De-goggling a Summaron

[oscroft]

I've just bought a goggled Summaron 35/2.8 (I got it from Peter Walnes, and it's in lovely condition). I want to use it on my M6, and it's easy enough to remove the goggles, but obviously it brings up the 50mm frame. I'm hoping someone can confirm it's an easy job to modify it to bring up the 35mm frame - do I just file away the same bit of the bayonet that people file to make their 40mm lenses bring up the 35mm frame? (I already have a filed 40mm Summicron-C, so I can see exactly where to file it).

But having said that, I actually quite like the view through the goggles - the lower magnification is really quite nice. And the goggles look pretty cool in a quirky kind of way. Hmm, maybe I'll leave it as it is.

Either way, any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.

 

[nobbylon]

personally I wouldn't file it as it will devalue it if you ever want to sell. if it's nice and original it would be a shame to start filing! once it's done it's done!

 

[Limpovitj]

Leave it as is. Focus will be off without the goggles.

 

[FPjohn]

Do not remove the goggles, the focusing cam is not that of a standard 35mm lens.

yours
FPJ

 

[oscroft]

Focus will be off without the goggles.

I don't see how it can be - the goggles don't affect the alignment of the rangefinder split image, just the field of view. Don't they?

 

[oscroft]

Focus will be off without the goggles

Wow, yes - I've just tried it with the goggles on and off, and the focus is different.

How does that work?

 

[Bill Blackwell]

The goggle design was to be used (permanently) with the lens for the M3; they bring up the 50mm frame-lines and widen them for the 35mm perspective. Without the goggles, you will be looking at 50mm frame-lines with maladjusted parallax.

If you don't like the goggles your only option is to get rid of the lens and replace it with one without them.

A goggled lens will work properly on any M camera (not just the M3).

 

[oscroft]

The goggle design was to be used (permanently) with the lens for the M3; they bring up the 50mm frame-lines and widen them for the 35mm perspective. Without the goggles, you will be looking at 50mm frame-lines with maladjusted parallax.

What I hadn't realised is that the focus is different and the goggles also adjust the rf spot for that.

If you don't like the goggles your only option is to get rid of the lens and replace it with one without them

I actually like it just fine - the lower vf magnification through the goggles is really quite nice. The lens is near perfect, and from the serial number I think it was made in 1959 - I'm definitely keeping this 🙂 (In fact, it's on my M6 now, which is loaded with Velvia and waiting for me to take it out tomorrow to try it.