Help: M3 + Elmar 50mm 2.8

[BassO]

Today my first Leica ever arrived, together with the companion lens I had ordered elsewhere. The Leica M3 seems to be in good working condition and CLAed, just as the seller had advertised. The Elmar 50mm/2.8 collapsible looks briljant and seems to be working fine. When I match the two of them together, however, I'm dead out of luck.

I attach the lens like I would any, turn until I hear an audible click and the focus line is right up and center. Next, I extend the lens by pulling it out and twisting it slightly at the end, until locked (meaning: I can't push it back in). At that point, however, I'm lost. I can't seem to focus the lens. It's currently locked at infinity but the part that seems to do the focusing (the base of the lens) won't budge. There is some screw-like contraption on that ring of the lens at its lower left (when seen from the front), but it doesn't seem to do much, except provide a hold when fitting or unfitting the lens to the body.

I'm quite convinced the error lies with me: the lens came from an actual store and the body seems otherwise okay. It's just that I am completely unfamilliar with the M-system and I don't want to use too much force in finding out how the bloody thing works. Could anyone _please_ help me out and let me know what I am doing wrong?

Thanks!
Bas

 

[aad]

On LTM Elmars, press the tab toward the camera body to unlock the focus. Hope that works.

 

[BassO]

That's it

That's it

It took more force than I'd dared without your reply, but the thing clicked and the focus came loose and works like a charm. Thanks! But, errrr, do you also know how to lock it again? 😀

 

[srtiwari]

Just slide it back to infinity- it should lock autumatically.

 

[Goodyear]

On mine you have to push the lock button again to get it to go in. I actually like the infinity lock more than I expected to, and it makes a handy substitute for a focussing tab.

 

[BassO]

Hmmm. Neither seems to work. Infinity 'clicks' to a hold, but the lock doesn't pop down. Not when pressed again, either. I'll fiddle with it some more, I guess.

Thanks guys. You saved my weekend.
Bas

 

[Goodyear]

Hmmm. Neither seems to work. Infinity 'clicks' to a hold, but the lock doesn't pop down. Not when pressed again, either. I'll fiddle with it some more, I guess.

Give it a wiggle?

/shrugs.

 

[FrankS]

Give it a wiggle?

/shrugs.

When mine doesn't work, giving it a wiggle usually helps.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

It'll get softer with use. Don't worry.

And welcome to "Leicadom" (aka "Leica-doom")! 🙂

 

[BassO]

Well, I guess the spring-action is busted. If I apply upwards pressure from the back of the tab, it locks. Takes some awkward fumbling, but I'm not complaining. According to the manual, there should be a lever to 'force' the 90 and 135mm gridlines. I can only find two levers, however (self-timer and rewind). They didn't implement those on all bodies?

And thanks. I think collecting stamps would have been the cheaper eccentricity, but I have to admit that this camera really feels like a work of art. I'm amazed how well this 50-year old machine holds up and how caringly it's put together.

 

[merciful]

They didn't implement those on all bodies?

My quick search indicates not on the early ones. Is the film advance double-stroke?

 

[BassO]

It is. Guess that's it then. I was still reading the manual and playing with all the dials and levers, so hadn't Googled the subject myself yet. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[merciful]

I was still reading the manual and playing with all the dials and levers, so hadn't Googled the subject myself yet.

You're going to have a lot of fun.