	eighteen mm	35 mm and APS-C	46.1 mm (1.815 inch)		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Sony E/FE Mountain Blastoff Mirrorless Full Frame / APS-C\| Sony NEX Mirrorless APS-C
Minolta SR	43.50 mm	35 mm	44.97 mm		Bayonet (54°)	Photography	Minolta SR/MC/Physician
Minolta Five	38.00 mm	APS-H	39.seven mm		Bayonet	Photography	Minolta Vectis
Minolta A	44.50 mm	35 mm and APS-C	49.7 mm (1.939 inch)		Bayonet (54°)	Photography	Minolta DSLR AF/Blastoff/Dynax/Maxxum Sony DSLR Alpha (α) A Mount
Pentax Automobile 110	27 mm	110 flick			Bayonet	Photography
Pentax Q	9.2 mm	1/two.3", 1/1.7"	31 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)
Pentax K	45.46 mm	35 mm and APS-C	44 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Used also by Ricoh, Chinon, Agfa, Vivitar and KMZ Zenit cameras
Leitz Visoflex I	91.three mm	35 mm	M39	26 TPI	Spiral	Photography
Leitz Visoflex II/3	67.8 mm	35 mm	44 mm		Bayonet (Leica M)	Photography
Leica K	27.lxxx mm	35 mm	44 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Leica M serial Leica CL Minolta CLE
Leica R	47.00 mm	35 mm	49 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Leica L	20 mm	35 mm and APS-C	51.6 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	L-Mountain Alliance (Leica, Panasonic and Sigma Mirrorless)
Contax RF	34.85 mm	35 mm	44 mm		Double bayonet	Photography	Contax I, 2, III, IIa, IIIa Kiev rangefinders
Contax G	29.00 mm	35 mm	44 mm		Breech lock	Photography
Contax N	48 mm	35 mm	55 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Contax/Yashica	45.5 mm	35 mm	48 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Yashica/Contax
Yashica MA	~45.8 mm	35 mm			Bayonet	Photography	Kyocera Yashica 230 AF etc.
Fujica X	43.5 mm	35 mm	49 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Fujica-X
Fujifilm X	17.7 mm	APS-C	44 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Fujifilm X series mirrorless
Olympus Pen F	28.95 mm	35 mm half-frame			Bayonet	Photography
Olympus OM	46 mm	35 mm	46 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Four Thirds	38.67 mm	17.3 mm × 12.98 mm	~44 mm^[A]		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Olympus E Panasonic Lumix DMC-L Leica Digilux
Micro Four Thirds	19.25 mm	17.iii mm × 12.98 mm	~38 mm^[A]		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Olympus Pen & OM-D series Panasonic G, GF, GX & GH Serial Blackmagic Design Movie house Camera
KM	28 mm (27.80 mm?)	35 mm	44 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Konica Hexar RF
Konica F	xl.l mm	35 mm	forty mm		Bayonet	Photography	Konica F
Konica AR	40.l mm	35 mm	47 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Konica Autoreflex
Samsung NX mini	6.95 mm	ane"	38 mm		Bayonet	photography (Digital)
Samsung NX	25.five mm	APS-C	42 mm		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)
Samsung Kenox	44.five mm	35 mm			Bayonet	Photography	Manual focus only; in that location is just one compatible photographic camera - Samsung Kenox GX-one/Samsung SR4000.
Icarex BM	48.00 mm	35 mm	mm		Breech lock	Photography	Icarex 35S
D	12.29 mm	8 mm	15.88 mm (0.625 inch)	32 TPI	Screw	Cinematography
CS	12.52vi mm^[3]	1/iii" , 1/2"	25.40 mm (1 inch)	32 TPI	Screw	Cinematography / Industrial
C	17.526 mm (0.69 inches)	1/2" , xvi mm, 2/3" , ane"	25.40 mm (ane inch)	32 TPI	Screw	Cinematography / Industrial
S (a.k.a. M12)	No Flange. Back focal distance from <1mm to 12mm.	1/6" to 1"	12 mm	0.five mm pitch	Spiral	CCTV, PCB	Edmund Eyes μ-Video
Bolex Bajonet	23.22 mm	16 mm			Breech lock	Cinematography	constructive focal distance 17.526 mm (0.69 inches) due to beam splitter behind mount flange (accepts C-mount lenses with adapter)
1/3" bayonet mountain	25 mm	1/three" (five.24x2.94)			Bayonet	Video	JVC professional video cameras
M39 (a.1000.a. L-Mountain, LTM)	28.fourscore mm	35 mm	M39	26 TPI	Spiral	Photography	Leica M39 screw mountain
Narciss	28.8 mm	sixteen mm	M24	1 mm	Screw	Photography
