Leica LTM How to rotate a screw mount?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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Simon Bruxelles

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I have a Leica II that needs another half a turn when mounting a lens. Ordinarily this wouldn't matter but my 13.5cm Hektor has a tripod screw which ends up in the 5 o'clock position instead of at 6 o'clock. Is there a quick and simple remedy which doesn't involve driling holes or sending the camera away for expensive repair? Thanks for any advice on this.
 
Sounds like a lens problem, not camera. If you changed the mount, the registration would be off for all your other lenses.

PF
 
Maybe the lens mount is on wrong after work to the camera done?

The lens mount on the camera should have a small line engraved on the side, and it should be at the 9 o'clock position. If it's anywhere else, the lens mount was fitted wrongly to the camera.
 
I have the later Elmar 135 f/4 which has the same built in tripod mount, also shifted by 10 degrees off. I sent it to DAG to have the angle adjusted, as well as to verify the RF cam, and clean the lens out. The cost was not a lot, and well worth the service.

If you try to do this yourself, you will send it to DAG or Sherry a bit later, but the cost of repair may be much higher - to fix what you tried to "fix".
 
Perhaps it is more practical to simply get a good ball-head for the tripod? A rotated tripod-mount on the lens would be annoying for a cine-head with tilt and pan though. I gave up on those heads, which always used to come with tripods in UK, after my first attempt at architectural shots inside a 13th. century church (= very uneven floors).
 
buzzardkid said:
Maybe the lens mount is on wrong after work to the camera done?

The lens mount on the camera should have a small line engraved on the side, and it should be at the 9 o'clock position. If it's anywhere else, the lens mount was fitted wrongly to the camera.
Click to expand...

I never noticed but thanks for pointing this out. My Leica III does have the mark at 9 o'clock. One learns something every day!

Tom
 
The Hektor lens is designed for this to be easily adjustable, as no company, even Leitz, can machine a screw thread so precisely that the orientation of the lens will be exact on all cameras.

What is crucial is that the lens, when fully screwed in, has its focus cam bearing against the camera's roller follower. The focus scale index is typically at the 1:00 position. If these are not correct, you have a problem with the assembly of the lens.

To adjust the position of the tripod socket, screw the lens into the camera snugly. Loosen the three screws around the circumference of the lens immediately ahead of the mount. Rotate it to where you want it, and tighten the screws. that's all.

Cheers,
Dez
 
Thanks for the advice. I suspect it's some peculiarity in the threading of the mount... the line is in the correct position at 9 o'clock and I can't see anything else obviously askew. The body is a i to II conversion No.42,384 so maybe it is something to do with the standardised mount which was introduced in 1931, the year the original camera was built. I have two Hektors and both are fine on my other Barnacks . There's no point fiddling with the screws because if I make the adjustment they won't then work with my other bodies.
 
NOW I know what that white arrow is for...

Right:

8497794064_6cf6f77e8a_b.jpg
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Last 12 Months-0 by debrux2010, on Flickr[/IMG]

Wrong:


Last 12 Months-1 by debrux2010, on Flickr
 
Loosen the 3 small grub screws around the base of the lens mount and rotate the barrel till it lines up then tighten them. Some previous owner probably twisted the barrel numerious times and the barrel would slip causing the mis-alignment.

I've seen several of the Hektors and Elmar 13.5cm lens like this..
 
Thanks Colyn, the problem is the lens would then no longer line up correctly on my other Barnack bodies which it currently does work on. It seems to be the mount on the camera body which is out of alignment.
 
Simon Bruxelles said:
Thanks Colyn, the problem is the lens would then no longer line up correctly on my other Barnack bodies which it currently does work on. It seems to be the mount on the camera body which is out of alignment.
Click to expand...

Make sure the line on the cameras mount is at the 9:00 position. If there is no line the mount is not original.
 
You can see the line in the second picture... it's there and it is in the correct position. Incidentally my Elmar 5cm also lines up wrong on this camera, instead of being at seven o'clock the focus lever is at 6.35.
 
Since you have another lens not bottoming out, one other thing you could check is that the threads of the body mount are clean. Something could have lodged itself in there, stopping your lenses before they reach bottom. Get a pin, and run it along the threads to remove anything stuck in there. You might also be able to detect if there is a burr, though a small inspection mirror, and flashlight would be best to find that.

PF
 
Simon Bruxelles said:
Thanks Colyn, the problem is the lens would then no longer line up correctly on my other Barnack bodies which it currently does work on. It seems to be the mount on the camera body which is out of alignment.
Click to expand...

Well, as I said, the threading just can't always be as precise as we would like it to be. Some variation between cameras is to be expected. The three screws are there to deal with this camera-to-camera variation.

Cheers,
Dez
 
someone has the lead screw for focus in the wrong place. You are supposed to mark where they come apart and now it is trial and error.
 
Assumptions:
1. All of your lenses line up and operate perfectly on other cameras.
2. The thread on the II's mount is clean.
3. The mount has an 'O' at the top.
Therefore...
1. The mount is wrong as the lead entry to it is out by 15 degrees or so.
2. Replace the mount by buying a trashed body and pinching the mount off it.

Leave the lens alone if it is spot on with other bodies!
 
Old thread same problem. But mine is silver LTM version. Without three magic screws.
On FED-2 and on M4-2 (via adapter) tripod mount is not at the bottom and rangefinder cam flange doesn't reach camera RF roller, it is touching it by the flange end.
Any info how to get it rotated?
 
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