50mm collapsible on M8?

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rbrooks

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Can it collapse all the way down? I know everyone'sw prudent advise will be to leave a small bit extended using some stopper or rubbber band or whatnot. This is not what I'm looking for. I want to ok if it's ok to collapse it all the way down. Thanks!
 
rbrooks said:
Can it collapse all the way down? I know everyone'sw prudent advise will be to leave a small bit extended using some stopper or rubbber band or whatnot. This is not what I'm looking for. I want to ok if it's ok to collapse it all the way down. Thanks!
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No it is not and Leica specifically warns against it. Before I put tape on my collapsible Elmar, I once inadvertently pushed it back. I felt it bump against something hard, probably the shutter curtain. Fortunately no damage was made and I immediately put some tape to avoid future accidental mistakes. I have read on a forum (forgot which) of an M8 being actually damaged that way and having to go back to Solms for repair
Peter
 
Non-Leica CV 50/2 Heliar works just fine 'cause the rear element of the lens only protrudes from the mount about 1mm when collapsed, less than the measured protrusion of my Leica 23/2 Summicron-ASPH.

A bonus: the optical results from the Heliar have been very encouraging.

My Leica 50/2 Summar however, manufactured in 1937 and used on the M8 with Leica bayonet adapter, CANNOT be collapsed because it DOES protrude rearward quite a bit when stowed.

-g
 
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Is there a list printed anywhere about which aftermarket lens are not suitable for an M8
 
Grober said:
Non-Leica CV 50/2 Heliar works just fine 'cause the rear element of the lens only protrudes from the mount about 1mm when collapsed, less than the measured protrusion of my Leica 23/2 Summicron-ASPH.

A bonus: the optical results from the Heliar have been very encouraging.

My Leica 50/2 Summar however, manufactured in 1937 and used on the M8 with Leica bayonet adapter, CANNOT be collapsed because it DOES protrude rearward quite a bit when stowed.

-g
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So, Grober, you have been happy with the f/2 Heliar? I have been a little underwhelmed, especially with it on the M8. I have not been able to use my Summicron on the M8 for comparison, because the Summicron is in for a minor repair and 6-bit coding.

Does the Heliar seem rather soft to you? It does to me. However, that could also be the result of shooting at fairly slow shutter speeds (1/15, 1/30) and not taking fully into account that the crop factor would dictate speeds of 1/60 and up.

Have you compared the Heliar with other 50mm lenses on your M8?
 
Tom Diaz said:
So, Grober, you have been happy with the f/2 Heliar? I have been a little underwhelmed, especially with it on the M8. I have not been able to use my Summicron on the M8 for comparison, because the Summicron is in for a minor repair and 6-bit coding.

Does the Heliar seem rather soft to you? It does to me. However, that could also be the result of shooting at fairly slow shutter speeds (1/15, 1/30) and not taking fully into account that the crop factor would dictate speeds of 1/60 and up.

Have you compared the Heliar with other 50mm lenses on your M8?
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Tom,

Attached photo shot @ ISO 1250 in B&W on my M8 with the 50/2 Heliar at about 1/12 of a second wide open, handheld. The bride was in a very weak spotlight in the dark, large reception hall. Her husband, the Marine Aviator brandishing the sword, was completely in shadow. (This shot is presented unedited: no post-processing of any kind!)

I haven't done any critical review between this lens and my other 50 (a Nokton) nor am I likely to (due to time contraints.) I just like how the Heliar handles and the fact that this is the one 50mm collaspible that does work on the M8.

-g
 
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Grober said:
Tom,

Attached photo shot @ ISO 1250 in B&W on my M8 with the 50/2 Heliar at about 1/12 of a second wide open, handheld. The bride was in a very weak spotlight in the dark, large reception hall. Her husband, the Marine Aviator brandishing the sword, was completely in shadow. (This shot is presented unedited: no post-processing of any kind!)

I haven't done any critical review between this lens and my other 50 (a Nokton) nor am I likely to (due to time contraints.) I just like how the Heliar handles and the fact that this is the one 50mm collaspible that does work on the M8.

-g
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Nice photo, Grober, thank you!

By the way, though, doesn't the current 50mm Elmar-M f/2.8 work on the M8? Never mind that, as usual, it is twice as expensive as the Heliar.
 
Tom,

The Leica 50mm Elmar, a superb lens, CANNOT be collapsed into the M8 because of its excessive rearward projection when collapsed. THe Heliar, on the other hand, only protrudes about 1mm when collapsed. My Leica 35mm Summicron-Asph protrudes more than the Heliar!

The collapsing function of any 50mm lens is just a marketing gimick anyway. I just like the overall way that the 50mm Heliar handles when in use. If it renders an acceptable image, well that's a benefit.

Oh, do I need to add that the Elmar is slower by one stop?

-g
 
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The 50mm Elmar M can be safely collapsed as can the old Summitar when mounted on the camera. I suggest that if Leica have ever issued a warning about it its because they want to cover themselves in case idiots try to stick one in sideways fully collapsed and damage the inside of the camera. Even then its almost impossible to make the angles add up to cause damage to the shutter, but its more likely to just damage the paint. But who on RFF would do that anyway? Fully collapsed there is a 2.5mm gap between the back end of the Elmar M and the shutter curtains, and thats as good as a mile.

Steve
 
No risk of damaging the shutter with the latest Elmar 50 (# 11831) but the rear part of the lens is larger than that of earlier Elmars so that it can damage the internal flocking of the camera or possibly the roll cam of the rangefinder if the tube wobbles in the mount and/or if the lens is mounted or removed when it is still collapsed.
See http://tinyurl.com/42cfpzm
 
If you can cope with not collapsing these types of lenses I have used the following successfully with Elmar, Summitar & Summar lenses when attached to my m43 camera. Get a polypropylene tube of a suitable diameter, cut it to appropriate length, slit it lengthwise and slip over the extended lens barrel. Now it is impossible to accidentally collapse the lens, almost invisible and can be removed easily.

collar.jpg
 
IMO, using a collapsable without being able to collapse it defeats the purpose. I'd just buy a different lens if that were the case. However, I know people already own these from other cameras, so it is a good solution for those users.
 
No problems collapsing Elmar-M 50 and Elmar 3.5 5cm on M8 and M9 since 2006... The official standpoint of Leica is that the Elmar can be collapsed fully into the M8/M9 but must be mounted extended to prevent scratching the interior finish. This supersedes the earlier instruction manual.
 
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petermcwerner said:
No it is not and Leica specifically warns against it. Before I put tape on my collapsible Elmar, I once inadvertently pushed it back. I felt it bump against something hard, probably the shutter curtain. Fortunately no damage was made and I immediately put some tape to avoid future accidental mistakes. I have read on a forum (forgot which) of an M8 being actually damaged that way and having to go back to Solms for repair
Peter
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Rather unlikely that you hit the shutter curtain - it is about 3 mm further away than your lens is long.
 
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