1/2" bayonet mount	37.80 mm	1/2" (vi.97x3.92)			Bayonet	Video	Not-Sony professional video cameras
Alpa	37.80 mm	35 mm	42 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Sony 1/2" Video	38 mm	1/ii" (half-dozen.97x3.92)			Bayonet	Video	Sony professional video cameras
Aaton universal	twoscore mm	16 mm	50 mm		Breech lock	Cinematography
Miranda bayonet/M44	41.5 mm	35 mm and APS-C			Bayonet	Photography	Miranda Camera Company
Petriflex	43.5 mm	35 mm			Breech lock	Photography
Sigma SA	44.00 mm	35 mm	44 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Sigma SA
Paxette	44 mm	35 mm	M39	1 mm	Screw	Photography
Praktiflex	44 mm	35 mm	M40	1 mm	Screw	Photography
Praktica	44.twoscore mm	35 mm	42 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Exakta, Topcon RE	44.7 mm	35 mm	46 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Zenit M39	45.2 mm	35 mm	M39	i mm	Screw	Photography
M37	45.46 mm	35 mm	37 mm	ane mm	Screw	Photography	Asahiflex
M42	45.46 mm	35 mm	42 mm	1 mm	Screw	Photography	Praktica,^[4] Pentax, Zenit
B4-mount	48 mm	2/3" (9.vix5.4)			Bayonet	Video	Professional and broadcast video cameras
Praktina	50 mm	35 mm	46 mm		Breech lock	Photography
T-Thread (Very earliest type)	fifty.7 mm	35 mm	M37	0.75mm	Spiral	Photography	Tamron
Adapt-A-Matic	l.7 mm	35 mm	54 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Tamron
Adaptall & Adaptall-2	50.vii mm	35 mm	54 mm		Bayonet	Photography	Tamron
Arri standard	52 mm	35 mm and xvi mm	64 mm		Tab lock	Moving pictures
Arri bayonet	52 mm	35 mm and 16 mm	64 mm		Bayonet	Cinematography
Arri PL	52 mm	35 mm and 16 mm	54 mm		Breech lock	Cinematography
Arri LPL	44 mm	Arri LF	62 mm		Breech lock	Cinematography
Arri Maxi PL	52 mm	70 mm	64 mm			Cinematography
T	55 mm	35 mm	42 mm	0.75 mm	Screw	Photography	Tamron
YS Auto T-Thread	55 mm	35 mm	42 mm	0.75 mm	Spiral	Photography	Sigma Corporation
T-thread	55 mm	35 mm	47 mm	0.75 mm	Spiral	Photography	Tokina
H-Mount	55 mm	35 mm	47 mm	0.75 mm	Spiral	Photography	Hanimex (rebranding of Tokina M47)
Panavision PV	57.15 mm	35 mm	49.5 mm		Breech lock	Cinematography
B3-mount	58 mm	2/3"			Reverse bayonet	Video	Ikegami
Mitchell BNCR	61.468 mm	35 mm	68 mm		Breech lock	Cinematography
Zeiss Panflex 5522/23 for Contax RF	64.50 mm	35 mm			Double bayonet	Photography
Kowa Six/Super 66	79 mm	6×six			Breech lock	Photography
Hasselblad	74.9 mm	half dozen×6	69 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Hasselblad Xpan	34.27 mm	35 mm panoramic	46 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Bronica ETR	85 mm	six×4.five	mm		Bayonet	Photography
Bronica RF	mm	half-dozen×four.v	mm		Bayonet	Photography
Bronica SQA	101.7 mm	6×half dozen	57 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Bronica GS1	85 mm	6×7	fourscore.five mm		Bayonet	Photography
Mamiya 645	63.three mm	6×iv.5	62 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Mamiya 6	56.2 mm (approx.)^[5]	6×6	mm		Bayonet	Photography
Mamiya 7/7II	59 mm (approx.)	6×7	49 mm^[6]		Bayonet	Photography
Mamiya RZ67	105 mm	half-dozen×7	60 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Mamiya RB67	112 mm	6×vii	60 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Mamiya ZE	45.5 mm	35 mm			Bayonet	Photography
Mamiya/Sekor E	43.5 mm	35 mm	49 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Pentax 645	70.87 mm	6×4.5	61.ii mm		Bayonet	Photography
Pentax 6x7	84.95 mm	6×vii	72 mm		Bayonet	Photography
Pentacon Half dozen	74.1 mm	6×6	60 mm		Breech lock	Photography
Fujifilm Thousand	26.seven mm	43.8x32.9 mm	65 mm^[7]		Bayonet	Photography (Digital)	Fujifilm GFX series
Rolleiflex SL66	102.eight mm	6×six			Bayonet	Photography
Rolleiflex SL35	44.46 mm	35 mm	46 mm		Bayonet	Photography
RMS thread, society thread	150/180 mm		0.8", Whitworth	36 tpi	Screw	Microscope	older microscopes
Leica Nikon Biological	Unknown		M25	0.75 mm	Screw	Microscope
BD Mount	Unknown		M26	0.seven mm	Screw	Microscope	Mitutoyo Olympus BD Nikon BD
Zeiss	Unknown		M27	0.75 mm	Screw	Microscope

