jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
The other day I got the urge to put the 21mm f/2.8 Avenon (aka Kobalux, series III) that I obtained through Mike on one of my Canon RFs, to do some interior photos at a "designers' show house" event in my neighborhood.
I ran into a little trouble, though, getting the lens onto my various later-model Canons. In all cases the problem was NOT the shielding covering the shutter curtains (as some have speculated) -- it was a flat light-baffle plate at the top, the one that covers the pivot point for the rangefinder coupling arm.
Quick report of my results, bearing in mind that I don't see why they should be different and, consequently, your mileage may vary, so be careful!
Canon P -- Went right on, no problems.
Canon VI-T -- Wouldn't mount at all; rear section of the lens hits the coupling arm baffle plate.
Canon 7s -- This was the tricky one. The lens would screw all the way onto the camera, apparently without problems. But I noticed later after removing it that it had left a small bright rub mark on the baffle plate. Also, I found that the lens seems to focus roughly on the 7s, and deduced that it is putting enough pressure on the baffle plate to cause it to rub on the rangefinder coupling arm.
So, it looks as if the P is my only Canon that will be able to use this lens!
The moral of this story: Others may likewise want to be careful when attaching non-standard lenses, and even if it seems to go on fine, check from behind (looking through the film gate with the shutter open on B or T) to make sure no moving parts are hanging up.
I ran into a little trouble, though, getting the lens onto my various later-model Canons. In all cases the problem was NOT the shielding covering the shutter curtains (as some have speculated) -- it was a flat light-baffle plate at the top, the one that covers the pivot point for the rangefinder coupling arm.
Quick report of my results, bearing in mind that I don't see why they should be different and, consequently, your mileage may vary, so be careful!
Canon P -- Went right on, no problems.
Canon VI-T -- Wouldn't mount at all; rear section of the lens hits the coupling arm baffle plate.
Canon 7s -- This was the tricky one. The lens would screw all the way onto the camera, apparently without problems. But I noticed later after removing it that it had left a small bright rub mark on the baffle plate. Also, I found that the lens seems to focus roughly on the 7s, and deduced that it is putting enough pressure on the baffle plate to cause it to rub on the rangefinder coupling arm.
So, it looks as if the P is my only Canon that will be able to use this lens!
The moral of this story: Others may likewise want to be careful when attaching non-standard lenses, and even if it seems to go on fine, check from behind (looking through the film gate with the shutter open on B or T) to make sure no moving parts are hanging up.
