Benefit of collapsible lens?

[traveler_101]

Pocket portability is their only advantage. If you don't need that, you might want to go for the same lens design in a rigid mount. Most Leica (and Contax) collapsibles will appear to lock in any wrong position and do not alert you to being unlocked. Until the proper lens alignment has grown into your subconscious, you'll lose a fair amount of shots to a misaligned lens.

Come on . . . yeah when you first use the lens, I agree. It happened to me . . . once and never again. You learn quickly to be cognisant of it.

I would say that portability is not measured exclusively by "pocketability". I fit my IIIf/3.5-Elmar combo into a small space in my briefcase - not only because the dimensions are small, but because the whole package is really thin. If I had a lens protruding from the camera I would not be able to take it around with me on a daily basis.

And there is one other thing: it has become traditional. The lens speaks to old practice given new life.

 

[traveler_101]

I'm not going to say it is bad engineering in a technical sense, but it does go against the engineer's mantra of KISS - introducing extra complexity and manufacturing expense, which ultimately outweighs the benefit of the feature.

I have borrowed a friend's collapsible summitar on a IIIf, and it's of negligible advantage. Even stranger I have a Super Baldina with a collapsible lens that saves maybe 2cm at most, on what is otherwise a very large camera.

Yes the camera is a little smaller. But it's not like it's going to allow you to fit an extra pair of socks in your luggage.

Is there one engineering philosophy? I am not an engineer, but I can hardly imagine that is the case. I would say that the Leica is "imaginative" engineering. I do not agree, speaking as a user, that there is little gained by the collapsible lens - even a small CV Color Skopar 35/2.5 takes up much more room in my case. I wonder also whether the Super Baldina design was simply responding to the marketing department at a time when collapsible seemed "advanced". Just a thought . . .

 

[jsrockit]

and I figure it probably will:
1. all scratch up on the barrel from the retract and extend action.
2. eventually wore out causing focus shift?
3. more moving parts more chance to fail you?

1. It's a tool not a jewel
2. huh?
3. yet, many of them still work fine today

 

[mpaniagua]

and I figure it probably will:
...
2. eventually wore out causing focus shift?
...

At least on the Leica lens I own (and the russian Industars as well) there is a bayonet that looks the lens on position, so this is not an issue.

 

[Roger Hicks]

The benefit of collapsible lenses? They collapse.

Dear Garrett,

It does seem odd that quite so many people have failed to spot this obvious advantage. In the late 60s/early 70s my "go-everywhere" camera was a IIIa with a 50/3.5 Elmar: an extraordinarily easy camera to carry. ANY non-collapsible lens is hopelessly bulkier -- and so are many collapsible lenses.

Cheers,

R,

 

[Jockos]

It can be good to have a 90mm the size of a 50mm as well, but maybe that's just me!

 

[Richard G]

I would say that portability is not measured exclusively by "pocketability". I fit my IIIf/3.5-Elmar combo into a small space in my briefcase - not only because the dimensions are small, but because the whole package is really thin. If I had a lens protruding from the camera I would not be able to take it around with me on a daily basis.

And there is one other thing: it has become traditional. The lens speaks to old practice given new life.

Great point. I have a thirty year old leather briefcase that is very thin, 7.5cm external depth. I can't find anything new that's as good. My M6 and capped v4 Summicron used to go in that, and now so can the M9-P and collapsed 50 Elmar M. A full-frame digital 35mm camera with a 50mm lens in such a brief case: scarcely believable.

 

[David Hughes]

So the lens does not collapse all the way to reach the M9 sensor?

Hi,

Sorry about the delay but I couldn't find the page in the manual that deals with this question quickly.

Rather than re-type it could I suggest you search for the manual and download it in pdf form? I've only an elderly M9 and more modern digital M's may differ.

My answer to using collapsible lenses (Leica call them lenses with retractable tubes, btw) is an elastic band round the body end of the tube.

Regards, David