For small camera modules, used in due east.k. CCTV systems and automobile vision, a range of metric thread mounts exists. The smallest ones tin can be found also in due east.g. cellphones and endoscopes. The nearly mutual by far is the M12x0.5, followed by M8x0.v and M10x0.5.^[8]

M4.2x0.2 (one/7" sensors)
M4.6x0.25 (one/5", two.4mm, 3.8mm sensors, industrial endoscopes)
M5x0.35 (1/6", 1/v" sensors)
M5.5x0.35 (1.7", 1/5.8", 1/five", ane/4" sensors)
M6x0.35 (one/4", five.2mm, four.85mm sensors)
M6.4x0.25 (1/three" sensors)
M7x0.35 (i.8", i.seven", 1/6", i/5", 1/4", i/3.6", i/3.2", one/two.vii", 4.85mm sensors)
M8x0.35 (1/4", one/3" sensors)
M8x0.five (ane/5", 1/four", one/3" sensors; sometimes occurs in diode laser modules)
M9x0.5 (i/2.7", 1/3", 1/3.2" sensors; also commonly encountered in diode light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation modules)
M10x0.5 (one/4", 1/3" sensors)
M12x0.5 (the S-mountain, listed in the tabular array)
M22x0.5 (1/1.two" sensors)

Focusing lens mount [edit]

The axial adjustment range for focusing Ultra wide angle lenses and some Broad-bending lenses in big format cameras is usually very pocket-sized.

So some manufacturers (eastward.g. Linhof) offered special focusing lens mounts, so-called broad-angle focusing accessories for their cameras. With such a device, the lens could be focused precisely without moving the entire front standard.

Secondary lens mount [edit]

A teleconverter attached betwixt a camera and its objective

Secondary lens refers to a multi-element lens mounted either in front of a camera's principal lens, or in between the camera body and the chief lens.

(D)SLR camera & interchangeable-lens manufacturers offer lens accessories like extension tubes and secondary lenses similar teleconverters, which mount in between the camera body and the primary lens, both using and providing a principal lens mount. Various lensmakers likewise offer optical accessories that mount in front of the lens; these may include broad-angle, telephoto, fisheye, and close-up or macro adapters.

Canon PowerShot A and Catechism PowerShot G cameras have a congenital-in or not-interchangeable primary (zoom) lens, and Canon has "conversion tube" accessories available for some Canon PowerShot camera models which provide either a 52mm or 58mm "accessory/filter" spiral thread. Canon'due south close-upwards, wide- (WC-DC), and tele-conversion (TC-DC) lenses take 2, 3, and 4-element lenses respectively, so they are multi-element lenses and not diopter "filters".

Lens mountain adapters [edit]

This lens adapter is a passive adapter designed for mounting a Nikon F mount lens to a Micro Four Thirds camera.

Lens mount adapters are designed to attach a lens to a camera torso with non-matching mounts. By and large, a lens can be easily adapted to a camera body with a smaller flange focal distance past merely calculation space betwixt the camera and the lens. When attempting to adapt a lens to a camera torso with a larger flange focal altitude, the adapter must include a secondary lens in order to recoup. This has the side effect of decreasing the amount of light that reaches the sensor, as well as adding a crop factor to the lens. Without the secondary lens, these adapters will function every bit an extension tube and will not be able to focus to infinity.^[9]

Run across also [edit]

ISO metric screw thread
Lens lath

Notes [edit]

^ A: The authoritative normative source for 4/iii standards information is Four-Thirds.Org and non third-party reviews.

