Infinity lock

[Artorius]

I have purchased a 90mm Collapsible Elmar, and noticed it has an infinity lock. This is my first Leica lens with this feature. What is the purpose? If I was going to focus at infinity with hyper focal distance at say f/5.6 I set infinity at the 5.6 mark, not infinity at the in focus distance marker.
Could someone explain?😕 :bang:

 

[RayPA]

I don't know for sure, but I've always seen them on LTM, and assumed they were to assist in screwing the lens in and out.

 

[pvdhaar]

Something can be said for shooting in a hyperfocal way but focused at infinity.. This makes for a very good read about that approach: http://www.trenholm.org/hmmerk/DOFR.html

 

[pvdhaar]

I don't know for sure, but I've always seen them on LTM, and assumed they were to assist in screwing the lens in and out.

No, because on some LTM bodies you need to have the lens at its closest focus to keep the RF flange away from the RF take-up during mounting a lens. Most notable are the Zorki-1 that don't have a roller, but a wedge instead.

 

[Artorius]

Something can be said for shooting in a hyperfocal way but focused at infinity.. This makes for a very good read about that approach: http://www.trenholm.org/hmmerk/DOFR.html

Good read, but I am still at a loss as to why the infinity lock. I have used Hyper focus on cameras ranging from large 8X10 view cameras and everything in between, to Nikon Digital SLR's. As noted in the article, modern films render different(although for the last 30+ years, I haven't noticed a substantial difference in technique).
My question remains 'what is the purpose of infinity lock'? I can understand a wide lens, but a 90mm?

 

[Avotius]

hm...my elmar has an infinity lock too, it bugs the hell out of me, I dont understand why they insisted on putting these on the lenses....its not like the lenses are similar to those modern canon and nikon zooms that if you hold the lens upside down the thing extends on its own...


so many times I have been tempted to take a file to that thing.....

 

[Artorius]

Bugs the hell out of me, too. I guess I am lucky in this is the only one that has the lock. I would like to know what it is for.

 

[pvdhaar]

hm...my elmar has an infinity lock too, it bugs the hell out of me, I dont understand why they insisted on putting these on the lenses....its not like the lenses are similar to those modern canon and nikon zooms that if you hold the lens upside down the thing extends on its own...


so many times I have been tempted to take a file to that thing.....

Well, I took a file and filed the catch off the FED-50. Best thing I ever did. When mounted with an LTM-M adapter on the Bessa-T, it would catch, but couldn't be unlocked anymore without taking the lens off. Excruciating!

 

[wlewisiii]

Shrug. I like them and wish they were still being used. OTOH, an Infinty lock is very mount specific, so ... That being said, 99% of them, including that Fed lens only need a pliers to render the lock safe. I have not yet seen one that required the damage of cutting.

William