Frank Petronio
Well-known
So I have the Heavystar tabs coming for a 40/2 Rokkor CLE... read that I need to unscrew the front element. Sorry to sound so flustered but what is the best way to do this? Any cautions, hints, etc?
myM8yogi
Well-known
me too
me too
I would love to do this too. Hope someone comes forward with some advice.
I have 40/2 CLE and much prefer the 35 'cron ASPH style focus tabs rather than the pressure finger grip thing on there right now. I have a spare tab but cannot seem to work out how to remove the old one. I have jeweller's scewdrivers and locksmith's files available, but otherwise no specialist tools.
me too
I would love to do this too. Hope someone comes forward with some advice.
I have 40/2 CLE and much prefer the 35 'cron ASPH style focus tabs rather than the pressure finger grip thing on there right now. I have a spare tab but cannot seem to work out how to remove the old one. I have jeweller's scewdrivers and locksmith's files available, but otherwise no specialist tools.
myM8yogi
Well-known
Anyone????
sanmich
Veteran
Frank
Did you get the tab from Heavystar?
It has been a while since I last saw them listed on ebay...
thanks...
Frank Petronio
Well-known
I ended up going with a v.3 Cron and sold my Rokkor ;-p I consider their image quality similar but the Cron is a heavier build and has better resale value, not that it matters but it's nice to have the Leica lens if you can afford it....
I'm pretty crude, I thought the 35/2.5 VC was pretty much indistinguishable too, and it was new.
I'm pretty crude, I thought the 35/2.5 VC was pretty much indistinguishable too, and it was new.
Vickko
Veteran
I just saw this. Looks like too late.
I replaced a tab from a 50mm Elcan.
You don't unscrew it from the front, but remove a retaining ring from the back and the whole lens head comes off. Then you have access to the screw that holds the tab.
But often, every lens is slightly different. I really need to have it in my hands to see how to take it apart.
....Vick
I replaced a tab from a 50mm Elcan.
You don't unscrew it from the front, but remove a retaining ring from the back and the whole lens head comes off. Then you have access to the screw that holds the tab.
But often, every lens is slightly different. I really need to have it in my hands to see how to take it apart.
....Vick
filmfan
Well-known
I wonder if this would work on the 28mm M-Rokkor?
Anyone?
Anyone?
myM8yogi
Well-known
I just saw your response Vick - so I have to unscrew the scews on lens mount itself to get access to the small screw holding the focus tab?
I must admit, I thought it must work something like that because I could not see how else it would work.
Soooo, am I brave enough to try?
A lens disassembly diagram would help. Anyone seen such a thing for the 40/2?
I must admit, I thought it must work something like that because I could not see how else it would work.
Soooo, am I brave enough to try?
A lens disassembly diagram would help. Anyone seen such a thing for the 40/2?
myM8yogi
Well-known
Found it at the foot of this page:
http://www.jumboprawn.net/jesse/cams/gear-profiles/leica-summicron-40mm.html
It actually looks like I use a spanner wrench to remove the brass ring ("retaining ring") around the lens elements. I don't need to touch the screws in the lens mount at all.
http://www.jumboprawn.net/jesse/cams/gear-profiles/leica-summicron-40mm.html
It actually looks like I use a spanner wrench to remove the brass ring ("retaining ring") around the lens elements. I don't need to touch the screws in the lens mount at all.
beans22
Newbie
I would also like to know this.
myM8yogi
Well-known
I just stumbled over this old thread and thought I should update it...
About 8 months ago I pushed with regular but firm pressure on the old focus tab and found that it very (surprisingly) easily popped off the tiny screw holding it to the lens. So it turns out I didn't have to take the lens apart to make this modification after all. I then placed some Araldite (2-component epoxy glue) that I had premixed onto the lens screw and the new 35 cron ASPH thumb focus tab. I held the tiny screw down away from the lens barrell and applied the new focus tab. It has stayed in place ever since. There are no scratching noises or increases in friction that would indicate the screw projecting back into the lens barrell. The lens still works perfectly optically, but the handling has been transformed. I can now focus comfortably and quickly with a single finger.
I recommend this ergonomic upgrade to anyone not shy about modifying an old "user" lens. I had already filed down the mount to enable automatic selection of the 35mm frame lines on an M9.
What a fantastic beautiful little lens this is - my favourite normal lens by far!
About 8 months ago I pushed with regular but firm pressure on the old focus tab and found that it very (surprisingly) easily popped off the tiny screw holding it to the lens. So it turns out I didn't have to take the lens apart to make this modification after all. I then placed some Araldite (2-component epoxy glue) that I had premixed onto the lens screw and the new 35 cron ASPH thumb focus tab. I held the tiny screw down away from the lens barrell and applied the new focus tab. It has stayed in place ever since. There are no scratching noises or increases in friction that would indicate the screw projecting back into the lens barrell. The lens still works perfectly optically, but the handling has been transformed. I can now focus comfortably and quickly with a single finger.
I recommend this ergonomic upgrade to anyone not shy about modifying an old "user" lens. I had already filed down the mount to enable automatic selection of the 35mm frame lines on an M9.
What a fantastic beautiful little lens this is - my favourite normal lens by far!
lam
Well-known
Thanks for updating this thread, i'm going to be doing this immediately once my 40 Cron arrives.. any photos and or idea where you got the ASPH tab too? I have some Heavy Star V3 Cron tabs but am curious how a ASPH tab looks.
kaiwasoyokaze
Half Frame Goodness
any pics? i would love to see how it looks and how it sits flush with the focusing ring.
James24
Well-known
Not the Rokkor but the 40mm Summicron:
http://doingphoto.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/summicron-c-changing-the-focusing-tab/
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103446
kaiwasoyokaze
Half Frame Goodness
Thanks for the links, I especially love reading that off kilter English of the Russian site. Bookmarked for later!
kaiwasoyokaze
Half Frame Goodness
I have some coming in now and look forward to doing this mod!
kaiwasoyokaze
Half Frame Goodness
So i'm trying to remove the bezel at the rear of the lens to remove the optial unit to get at the screw for the tab.
I have tried to get it off using some tweezers, screwdrivers, but to no avail.
I gave up recently and bought a dedicated tool on ebay for removing these things (it's unofficial name is spanner wrench <that google image results totally disagree with>, but officially i couldn't find a name for these tools.)
Has anybody removed that rear part without using this dedicated tool? and if so, please give suggestions. It was really annoying.
I have tried to get it off using some tweezers, screwdrivers, but to no avail.
I gave up recently and bought a dedicated tool on ebay for removing these things (it's unofficial name is spanner wrench <that google image results totally disagree with>, but officially i couldn't find a name for these tools.)
Has anybody removed that rear part without using this dedicated tool? and if so, please give suggestions. It was really annoying.
bonatto
looking out
thanks for all the info guys, where can we get tabs?
newspaperguy
Well-known
You can buy a workable spanner in the watch department at WalMart...
They sell it for opening watch cases to replace batteries.
They sell it for opening watch cases to replace batteries.
kaiwasoyokaze
Half Frame Goodness
ah...walmart would be a little hard to find at my location, but maybe at the local street market there might be something...