Leica 1 A lens mounting information request.

[m4malious]

Hi there,

Can anyone advise - the mounting of a 1A Elmar lens to the "hockey stick" bodies.....

Does the lens flange screw (3 screws) exclusively to the alloy body - or - is there a tapped receiving plate on the "inside" of the camera that holds the lens up tight to the body?

Thanks in advance,
M

 

[Dez]

I believe the lens is screwed only to the shell, but it has been a long time since I have had mine apart. It might be that the top, long, screw goes into the actual camera body.
There wouldn't be any obvious way to locate a receiving plate such as is seen in later models.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Dralowid]

Yes I think Dez is right (without pulling mine apart to confirm 100%). Two screws plus the infinity stop screw secure lens mounting flange to body.

The slightly fiddly thing is that on these the vulcanite is machined in situ and the lens flange fitted over so if you have replaced the vulcanite you'd need to make a significant shim.

Happy collimating!

Michael

The leather covered cameras also had the leather running under the lens mounting flange making for trouble as the leather aged and shrank.

 

[m4malious]

Thanks for the replies.

Does that mean the vulcanite goes underneath the flange (i.e. covers the body shell all the way up to the lens hole) and is therefore contributing to the lens / film distance? I've found this hard to see even in good photos available on the net.

Thx again,
M

 

[Dralowid]

Thanks for the replies.

Does that mean the vulcanite goes underneath the flange (i.e. covers the body shell all the way up to the lens hole) and is therefore contributing to the lens / film distance?

Yes, in my experience it does, certainly with older versions (the newest I have worked on would be 20xxx). I don't know if this changes with later fixed lens cameras but can't really see why it should.

Michael

 

[Livesteamer]

I have had the mounting flange off of my Leica 1 to put shims under it and it went back together easily enough. It seems an odd idea to mount the lens over the vulcanite. Would it be heresy or de-value the camera to cut away the vulcanite under the lens mount and put in a solid shim? Joe

 

[Dez]

I suspect that if the vulcanite currently on your camera is OK, it would devalue the camera to do that mod. The old hockey stick Leica is a collector's item and an antique. It's not really all that important if the focal distance has shifted a small fraction of a millimeter over the years, as people are not likely to turn to an 80+ year old 35mm camera for the sharpest possible images.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, in my experience it does, certainly with older versions (the newest I have worked on would be 20xxx). I don't know if this changes with later fixed lens cameras but can't really see why it should.

Michael

Later versions have the vulcanite cut away and a solid plate installed, like on mine 58XXXX. This does not improve the true weakness of the camera: the three screws that hold the lens and are screwed into the soft aluminium. When taking those screws out, take care not to damage the screw threads in the aluminium holes.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

people are not likely to turn to an 80+ year old 35mm camera for the sharpest possible images.

Well ...

Leica I Elmar, Tmax400, FOFER.

 

[Livesteamer]

As Erik has shown us, the Leica 1 is a very capable camera and can produce lovely results when used carefully. Another problem I've found is tightening the lens mount screws evenly or it warps the mount a bit and makes focusing stiff. Leica really put a good lens on these, mine is the Elmar, and I enjoy putting a few rolls a year thru it. I like to use Ektar in mine. Joe

 

[Vickko]

I thought the top screw attached to a mounting plate on the inside?

I recall having to do a fiddly refit, trying to make sure the inside piece stayed in place while I gently rotated and pushed the screw, to not move the inside piece.

Or maybe I'm thinking of the regular body with the removable lens.

In any case, it's been a long time since I've been into my 1a.

And sure, I was surprised to see that the 1a lens mounted on top of the vulcanite. Relative to aluminum, the vulcanite would shrink over time, changing the focus.

 

[Dralowid]

My attempts to sort out Z (or B) on my camera a few weeks ago illustrate the point that the less these cameras are worked on the better particularly if they are well worn!

 

[Dez]

Well ...

Leica I Elmar, Tmax400, FOFER.

Well....yes, but Erik, it's well known that you can come up with amazingly beautiful images with a black box and a coke bottle bottom.

I guess I take my A out maybe once a year and I count myself lucky if I get anything half decent.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Dralowid]

Well....yes, but Erik, it's well known that you can come up with amazingly beautiful images with a black box and a coke bottle bottom.

I guess I take my A out maybe once a year and I count myself lucky if I get anything half decent.

Cheers,
Dez

I reckon I use mine more than I used to, I find it makes me think a little more. Recently I have been out and about with my I (or A) in one pocket and a Nex in the other.

Michael