Problem with Lee 82mm WA Adapter

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dfawkes

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Duncan
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Hi.

I've just bought a Zeiss 21mm which has a 82mm thread. I bought a 2nd hand Lee adapter ring off eBay in anticipation but I just can't screw the damn thing on! No matter how hard or angle I screw I can't get the two to marry at all. By comparison all my other adapters screw on with no effort.

Is it likely the adapter is 'screwed' or the thread on the new lens has a problem? I've ordered a new adapter but spending another 45 quid (?!) to diagnose the problem seems extreme.

Anyone else had this problem or thoughts on likely problem? Do I just need to wait for the new adapter to see which is at fault?

The answer seems pretty obvious typing this but just can't believe this doesn't work!
 
Sometimes i haveva bit of trouble with my WA adapter when its absolutely freezing, presumably due to metal shrinkage.
 
Thanks allymac. I think the problem is that the bayonets for the lens hood are preventing the adapter ring from engaging with the thread. Yet everyone seems to use the WA version so not sure why I'm having a problem lol!
 
I have heard of this before - not sure if it is unique to the 82mm or not. Do you use a protective filter on the lens? I'm sure I read about this solving the problem - it will sit the ring beyond the reach of the bayonets and allow the ring to screw in I guess?

I am planning on renting a lens later this year which will need an 82mm adapter - so I must remember to check if the rental comes with a filter or not!
 
After a bit of research I've worked out what the problem is. As I said in my previous post, the hood bayonets on the lens are preventing the filter threads from meeting. The problem is that the recess between the inner and outer rings of the adapter is not wide enough to allow the bayonets to pass.

It turns out that there are two versions of the 82mm WA adapter ring in circulation. There is an older design (which Lee claim is 10+ years old) which has "82mm W.A." written on it and has a narrow recess that will cause problems with the bayonets on some lenses. This is the one I have :(.

The newer design has "82mm S.W.A." written on it and has a wider recess. This is the one I have now ordered :). Annoyingly they're both called "wide angle" - it would have helped if the updated design was called "super wide angle" like the text on the later one suggests (not that the problem has anything to do with field of view, but anyway!).

So if you do buy one second hand, worth checking which version it is.

Hope this helps someone in the future!
 
Duncan - thank you for posting your findings, it's certainly going to be helpful to me later this year so is much appreciated.

Out of interest though - does the older "W.A." version work if there is a filter screwed on between the lens and the adapter ring?
 
Unfortunately I don't have another 82mm filter to try it. My 77mm polarizer looks thin enough that it would probably fit into the recess so quite possibly. I think it's probably bad luck I ended up with the old WA version anyway, so you should be ok.

That said, I've now got an old 82mm WA adapter that I don't need so you're welcome to it if you like!
 
Correction to my above post - I've now received my new adapter ring (which fits, yay!) and it doesn't say SWA as I thought (my 77mm one does, but anyway). The text on it is "LEE 82mm W/A". The recess is between 1-2mm wider so that the bayonets fit.

Right, I'm off out in the rain to try it out with my Big Stopper! :)
 
Hope you had a successful trip out :)

You should put your older 82 in the classifieds and see if you can get something back on it. I think I will be cautious and get the newer version as we are going to US and I am looking to hire a TS-E 24II when we get there - so it would be a bit of a gamble, unless someone can confirm that the old 82 will fit the TS-E 24II (with or without a screw-in filter on it)?!
 
I ended up purchasing the 82mm thread lens (TS-E 24mm II), a new 82mm WA (had to wait for new stock to arrive) and a 82mm UV. For reference, I don't think the WA would fit without the UV being on there - it seemed to rub against the bayonets, and I have the lastest version of the Lee WA...
 
I bought a Hitech 82mm wide angle adaptor for my Sigma 24-70 when i had it. The first one wouldnt go on and i started a thread about it then replacement went on a little but wouldnt screw in properly but was enough to get hold where the first wouldnt--still no idea why they wont attach. I sold the Sigma lens and upgraded to the Nikon which has a 77mm thread and again bought a wide angle adaptor and this one is just so much better and fits perfectly.
 
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