50mm Summilux M vs LTM

[Krosya]

Hi,
I was wondering if someone can clear this up for me. I understand that there is a Pre-Asph Summilux 50mm LTM E46 with built-in hood. As well as one in M-mount, of course. As far as I know M mount one focuses down to .7m, yet I have heard that LTM version is only focusing down to 1m. Is this correct? I mean - if its the same lens, just different mount, why would LTM focus to 1m and not .7m? Or maybe they both do go down to .7m? Thanks in advance.

 

[bob338]

i don't have mine sitting in front of me, but found this auction for another one and it only focuses down to 1 meter. great lens...

bob

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-Screw-mou...oryZ3323QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[bob338]

forgot to add that i have always assumed that it only focuses to 1 meter because of the 1mm difference between an LTM and an M mount. the M version sits that 1mm further from the film plane than the LTM.
this is off the top of my head and i really have no idea what i'm talking about though.

bob

 

[EZfan]

Thing is the focus cam inside LTM body can only focus down to 1 meter at the closest.

 

[Tom A]

The small series of screw mount 35f2,50f1.4 and 50f2 that appeared in the 90's came from an order by Lemon Camera in Tokyo. Leica was willing to do 300 of each IF Lemon bought them all. Lemon agreed, but to "spread the cost" a bit, they sold some to other stores and also allowed Leica to sell them outside Japan.
Initially they sold poorly and were quickly discounted ( to about the level of a regular M-mount). Later, once sold out - prices started to climb. The appearance of the Voigtlander Cosina lenses dropped the prices again. Why pay $12-1500 for a pre-asph Summilux 50 - when you could buy the Nokton 50f1.5 for less than a 1/3 of that (and you got a better lens). Currently the prices seems to be for a collectible, rather than a user - i.e high. In 1996 I was entertaining the idea of getting one of the 35f2's for use on a IIIg - but decided that it wasn't worth it. They were all chrome lenses and heavy - and for the same money I could get another M2 and a Version IV Summicron 35f2 user instead - which I did!

 

[rxmd]

the M version sits that 1mm further from the film plane than the LTM.

Technically it doesn't, the lens is at the same distance. An identical lens, focused to an identical distance, will sit at the same distance from the film, no matter what the mount. It's the M mount lens flange that sits 1mm *closer* to the film plane. For close focusing distance that doesn't make a difference, because in focussing closer the lens moves further *out*.

 

[furcafe]

I have the lens you write of & have asked the same question & have never received an official answer. My speculation is that it was just (slightly) easier for Leica, since most LTM cameras can't focus closer than about 1m, anyway, &/or they wanted to slightly "cripple" the lens so that it didn't compete w/the regular M-mount version. For the record, my lens focuses a tad under 1m, @ least based on the distance markings.

Hi,
I was wondering if someone can clear this up for me. I understand that there is a Pre-Asph Summilux 50mm LTM E46 with built-in hood. As well as one in M-mount, of course. As far as I know M mount one focuses down to .7m, yet I have heard that LTM version is only focusing down to 1m. Is this correct? I mean - if its the same lens, just different mount, why would LTM focus to 1m and not .7m? Or maybe they both do go down to .7m? Thanks in advance.

 

[Krosya]

Thanks for the answers - so, a follow-up question - can LTM version be "fixed" to focus down to .7m? Since it is supposed to be the same optics as M version, I wonder if there is a way to do this? I mean - this lens came out after M-mount was availible, so while maybe it was intended for LTM cameras, LTM-M adapters were availible and it only makes sence that people would use it on both M and LTM cameras and not buy same lens in 2 mounts. And since with adapter it could be used on any M camera, I wonder if it has a potential ability to focus down to .7m. Maybe people like DAG can adjust it to do so?

 

[EZfan]

I guess, it can be adjusted by the set screw inside the focus ring since Leica used to made with the same parts. But your screw mount body can't focus down to 0.7m anyway.

 

[Krosya]

Yes, I understand that LTM bodies wouldnt focus it to .7m, but I'd also use it on M bodies as well. Thats why, before spending the money, I was wondering if LM version is worth the trouble.

 

[EZfan]

Krosya, remember the 50 Summilux-M E43 only focus down to 1m too.