Can I use a Leitz Summaron 2.8 w/eyes on a M4

kknox

kknox
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Hi I have an M3 with a Summaron 2.8 with eyes made for the M3. I also have an M4. Can I use the lens on the M4 the same way I know it brings up the 50 lines thats ok. Also can I take the eyes off the lens & just focus with the 50 lines on the M4 & then check the with the 35 frame selector, I would like to use the lens on the M4 without the eyes screwed on & my other lens on the M3. Thank's
 
Of course you can use it on the M4. It brings up the 50mm frames - with or without the eyes.
And you can choose the 35mm frame manually (frame selector) but that's not very comfortable.
 
I was just wondering about the focus if I unscrew the eyes from the lens & just use it on my M4. Then move the frame line lever on the camera to frame the photo.
 
Removing 35mm M-3 VF adapter

Removing 35mm M-3 VF adapter

Interesting--trouble focusing if the M-3 VF adapter is removed? The RF linkage on Leicas is internal + mechanical. The viewfinder and bright-lines are optical. The focus is a relation between the RF cam within the camera and the RF coupling within the lens. The 35mm VF adapter for M-3's doesn't affect the focusing mechanism the way it does on a 50mm DR Summicron.
If the lens is focusing properly with one camera, it should do so on another-with or without the optical VF adapter. I have an M-3 and a CL. I use one mid-sixties E.Leitz Canada (chrome) 35mm f/2.0 Summicron on both.
I removed M-3 adapter ("eyes") to use lens on my CL. I use auxilliary 35mm VF clipped in the shoe. The results: Focus is spot-on with or without adapter on M-3. I verified focus with GG on film plane w/ 8X Agfa loupe.
Results on CL indicate no issue with accuracy of rangefinder-50mm frame pops up, which I ignore, and I don't think CL has any paralax correction. I use auxilliary VF anyway.
Accuracy of focus is fine, although distance scales reads out differently on the two cameras. CL indicates in focus at 15 feet, M-3 indicates in focus for same point is 10 feet. However, checked on GG at film plane, when RF indicates it's sharp, it is.
Perhaps there's a calibration issue in the RF mechanism? I'm also pretty sure the magnification of the M-4 VF is different then the M-3 VF, so angle of view will be off with the M-3 adapter used on M-4.
 
So what you are saying Dave61 is you have no problem with focus on your cameras. My M4 & M4 take great pics with the 50 & 90 lens I have also on the M3 with the 35 summaron with eyes works great. I just wanted to take the eyes off & use it with my M4 with the 35 frame lines. So you think I should be fine before I ruin a roll of film testing it?
 
Interesting--trouble focusing if the M-3 VF adapter is removed? The RF linkage on Leicas is internal + mechanical. The viewfinder and bright-lines are optical. The focus is a relation between the RF cam within the camera and the RF coupling within the lens. The 35mm VF adapter for M-3's doesn't affect the focusing mechanism the way it does on a 50mm DR Summicron.
If the lens is focusing properly with one camera, it should do so on another-with or without the optical VF adapter. I have an M-3 and a CL. I use one mid-sixties E.Leitz Canada (chrome) 35mm f/2.0 Summicron on both.
I removed M-3 adapter ("eyes") to use lens on my CL. I use auxilliary 35mm VF clipped in the shoe. The results: Focus is spot-on with or without adapter on M-3. I verified focus with GG on film plane w/ 8X Agfa loupe.
Results on CL indicate no issue with accuracy of rangefinder-50mm frame pops up, which I ignore, and I don't think CL has any paralax correction. I use auxilliary VF anyway.
Accuracy of focus is fine, although distance scales reads out differently on the two cameras. CL indicates in focus at 15 feet, M-3 indicates in focus for same point is 10 feet. However, checked on GG at film plane, when RF indicates it's sharp, it is.
Perhaps there's a calibration issue in the RF mechanism? I'm also pretty sure the magnification of the M-4 VF is different then the M-3 VF, so angle of view will be off with the M-3 adapter used on M-4.

When the eyes are removed from the lens, it will focus right, but only at infinity. The closer you focus, the more the focus will be off.

That's the reason Leitz made two different models, with or without eyes. With the exeption of the Summaron 35mm f/3.5 (with eyes) it is not easy to remove the eyes. In manuals is always stated that the eyes must stay in place.

You must not forget that the rangefinder is optical, not only mechnical. The optics of the eyes do change the optical effect of the rangefinder, wich is corrected by the focusing helix of the lens. That's the reason focusing will be off without the eyes.

Erik.
 
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