4/3's published facts:

"Size of the 4/3-blazon Sensor: The standard diagonal length of the sensor is 21.63 millimetres (0.852 in). It is half that of 35-mm motion-picture show format (36 millimetres (1.four in) x 24 millimetres (0.94 in) = 43.27 millimetres (i.704 in)) The prototype circle of the interchangeable lens is specified based on this diagonal length. The focal length is about a half that of a 135 film camera lens assuming the same angle of view."^[x]
"The foundation for the high picture quality of the Four Thirds organization is the lens mount, which is about twice the diameter of the image circle."^[11]
"Differences between 4 Thirds System mountain and Micro Four Thirds System mount: Mount diameter reduction; Equally a result of inquiry aimed at facilitating the design of compact, lightweight lenses while maintaining the electric current strength, the outer diameter of the lens mount has been reduced by approx. six millimetres (0.24 in). ... the Micro 4 Thirds Organization ... specifies the optimum flange back length required to reduce camera size and thickness, assuming the omission of the mirror box. The flange back length has been reduced to about 1/2 that of the Four Thirds Organisation."^[12]

So:

NOTE: Some published reviews of four/three instead cite the (female) "outside diameter" of the lens or mount as ~50mm (and micro-iv/3 as ~44mm),^[13] and non the appropriate major bore (D) ~44mm which is the camera body's female person mount inside-diameter and the lens'southward male mount exterior-diameter (micro-4/3 ~38mm).

References [edit]

^ "Camera Story – 1987–1991 EOS". Canon. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-22 .
^ "Debut of Nikon F". Nikon. Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2020-10-26 .
^ Hornberg, Alexander (2007-02-27). Handbook of Machine Vision. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN9783527610143.
^ The M42 (Praktica) mount is sometimes referred to as a "P" thread. See, east.yard., "Questar Corporation: Photographic Photographic camera Adapters "P" Thread". Retrieved 2017-03-01 .
^ "Mamiya 6". www.kenrockwell.com.
^ "Camera Mounts Sorted by Annals". www.graphics.cornell.edu . Retrieved 2018-08-23 .
^ "FUJIFILM GFX 50S, Features". Fujifilm. Retrieved 2018-05-23 .
^ "cctvopticallens-m12 and cs mountain lens provider". www.cctvopticallens.com . Retrieved 3 April 2018.
^ "Lens mount compatibility chart". Retrieved 2016-11-29 .
^ "Most Iv Thirds, Standard, Whitepaper (Summary of Standard)". Four Thirds System. Archived from the original on 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2008-08-11 .
^ "Well-nigh 4 Thirds, Standard, Benefits of 4 Thirds". Four Thirds Organisation. Retrieved 2008-08-11 .
^ "Micro Four Thirds, Standard, Whitepaper (Summary of Standard)". 4 Thirds Organization. Retrieved 2008-08-11 .
^ "Olympus and Panasonic announce Micro 4 Thirds". Digital Photography Review.

Sources [edit]

Markerink, Willem-Jan. "Camera mounts & registers".

External links [edit]

SLR Mount Identification Guide
List of Camera, Mountain Blazon and Annals for Mechanical & Optical Instruments
https://web.archive.org/web/20081221083400/http://medfmt.8k.com/, Camera mounts & registers from Robert Monahan Medium Format Photography Megasite
http://world wide web.markerink.org/WJM/HTML/mounts.htm, Camera mounts & registers from Willem-Jan Markerink
Camera Mounts Sorted past Register
Alphabetical List of Camera Mounts
Nikon Lens Nomenclature – a study in frustration
Adaptall-2.com
DPReview Hands-on preview of Fujifilm 10-Pro1
DPreview Hands-on preview of Canon EOS 1000
Standard: GOST 10332-72 (in Russian) – M42×i/45.v, M39×one/28.8
Standard: GOST 10332-63 (in Russian) – M39×1/45.ii (aka «Z39»), M39×i/28.viii, bayonet «C» (cameras: «Zenit-5», «Zenit-6», «Zenit-7»), bayonet «Zenit-7» (in Russian)