Any MDa experts out there?

[Muggins]

I appear to have become a Leica owner... sort of!

I've been given an MDa, and I currently have no idea whether it will prove to be a good thing or not. As these things tend to it's come off a microscope where it has sat for a number of years unused, so state of repair is unknown. It's certainly dirty!

What I am really confused by, however, is that it has a screw mount! I don't have a caliper so I can't measure it accurately, but it is definitely smaller than M42, and seems to be in the region of 38-39mm. I will be startled if it turns out to be "the" Leica screw mount, but I can't think of anything else it might be.

So... has anyone any idea what I've got? I'll take some photos later this evening, but supper is starting to smell delicious...

All thoughts welcomed! Many thanks,

Adrian

 

[FrankS]

Perhaps the camera has a ltm-M mount adaptor mounted onto it.

 

[dabick42]

The MDa is a very useful tool for using wideangle lenses in scale-focussing mode.

The toughest Leica, too, in rough and tumble useage, as no rangefinder mechanism to get knocked out of alignment.

Yours, with its microscope heritage, could have a custom-fitted screw flange fitted in place of the usual bayonet.

Check that a LTM lens fits, and if so, verify accurate focus at infinity with a piece of ground-glass held against the film rails with shutter held open.

 

[Muggins]

Here's the promised pics, with apologies for quality! Supper was delicious by the way, West Indian mutton curry.

I know diddley squat about Leicas, but does this look like an adapter? The cut-out is where I'd expect a cam linking the lens to the RF to go on an ordinary M-series, and there is a small screw visible at the bottom. I'm reluctant at the moment to try to remove it to see for fear of mucking it up through ignorance so, again,guidance welcome!

and a wider view:

I suspect that my best bet for an LTM lens (thank you, I knew there was a proper term, and I couldn't recall it) is probably finding a Fed on the local tat market, which probably brings its own problems. I am rather concerned that I've just been given a money pit - the 1 second speed is certainly not right, and not being a dentist I've never considered Leica ownership, so haven't the foggiest about lens prices, whether LTM or M.

 

[Livesteamer]

I suspect if you depress the lens mount lock (silver knob at 9:00) and turn the brass threaded thingy counter clockwise it may come out. Let us know what you find out. Joe

 

[Muggins]

I suspect if you depress the lens mount lock (silver knob at 9:00) and turn the brass threaded thingy counter clockwise it may come out. Let us know what you find out. Joe

Bingo! Yes, it does (good job I didn't fiddle with that screw...), after a bit of fiddling to get a grip - probably explaining the fingerprints in the brass of the adapter, exposing a four-lug bayonet mount that unless I am very very much mistaken is the standard M mount. So it looks as though I have an LTM-M adapter.

Thanks, Joe!

Adrian

ETA - do I now have to buy some black tape so people will think I'm hiding my red dot?:angel:

 

[FrankS]

You're welcome. 😉

 

[splitimageview]

Some sort of microscope adapter? Don't think it is an LTM adapter for standard LTM lenses although it may indeed be 39mm screw thread. Maybe it's the bayonet part of a convertible Summaron? I see a set screw...

 

[Muggins]

Sorry, Frank...😱 I think the truth lies somewhere between you and digitalintrigue's suggestions - which one it turns out to be I don't know yet. I will see if I can find an LTM lens to check, but it seems strange to me that a microscope mount on a device built in the 1970s, by the looks of it, should have a thread fitting a lens mount discontinued years earlier (again, I may be showing my ignorance here!).

I find myself in the interesting situation that I need to find a lens to see how usable it is, but not sure I want to spend money on a lens until I know it's usable... what fun!

The one second shutter time is definitely not right - sometimes it goes fine, and isn't far off (by my wristwatch, admittedly - I tend to check the one second because it's easy) other times it just zips across - sign of worse afflictions? Given the circumstances of its arrival, I don't want to get shot of it, but I don't have a Leica M budget.😕

Adrian

 

[splitimageview]

I'm wagering that somewhere is a 35/2 or 35/2.8 that is missing its bayonet adapter. 🙂

That's definitely not a standard LTM adapter.

 

[mrisney]

One other question. The speed/timing on the mechanical MD's (MDA, MD-2). Do they "drift" over time. For example if my external light meter, tells me to shoot at 1/125 at f/8 on ISO 160.
And I set the shutter speed to that number, how accurate is that compared to my state of the art lightmeter ?
One of the attractive features of the MD's, there isn't alignment to worry about. Still, they are 40 year old mechanical cameras.
Would a CLA be a good thing ? Not for viewfinder alignment, but more so that shutter speed would be truer to what it's supposed to be ?

