Leica 50mm/2 DR goggles.. where are you?

[michael.panoff]

Does anyone know where I could get googles for my 50mm/2 DR lens, for a reasonable price? I bought this lens recently on ebay, without the goggles.. and they are going for a serious rip-and-a-half from the ebay vintage camera folks.

 

[venchka]

Buy the right goggles

Buy the right goggles

Just last week a DR 'cron with goggles was listed on the Leica Users Group. Perhaps you could ask that group as well. I'm sure a pair will turn up.

BEWARE! There are two versions of the lens & goggles. Make sure you get the right goggles for your lens. The information at CameraQuest will expalin everything. Does your lens have a meters only or feet & meters focusing scale? Meters only is the earlier version.

 

[Ronald M]

Yes two kinds. They will work , but not 100% on the wrong lens.

 

[michael.panoff]

my lens only has the scale in feet and inches.

 

[venchka]

Don't ever trust my memory. 😀

Here's the word from Mr. Gandy at CameraQuest:

Earlier DR's have a single feet or meter focusing scale, and clip on eyes with the E. Leitz enlarger condenser logo, as shown on the top photo of this page, and focus to 19." Later DR's have a dual feet and meter focusing scale, with a simpler Leitz logo, and focus to 20." The optics in both versions are generally believed to be identical. There may well be other variations as well. As pointed out to me by Marvin Moss, the ball bearing mount on the earlier lenses is larger than on the later lenses. This results in the earlier close up attachment with the Leitz condenser logo fitting on later lenses, but not vice versa.

So it seems you have the earlier model and you need the earlier goggles. The ones that look like this. The Leitz logo is the best way to identify the model.

Good luck!

 

[michael.panoff]

thanks for all the help.. much appreciated!

 

[woffle]

I'm awaiting delivery of a DR 50, also bought off ebay, and as I understand it I can't use the goggles on my M7 without some judicious filing / hacking off the goggles so I'd maybe consider a reasonable offer (not that I have any idea what a reasonable price is) - they are the earlier ones, they look mint and come with their original leather case. I'd prefer NOT to ship outside the UK though and i think you may be US based although it doesn't say in your profile...

Actually - can someone confirm this is the case about the fitting the M7? Also, am I seriously lessening the value of the lens by selling them off seperately? I'm an photographer rather than a collector but it's best to know these things...

Image from the auction listing:

 

[michael.panoff]

Yes, I am in the US. I too am a photographer.. amateur at best. Please let me know if you reconsider shipping to the US.

 

[woffle]

Grief - you're up early / late aren't you? (Or is my internal international timezone calculator a little off?)

I'd be curious as to whether the general advice is to keep the lens kit complete (despite any potential lack of use on an M7 due to incompatibility), versus helping out another forum member.

Joe

P.S - The US/UK thing maybe isn't such an issue. I've just had problems in the past on eb*y when shipping to the US/Canada and I'm naturally cautious...

 

[JohnM]

I guess if resale is a big consideration, it probably is best to keep the eyes and lens together. If not, why clutter up the camera bag with something you can't use? 🙂

It's a spectacular lens - enjoy it, Joe and Michael. It's a beautiful lens for B&W - the build quality is special, even when compared to a late-model Summicron.

 

[harmsr]

Relative to fitting various cameras. (I know this is true for the late style googles - as I have a DR with them. Someone else will need to confirm that this is the same on the early googles. I would strongly suspect it to be so)

The issue on the DR is that there is a plastic standoff which locates on the top corner of the M2, M3, M4, M6, MP style bodies. The M7 and M5 bodies top corners are in different locations, which therefore requires the plastic standoff to be removed. Once the standoff is removed, they work perfectly with all the M cameras.

Best,

Ray


P.S.: Wayne - How is my old M5 shooting for you?

 

[venchka]

...

Best,

Ray


P.S.: Wayne - How is my old M5 shooting for you?

Grinning. How dare you call this gorgeous thing old? 🙂 I love it. Now that my little black 28mm lens is functional again, they make a great pair. Of course chrome lenses work just well on a black body. 😀

I can also confirm that Ray is correct about goggles and the M5. When I got my DR Summicron I took the goggles to my repair man. He removed the offending post in about a minute. It all works good! I wish I had an example to show. They are all on my other computer.

Good luck!

Wayne