Elmar 50/2.8 series 1 lens

[RichC]

Just bought a user Elmar from Ebay (minor marks on front element, missing infinity lock (an improvement IMO!)) for $120, but it doesn't have a front lens cap: could someone tell me what size cap I need, and a good source (I'm in the UK) - thanx.

 

[Jim Smith]

Lens Cap for Elmar

Lens Cap for Elmar

The correct size is 43mm. Enjoy a great lens!

 

[Ronald M]

42mm for 39 filter size lenses

41 for summitar

43 for Summarit

 

[markinlondon]

Hi, Rich.

You need an A42 push on cap. Copies of the metal originals are available from Ebay for $20. I'd advise the metal ones as they're a bit deeper internally and will fit over a filter. That's probably what you'd pay for a new plastic one from a Leica dealer. For original metal caps the sky's the limit :-(

Mark

 

[jkelly]

Sherry Krauter will probably have one for less than $20. I've bought 3 from her.

 

[RichC]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

 

[lubitel]

I dont know if series 1 is what I have, but fed or zorki caps fit my elmar pretty well. If you have one just try it.

 

[Xmas]

There are two sizes a small 36mm push on earlier lens and the later 39mm screw in 42mm push on - the fed/zorkis are only compatible with the earlier lens.

The swish way is to get the reversible hood and associated snap in cap I think 'Itooly' is the leitz designation, this clips on to the 42mm push on ring milled slot, somehow (Ive forgotten over the years). I dont think this will collapse sufficinetly for the short case but it is an effective hood, it is deep.

Noel

 

[markinlondon]

The ITOOY hood is great but a 12585 fits nicely too. I have both but sadly no reverse caps. An IROOA hood will also work and takes a push in rather than push over cap (if you see what I mean). These are all quite expensive and have usually lost their reverse caps along the way. The lens won't collapse with a reversed hood ITOOY or 12585, the infinity lock gets in the way. If Rich is using this on his RD-1 then he's not going to be collapsing it anyway (ouch).

Mark

 

[RichC]

If Rich is using this on his RD-1 then he's not going to be collapsing it anyway (ouch).Mark

Already got that covered - borrowed a large O-ring from my Guzzi Le Mans to act as a spacer!

Hope this lens is sharper than my Jupiter 8 (which I carefully collimated by trial and error using my R-D1)...

By the way, as the Elmar was cheap, and appears never to have been cleaned in 40 years, does anyone know how to partially disassemble it? I'd like to be able to clean the front elements and lube the aperture mech.

(NB: I'm pretty handy mechanically: I renovate classic motorbikes, and I've disassembled (and successfully reassembled!) a number of Russian lenses. I also recall Joe's minor problem with aperture blades, so I intend to leave those well alone!)

 

[Xmas]

Peter Loy (London) has an itooy for 29:00 £ so they are not cheap.

The itooy cap pushes into the reversed hood while it is mounted on the camera (lens) and has a groove like the lenses' 42mm section - it clips into the hoods rear four lugs. Ive still got the hood and cap sets from '74 for the replacement Elmar I've not bought yet. Must reinsure the house...

The big problem with the reversed hood is it won't go into the small case, if you have one... So I never took the cap out of doors as I always parked the lens telescoped and in the small case, and pocketed the hood, I'll look to see if I have two caps but I dont think I have. You might be able to make a substitute cap up with glue and plastic sheet cut into circles.

In a previous job I used to have a plastic 3d modeller, you gave it a drawing it made a plastic piece part, never thought about a home job until now.

Noel

 

[markinlondon]

Peter Loy (London) has an itooy for 29:00 £ so they are not cheap.

Hey, that IS cheap, Noel. I only paid £20 for my ITOOY but had to refinish it a bit as most of the enamel had chipped off around the edges, I usually see these going for £40-50 at places like ffordes.

Mark

 

[Xmas]

Mark

Early version 5-6/D 29:00 still there... Mr. Loy (only connection I buy thinks from him) is normally resonable on price front, 5-6/D means it is a shooter rather then a shelf queen...

Where did you get yours for 20:00?

Noel

P.S. J8 should be better than Elmar it has another two bits of glass and the same design (Cooke triplet) the Elmar is limited for correction below 5.6... Hey you need a concrete block tripod and sloooowwwww film to see the difference.

 

[markinlondon]

I got lucky and found it in London Camera Exchange on the Strand. Funnily enough it was the day of an RFF meet in London that I couldn't stick around for, so said "hi" and just dropped in there on my way elsewhere. They had two, mine was tatty, the other was in better nick but £45 IIRC. I opted for cheap and a tin of matt black Humbrol.

BTW, Elmars can definitely cut it. Since seeing the first results from mine (bought in February) anything else just seems bulky. It's not far behind my current Summicron at f4 and smaller with my technique.

Mark

 

[RichC]

anything else just seems bulky

Must admit, one of the reasons I bought it was size - even with my O-ring spacer, the camera should squish into my coat pocket.

 

[markinlondon]

See the current thread on camera bags for why I can never get that to work 🙂

The Elmar's definitely sharp enough, here's a couple on Delta 400 and 100 respectively.


Mark