 

[FrankS]

One other question. The speed/timing on the mechanical MD's (MDA, MD-2). Do they "drift" over time. For example if my external light meter, tells me to shoot at 1/125 at f/8 on ISO 160.
And I set the shutter speed to that number, how accurate is that compared to my state of the art lightmeter ?
One of the attractive features of the MD's, there isn't alignment to worry about. Still, they are 40 year old mechanical cameras.
Would a CLA be a good thing ? Not for viewfinder alignment, but more so that shutter speed would be truer to what it's supposed to be ?

Of course. Think of it as a tune up of a 30 year old car.

 

[mrisney]

One other question. The speed/timing on the mechanical MD's (MDA, MD-2). Do they "drift" over time.?

Never mind, I think I found my answer :

How accurate is the M's mechanical shutter?

 

[Tom A]

There is a specific microscope thread (i cant remember what it is but around 40mm) so the adapter could be that. With the "regular" m mount intact - you can use the camera for wide angle lenses - up to about 28 mm scale focussing is doable - beyond that it can be tricky.
The speeds are probably stuck in the 1 sec and 0.5 sec as it was used on a microscope and probably did most of the exposures at that level. If you look at the shutter speed dial on top, you should be able to determine the most used speed by looking at the "dents" on it as the advance lever usually hits it - and with time will make its mark.
MDa and other non rangefinder leicas are useful - particularly if you can score a Visoflex II/III to go on it. Great macro set up and also for long lenses - and as stated - they dont go out of alignment.
As for CLA - just have the speed checked and if they are OK - dont worry about the rest and have fun with it.

 

[bastian a.]

The MDa is a good camera for wide angle photography. I use my MDa with a Voigtländer 15mm lens.

 

[Muggins]

Thanks, everyone. I wonder whether Tom A. has hit the nail on the head - I'm sure the adaptor is a Leitz part as it sat between a Leica camera and a Leica microscope, but it has no identifying marks at all - just a red dot for mounting purposes. I've been offered the loan of a Jupiter-8 to test the thread, though not until after Christmas as the owner is heading for California - I'm in the UK - for the holiday. This is only a problem for my patience.😱 If it is a microscope thread, not LTM, well, there's always the M mount...

I've broken out the Rick Olesen shutter tester, and it look as though it's just the lowest three or four speeds that are off, the rest look fine, and the curtains look to be running parallel which is a very good thing. Who tends to use speeds that low, anyway?

It even looks as though if I hang on for a couple of months I can probably afford a Voigtlander lens... though I am definitely hanging fire on one of those until Christmas, and the 400mm for my Nikon SLR, has been paid for!

Thanks for all those thoughts - I guess I could probably use Gurgle to find most of it out, but I like being able to get personal responses here!

Adrian

 

[Livesteamer]

Glad to hear the shutter works and that a good old camera was not thrown out by the lab that had it. I suspect the brass threaded part was not made by Leica but that a few hundred were made by someone to be sold to labs that needed and could afford an expensive microscope camera. I hope Santa brings you a nice wide angle lens and finder to put on it. Enjoy. Joe

 

[splitimageview]

I took a close-up of the bayonet piece off my 35/2.8 convertible Summaron.

The set screw is in the exact same location, and everything else appears to match so I'm pretty sure this is what is attached to your MDa.

 

[Muggins]

That is very similar, isn't it? Presumably there's no markings at all, just a red dot to line up with the M mount? I guess I'll find out for sure after Christmas when I can try that Jupiter-8 on it, but that looks very promising.

I presume the cutout at 12 o'clock when mounted is for the RF cam, when fitted to a camera with an RF?

I'm rather enjoying all this slow finding out bit by bit - it keeps the anticipation up, and is far far more fun than just Gurgling for it.

Thanks, everyone, I shall keep an eye on this thread and see what develops, and of course let you know what I find out. 😀

Adrian

 

[ottluuk]

The outside rim of the strange adapter you have makes it way too thick. You might get lucky with a thin lens that fits inside the rim but still... The chrome J-8 definitely doesn't fit because the focus tab will get in the way.

Why not get a proper LTM-M adapter and be done with it? Since there's no rangefinder accuracy or frameline display to worry about, you'd likely be fine with a $20 chinese copy from ebay. Add a vintage Canon 28/2.8 or 3.5 or modern Voigtländer 25/4 in LTM with appropriate finder and you have a great set.