Leica CL and collapsible lenses

[rxmd]

Hi,

I read that collapsible lenses can be a problem on the CL because the rear element might hit the metering stalk. What collapsible lenses can be used on the CL?

How far in is the metering stalk, and how far do various lenses collapse?

Philipp

 

[wlewisiii]

Most do collapse too far. However, I have a Collapsible Summicron and it can be used as a collapsible lens on the CL and I do use it that way - I verified this with DAG before trying it, however 😉

William

 

[payasam]

Rxmd, I don't have the lens-wise details handy, but the trick is to stick rings of tape (the thick kind on which names are embossed) around the barrels to keep them from retracting too far into the body and hitting what they shouldn't hit. If you place the body, without a lens mounted, before you on a desk, you can use something like a lollipop stick to see how far in the metering cell is from the flange. Then collapse the barrel of each lens until its rear is, say, less than 2 mm away from its flange than the distance measured earlier. Stick tape so that it can collapse no more. On the other hand, seeing that the lenses are not exactly enormous, why collapse them at all? Just keep them extended and locked, possibly with a bit of plain sticky tape to ensure that they cannot be collapsed.

 

[Flinor]

Several years ago I tried a collapsible 50 Summicron and an Elmar 50 on a CL and an M5 which also has the lightmeter stalk. I opened the backs, took it off on the CL, put the shutters on "B" and with the shutters open mounted the lenses and watched from the back while I carefully raisedthe light meter stalks. Both lenses worked fine on both cameras with no interference with the meters.

 

[back alley]

gerry,
just checking...a collapsible elmar?

i have one, a 50/2.8 on the way, scheduled to mate with the m3 but now i wonder about the cl...very nice and tiny for the easy carry...🙂

joe

 

[wlewisiii]

joe,

I have heard enough contradictory information about these lenses that I wonder if there isn't some variability in the CL bodies. You might want to drop a note to DAG about it - he's the one who confirmed for me that the 'Cron would be safe to collapse on the CL.

William

 

[back alley]

here's some info that suggests the elmar 50/2.8 is not all that compatible...click it

 

[wlewisiii]

Hmm. Too many "took this from X company's table but didn't test it myself" kinds of comments in there for me. All he's doing is repeating the same material that's out there all over the place. Now that's not such a bad thing - after all he won't get an email screaming to pay for a repair bill because the writer took his word the wrong way, but it doesn't add to the collective knowledge either...

All I know is that a specific 1956 mfg'd collapsible Summicron will collapse safely on a 1973 mfg'd Leica CL. Beyond that, I'd love to hear real world stuff - preferably with pics 🙂

William

 

[payasam]

Found it, for what it's worth. It is from the *Leica Guide* (Focal Press), 44th edition, 1975:

"Collapsible lenses need a safety strip to limit the retraction of the lens barrel. Dymo 9.5mm tape should be applied to the barrel 1mm from the front. Only the 50mm Hektor f/2.5 requires 12.7mm tape width."

This might also be useful:

"Leica M lenses not usable on the CL are lenses which protrude too far into the camera body, such as the 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit of serial numbers below 2314921, the 21mm Super Angulon, the 90mm f/2 Summicron, and lenses with finder attachments."

A further observation is that some screw mount lenses can be used only without hoods (presumably to make it possible to focus them). Finally, wide aperture lenses should be used only at f/2 or smaller, which I expect is related to the width of the CL's "throat".

 

[Flinor]

Joe, it was an LTM 50 Elmar. I don't recall if it was a 3.5 or 2.8.