Help with Elmar-M 50mm f2.8 aperture ring

[coelacanth]

Hi,

I hope you can tell me if the Elmar-M 50 f2.8 that I got from KEH is normal. I tried to look for this information online, but I couldn't find much.

The aperture ring has very nice clicking at all stops/half stops, but the resistance to click and rotate is definitely lighter than other lenses I have (mostly CVs, and Hexanon 50 f2), and there is a tiny play (probably the gap between the clicking ball and the hole inside) at each stop, maybe a hair thin, and also about same amount of play going back and forth (facing camera/lens from front or rear). I'm talking about only the aperture ring. There is no play to the barrel once it's locked into extended position.

I guess it's still better too be a bit loose than too tight, but I don't have any other Leica lens (and never owned one before this) or chance to compare with another copy of the Elmar-M 50mm.

Would you say this is normal?

Thanks much for your help in advance.

 

[monochromeimages]

I own too many lenses, both CV and Leica. The resistance of the click stops seems to vary a great deal between them and my 50 2.8 Elmar is one of the lightest. I have checked it for the aperture ring play you describe and it really is tiny but it is there so yours is probably normal..

 

[Erik van Straten]

The smoothness of the clicks is on purpose, so that when you're turning the aperture ring the lens head will not rotate to be pushed in.

Erik.

 

[coelacanth]

Ahh, thanks guys. Now I see that makes a lot of sense. I guess I can stop worrying about it. 🙂 Thanks again for clearing this out.

 

[sleepyhead]

I've owned two of these lenses, and I remember when I got the first one wondering the same things. It's normal.

CONGRADS, you have yourself there one of Leicas greatest lenses in my opinion. I use mine WAY more the 50mm Summilux ASPH. If f/2.8 max aperture is sufficient, then the Elmar-M is without fault in my opinion!

RECENT PIC:

 

[Dralowid]

I agree that it is normal. After a few years I have noticed that very slight play can develop in the focussing helical but this can be sorted by re-greasing.

Chuck all your other 50s away, the Elmar M is the one!

Michael

 

[Erik van Straten]

Chuck all your other 50s away, the Elmar M is the one!

Michael

Hi Michael,

Optically it is very good, but ergonomically I very much prefer my old Leitz M-mount Elmar 50mm f/2.8 and Elmar 50mm f/3.5. I prefer the focussing knob to the narrow focusing ring of the Elmar-M.

Erik.

 

[coelacanth]

I was happy with Hexanon 50mm which is supposed to be a copy of Summicron. I find it to be a bit too contrasty to my personal liking, and I shoot b/w 95% of times.

I think I prefer Elmar's "classic" images with a bit less contrast and its compact size. For my use of M6, I don't find F2.8 to be too slow. I've shot only a few frames with elmar, but so far so good and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this lens. Now I think back, I preferred Tessar to Sonnar or Planar. Probably some people would disagree, but I often like older, simpler designs better. 😉

I do like knob focusing with other lenses I have, but coming from slr with pancake lens, rollei 35 and other classic non-rf cameras, I find new elmar-m's focus ring to be fine. 🙂