Benefit of collapsible lens?

[newfilm]

I wonder, what might be the benefit of those collapsible lens (Leica Elma f3.5 etc Soviet/Japanese copy etc) ? From the looks of it, I suppose:

1. it's the only lens that come with the body those days
2. retractable to be portable (might be a side effect instead of the design principle?)
3. looks "classic" on old camera
4. show to your friend and say look it can retract, how cool is that!
5. and more importantly, it offer some kind of artistic interpretation of a scene and subject? <-- i dont know about this one, I looks through some pictures and don't feel it, so I imagining it must be this one.

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?

I'm asking from today perspective, what makes you guys drop $$$ on one of these? instead of those rigid body incarnation that seems to be mechanically more precise and reliable?

 

[Jockos]

I liked the collapsible lenses I had (50 elmar, 50 cron) because they fit in a coat pocket, so I could protect the camera from the worst weather, while still having it accessible.
Both lenses also render very nicely, biggest drawback was the MFD.

 

[View Range]

The purpose of collapsible lenses is to make the camera / lens smaller for carriage. The only collapsible lens I have is the 50mm Summicron. Leitz build quality remains excellent to this day, and none of your concerns occur.

 

[jcb4718]

What does MFD mean?

 

[02Pilot]

It's just the compactness that appeals to me. A screwmount Leica with an Elmar is small enough to easily and comfortably carry in a pocket. With larger, faster lenses that benefit is less pronounced (as in my Summitar, for example), but it's still smaller than it would be with a fixed version.

 

[Jockos]

What does MFD mean?

Minimum focus distance, in this case it's one meter 🙂

 

[ruby.monkey]

The lenses usually have a bayonet mechanism to lock in the extended position, so wear should cause no more looseness than would mounting and removing the lens cause to the lens mount.

As for compactness: when I was younger and less well-endowed in the hindquarters, mounting a 50mm f2.8 Elmar on my M4 meant the difference between carrying it on a neckstrap and just stuffing it in the back pocket of my jeans.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I've had and used almost all common Leitz and one Leica 50 collapsible. But never tried Elmar 50 3.5.
Sold them after trying one by one. I have to use protective filter and cap. With this even collapsed lens isn't small. With hood it ibigger. Retracted , they are too long with filter and hood.
All have barrel play, all have and will have scratches on barrel if collapsing them.

 

[mdarnton]

I like the Summicron for its rendering close to wide open, but in addition to that there's that I can wear it under my winter coat.

There have been no problems from the collapsing part of it.

 

[Richard G]

Size. My collapsible 90 allows me to put the camera and lens away quickly when the rain comes down. With the rigid 90 I need to change lenses in the rain to fit everything back in my tiny bag. In a dusty wind, with digital Leicas, that is a real problem.

 

[splitimageview]

At one time Leica was the king of miniature format and the collapsibles made for something incredibly small, compared to the alternatives at the time.

But with their fat bloated digitals this is no longer the case

 

[Robert Lai]

Your negative concerns are correct. I have seen them on collapsible lenses. You also didn't mention that they can destroy the metering arm on an M5 or CL camera.

I buy the lenses because I like their rendering. Why else would you buy a lens? I have the original collapsible Summicron 50, and the latest 50 Elmar M 2.8 (I like 50mm lenses). They render differently. Both are collapsible.

I keep my lenses in the deployed position all the time. Collapsing them does scratch up the barrel eventually. Also, there will come a time when you want to take a photograph and you forget to pull it out and lock it. Which means you get a picture of pure "bokeh".

For the "loosening" that may occur, the tension on the bayonet to lock the lens in place is adjustable.

 

[Richard G]

At one time Leica was the king of miniature format and the collapsibles made for something incredibly small, compared to the alternatives at the time.

But with their fat bloated digitals this is no longer the case

My silver M9-P with the collapsed recent version 50 Elmar M, capped, is a very neat compact package to carry about, large only when next to the M6 and version 4 35 Summicron, or of course the Leica II and the completely collapsed f3.5 50 Elmar.

 

[raid]

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

 

[Dez]

Your negative concerns are correct. I have seen them on collapsible lenses. You also didn't mention that they can destroy the metering arm on an M5 or CL camera.

Hi, Rob. I think you will find that the collapsible Summicron can be collapsed all the way back in an M5 or CL (or a Ricoh GXR 🙂) without any problem. I haven't tried the 2.8 Elmar, but I know the 3.5 goes back too far. The Summitar is right on the hairy edge, so maybe better safe than sorry. It fits fine on the GXR though.

i bought the GXR with the M module a few months ago and have been having fun with it: my "poor man's M8". Amazingly good results, which shouldn't be a surprise using lenses designed for a larger frame. I recently bought a Nikon F to M adapter so I could use Nikon lenses on it. Fortunately I didn't pay much for it, as it is really pointless. If you want to use Nikkor lenses on your digital camera, just use a DSLR! Then again, I'm pretty good at pointless as shown by one of my old projects.



Cheers,
Dez

 

[Ronald M]

My silver M9-P with the collapsed recent version 50 Elmar M, capped, is a very neat compact package to carry about, large only when next to the M6 and version 4 35 Summicron, or of course the Leica II and the completely collapsed f3.5 50 Elmar.

Agreed.

I keep some Nu Finish car polish on the barrel and have yet to scratch it. There is a felt light seal that can collect debris if the barrel is dirty. So clean it off!! No debris = no scratches. You would not wipe a lens without cleaning debris first, at least I hope not.

Elmar M 50 is a beautiful lens as is my 90 Elmar M . The 90 closes down to around the size of a 50 that is open. The 90 is full sharp at 4.0 and only depth of field increases if you stop down.

 

[presspass]

I've had a collapsible Summicron for nearly 30 years and have not noticed scratching on the barrel from collapsing/extending it. When it's on a camera and being carried, it is collapsed. A recent acquisition is a IIIa with a collapsible Summar. It shows no wear on the barrel. BTW, both focus properly at close range. As to minimum focus distance, one meter was standard for the LTM 50s and the earlier bayonet lenses. For instance, a pre-asph Summilux 50 focuses at one meter or just beyond while the asph version is .7 meter.

 

[grouchos_tash]

Who are these people putting cameras in their pockets? I put my IIIf in my coat pocket and walked round in circles all day. My pocket now looks like it's been carrying two handfuls of pebbles in torrential rain and I'm having physio for a sloping shoulder.

 

[David Hughes]

FWIW, all my collapsible lenses came with the cameras...

Regards, David

 

[RichL]

Who are these people putting cameras in their pockets? I put my IIIf in my coat pocket and walked round in circles all day. My pocket now looks like it's been carrying two handfuls of pebbles in torrential rain and I'm having physio for a sloping shoulder.

Me for one.

My Leica I fits quite nicely in my back pocket. With it's near focus lens (18") for cutesy kitty (or kiddy) pictures and an enlarger for the occasional distant interesting object there is seldom a need for a camera with interchangeable lenses.