Leica LTM Elegant ways for keeping lenses from collapsing?

[Miles.]

I'm looking for a way to keep my collapsible lenses from collapsing into my newly acquired digital M. Looking for a solution that is somewhat elegant and quickly reversible as I want to continue collapsing them into my film M.

What have y'all been doing?

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Back in the day on M-5 & CL's it was done by applying a piece of Dymo label tape around the barrel....

 

[Miles.]

Back in the day on M-5 & CL's it was done by applying a piece of Dymo label tape around the barrel....

Is that stuff easily removable?

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Is that stuff easily removable?

Yes.... just a little work to remove any residual glue. It is just the right thickness & stiffness ( it's plastic) to keep the lens barrel from collapsing.

 

[Miles.]

Yes.... just a little work to remove any residual glue. It is just the right thickness & stiffness ( it's plastic) to keep the lens barrel from collapsing.

Good to know..

I'm thinking about cutting up a film canister and gluing velcro onto it. We'll see.

 

[xayraa33]

The Dymo label tape trick is a well known classic.... anyone who has perused thru the 1970s Leica Manual several times has that photo illustration image etched on their memory bank.

 

[splitimageview]

On my 50/3.5 Elmar on my CL, I used o-rings, with the correct diameter to fit on the barrel. They can be sourced at http://mcmaster.com. Here are pics:

 

[Miles.]

On my 50/3.5 Elmar on my CL, I used o-rings, with the correct diameter to fit on the barrel. They can be sourced at http://mcmaster.com. Here are pics:

Thanks for this idea and the photos!

 

[dexdog]

I have no experience with leica stuff, but have used soft foam pipe insulation on Canon, Zeiss and Nikon collapsable lenses. No adhesive, can cut to whatever thickness you like. Really easy, and cheap, too. Although may not be considered elegant by some folks

 

[iphoenix]

Try a good quality, wide rubber band. Works well.

 

[tbhv55]

Try a good quality, wide rubber band. Works well.

That's what I use. Not only does it work well, but the cost is negligible. (Possibly doesn't meet the "elegant" part of the OP's requirement, though... 😀)

 

[Dralowid]

Clear plastic pipe cut to required length and then cut along length. Spring it over the barrel and forget.

 

[splitimageview]

Thanks for this idea and the photos!

Turns out I have 5 or 6 of these o-rings leftover if you want any. They also fit other collapsibles, I tried them on my Nikkor 50/2 and Summitar, they might fit the Summicron too.

They work well and are not obvious.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Lenses are not collapsing at their own.
Stop getting feared. And don't trash handle cameras, keep them in camera bag, lens up or at the neck strap. This is the only elegant way I know.

Hair rings makes it look like grandma purse, IMO. But I have done this 🙂.

 

[Miles.]

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and ideas! I'm going to try some of the suggestions out and see what works best for me.

 

[farlymac]

You can get o-rings at most hardware stores, and they come in different colors depending on what they are made of, just in case you thought about jazzing up your lens a bit.


PF

 

[splitimageview]

I have a few of the properly sized o-rings and can drop some in the mail if you want to try them.