CL lens compatibility

[steveinessex]

Hi, does anyone know if it is possible to use a pre-war 35mm f.35 Elmar lens on my Leica CL? I know some wide angle lenses tend to foul the metering arm.
Thank you. Steve.

 

[George S.]

Any collapsible lens will damage the meter arm if you collapse the lens. Obviously, you can use one safely if you trust yourself to always remember and not to collapse the lens. Leica stated back in the day when you could purchase "Dymo" plastic label tape, that you must wrap a piece of the tape (it had to be a 9.5mm wide version of the tape) around the outer part of the lens barrel (the part that the lens head slides down on) just under the lens head.

 

[JRG]

The Head Bartender lists some lenses that are incompatible with the CL:

http://www.cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm

The lens you mentioned is not on that list. Also, according to the Head Bartender again, there is a collapsible 50 that you can use on the CL: The CV 50/2 Heliar.

 

[former member]

The rear element of the 35/3.5 Elmar does not go very far into the camera. I would not want to try a J-12. I had the Nikkor 3.5cm F3.5 in LTM, which is a copy of the Elmar. It would have been fine. I use a Canon 35/2 or 35/2.8 on my CL. The rear element of my 35/2.8 Summaron would not be a problem for the CL, but the goggles for the M3 are.

 

[clarence]

Any collapsible lens will damage the meter arm if you collapse the lens. Obviously, you can use one safely if you trust yourself to always remember and not to collapse the lens. Leica stated back in the day when you could purchase "Dymo" plastic label tape, that you must wrap a piece of the tape (it had to be a 9.5mm wide version of the tape) around the outer part of the lens barrel (the part that the lens head slides down on) just under the lens head.

I've used a collapsible Industar on my CL. The lens will collapse up to a point. It does not hit the metering arm at all, since it is stopped by a metal frame in front of the shutter. Just look at my avatar.

Clarence

 

[DennisPT]

Is there a way to put the pre-asph 35mm Summicron on the CL? Will be great if somebody can share their successful story. Thanks.

 

[ed1234]

Pre-asp 35mm Summicron works on the CL, it is the CLE that will not work.