40mm lens with 35mm adapter on M9: perfect framing

[Richard G]

I recently bought the Rollei 40mm f2.8 Sonnar. It came with a 50mm adapter. I have always hated the 50 tramlines in the M9 so I use the 35mm adapter and now I have a near 50mm lens equivalent that uses the 35mm framelines, and the field of view of the frame lines is very very close to the actual picture taken. And other internet misinformation dispelled: this f2.8 lens does indeed have the Sonnar look.

 

[jonmanjiro]

and the field of view of the frame lines is very very close to the actual picture taken.

At which focus distance?

Infinity should be ok, but at MFD I expect the 35mm frame will show noticeably more than the picture actually taken.

 

[Calzone]

Richard,

I own a 45/2.8 Super Rokkor, and also a 43/1.9 Pentax-L.

I too like using 35mm frames with my inbetween FOV lenses. Jon does make a point, but for more accurate framelines use the 135mm frame as the middle rectangle as the center rectangle for the "rule of thirds."

This is a lot closer framing than the 35mm frames. For 43mm it works out being perfect.

Cal

 

[Rob-F]

Cal: I don't follow what you said about the 135mm frame. I understand the rule of thirds, but what do you mean about the "middle rectangle as the center rectangle."

 

[Richard G]

At which focus distance?

Infinity should be ok, but at MFD I expect the 35mm frame will show noticeably more than the picture actually taken.

Hi Jon. For infinity it's tight, and seems right at 15 feet. Haven't tried MFD yet. With the correct lenses on the full frame Leica digital the picture taken far exceeds the frame-line promise.

 

[Calzone]

Cal: I don't follow what you said about the 135mm frame. I understand the rule of thirds, but what do you mean about the "middle rectangle as the center rectangle."

Rob,

With the "Rule of Thirds" you have 9 rectangles that comprise and form a grid. The size of the 135 frames is the perfect size and the same size as the "middle-center" rectangle.

Basically the 135mm frames gives you the "middle/center" rectangle as a reference. This makes it easy to see how much you have to crop inside the 35mm framelines.

Hope this adds clarity. The idea is a bit abstract.

Cal

 

[rcubed]

Same goes with the CV40mm. I grinded away a tiny bit of the frameline notch and now it shows 35mm lines on my M9. Frames perfectly.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I went for 40 Rokkor on M-E, because Summarit-M 35 while amazing on IQ is very inaccurate in framing.
First time I filed Rokkor lens it was total disaster. Filed it in the wrong spot and damaged focus thread. Only with spare mount and only after appropriate page showing how to file for 35 frames I did it couple of weeks ago.

Much better framing. The lens itself is not in the Leica ASPH league as 35 Summarit is, but it is OK, neutral, sharp enough lens. It beats them all by small size and rubber hood, which I'm finding to be perfect.

 

[Rob-F]

@ Cal: Yes now I understand. I never noticed this!

@ Richard G et. al.: I share your intense dislike of the 50mm framelines on the M6. Same goes for the M7 and MP. I try to bring along my M2 or M5 for the 50mm focal length. In fact, it is the main reason for having an M5: Accurate 50mm frameline plus metering ability. Like you and others, I also use the 40mm Rokkor and the 40mm CV Nokton with the lug ground to bring up the 35mm framelines. It is a good match!

 

[sepiareverb]

The Rollei Sonnar 40 is impossible to open for cleaning, so hope you don’t get the haze they are so prone to. Lovely rendition, but I ended up having haze in all three I owned.

 

[Hern]

The Rollei Sonnar 40 is impossible to open for cleaning, so hope you don’t get the haze they are so prone to. Lovely rendition, but I ended up having haze in all three I owned.

Ergh, a job impossible even for DAG?

I heard that the haze was caused by the vinyl lens cases they were packed in...

 

[sepiareverb]

Ergh, a job impossible even for DAG?

I heard that the haze was caused by the vinyl lens cases they were packed in...

A famous US Rollei tech really thrashed one of mine trying to open it. I sent it to him after DHW said they couldn’t clean it. After getting the lens back from said tech I reconnected with DHW and learned that the lens can’t be opened. DAG is a master, but I don’t know that even he would get into one.

I’ve heard the same thing about the cases, but I had a super nice black one that never went in the case develop haze. Could have been seeded by being in the case before I got it, but it was clear when it arrived...

A real shame, because these lenses are really wonderful.

 

[Hern]

A famous US Rollei tech really thrashed one of mine trying to open it. I sent it to him after DHW said they couldn’t clean it. After getting the lens back from said tech I reconnected with DHW and learned that the lens can’t be opened.

It was a Cosina made barrel though, perhaps they have some inkling? Looks a whole lot like their 50mm color skopar.

 

[Robert Lai]

The Cosina Voigtlander 28 3.5 LTM is the same way: unopenable.
I sent my to DAG to have the focus fine tumed. He says that he can't open this lens as it's competely cemented. If he applies heat or solvents, there is a great risk of creating damage.

 

[Rob-F]

I recently bought the Rollei 40mm f2.8 Sonnar. It came with a 50mm adapter. I have always hated the 50 tramlines in the M9 so I use the 35mm adapter and now I have a near 50mm lens equivalent that uses the 35mm framelines, and the field of view of the frame lines is very very close to the actual picture taken. And other internet misinformation dispelled: this f2.8 lens does indeed have the Sonnar look.

It's a great idea. In fact, I bought the 40mm f/1.4 CV and the 40mm Minolta Cl lenses specifically for this purpose. I filed the lug on each to bring up the 35mm framelines on M bodies that have the smallish 50mm ones. You know, the diagonal measurement of a 135 frame is 43mm. Since the true normal lens for a format is defined as the focal length equal to the film diagonal, either a 40mm or a 45mm makes a better normal lens than a 50!

 

[sepiareverb]

The Cosina Voigtlander 28 3.5 LTM is the same way: unopenable.
I sent my to DAG to have the focus fine tumed. He says that he can't open this lens as it's competely cemented. If he applies heat or solvents, there is a great risk of creating damage.

Aha. So it does make sense.