1959 LTM 9cm Elmar compatibility

[modusmongo]

Hi folks,

I bought and used this lens as an inexpensive 90mm for my Lumix GH2. Having passed to Nikon and in possession of a fine 105mm 2.0, I am trying to sell it. However it will not come to focus on the M4P M5 or M6 and I can only assume that it is missing an adapter or is incompatible with the Leica M. Is it meant for Visoflex? Below is a photo, can anyone tell me what might be the problem? Thanks in advance!

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Looks to be all there to me.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Firstly, welcome aboard.

Well, those lenses could have the optical unit separated from the mount and so it may just need screwing back completely. Having said that I'll add that the one or two I've seen and used could, yours may not.

Secondly, the age suggests it needs checking. BTW, it looks like a normal M one to me. My experience of them is positive. Getting it checked and repaired isn't going to break the bank. Often simple things like this are dirt cheap to have done and the results can be a very pleasant surprise.

Regards, David

 

[rayfoxlee]

Until a few weeks ago I had the screw mount version of this lens. With the normal LTM adapter if worked fine. Many of the Elmars in circulation are screw mount, but this appears to be an M mount lens - if so, it is difficult to imagine that there is anything wrong with the mount. If it is a screw mount with an adapter, I would examine the adapter to see if it is a genuine Leitz item. Thereafter, I would start to look at the lens module - if the M mount lens is made in the same ways as the LTM, I would unscrew the front section to look at the lenses. The Elmar is a very simple lens construction, with all of the glass towars the front of the lens barrel. This is a simple twist off - there should be no securing screws. You might just find that one of the elements is loose etc. I would be surprised if an element was misaligned, but someone could have had a tinker around inside!

Hope you sort this out.

Ray

 

[Dralowid]

I once bought a 9cm Elmar that turned out to have one element reversed...took a while to figure it out!

 

[modusmongo]

Hi, and thanks tor your prompt replies! David, the capsule is removable, but is securely attached. rayfoxlee, it is indeed a M mount. The capsule is in pristine shape and I took the photo below yesterday using a Leica -> Nikon adapter. The barrel has no identification that I can see except for several pencil(?) marks on the inside at the objective end - pic below. I see that by removing a few small screws, the barrel length can be adjusted. I'm starting to suspect that someone did just this to use the lens for some non-M purpose. I measured the length of the barrel (without the objective capsule) at it's shortest length (set at infinity). It is exactly 6cm in length. This seems a bit long to me as the capsule seems to be about 2.5 cm long from lens to mount - that leaves only .5cm body to film distance if I understand correctly. Can anyone confirm this length in a working 90mm?

 

[modusmongo]

A friend of mine bought this as it is to use with his Sony NEX body with Leica adapter. Workes fine ?!?

Anyway, thanks for your help and see you around ;-)

 

[Ronald M]

434 should be last numbers of optical unit serial number. They are factory paired. If they do not match, you have an ophan and nothing can be done.

If they do match, have Sherry or Don look at it.

 

[Brian Legge]

When you say it can't focus - are you referring to the rangefinder aligning, the resulting images or both?

Optically, when you focus at infinity, whats going on with the rangefinder patch? Whats going on with the image it produces?

I'm not familiar with disassembly of this specific lens but is it possible that someone took it apart and misthreaded the helical on reassemlby?

 

[modusmongo]

the rangefinder would not align at normal distances. I ended up selling the lens to someone with a Sony NEX. The lens works perfectly with the Sony -> Leica M adapter, so problem solved for me. Ronald, thanks for your reply, but I can now not verify the match between the barrel and the capsule.I'll ask my friend when I see him.

Great forum here! Thanks to all!