timse
Newbie
Hi all, this is my first post here so be kind! 
I am new to LTM but have been shooting with an M2 and M3 in recent years. The next "logical" step for me was to explore the screw mount system and was able to acquire an early II from 1932 and a III from 1936 along with a nickel Elmar plus SBOOI finder and FKOOH hood and a Canon 3.5 28mm Serenar + finder for reasonable prices. My questions:
- The Elmar finder is wobbly on the II but fits just fine on the III. I just added artists tape and now it fits good on the II as well. The Canon 28mm finder however will not go into the accessory show of either camera at all. I understand that the shoe did not have a standard size back then so I am wondering how to make it fit. Do I file down the VF shoe until it fits?
- The Elmar is somewhat cloudy. I have read everything about cleaning it i.e. a French website and a video in Japanese seem to be the only step-by-step instructions I could find. Is DIY worth the trouble since it is said to be relatively easy by just removing the front ring or should I send it off to have it cleaned?
- The FOOKH hood I bought for the Elmar does not fit tight enough. I used tape here as well and it is now fine. But I was wondering if the early non-serial numbered Elmars have a smaller diameter then the post war versions or do I have a defective hood? Also I was wondering if anyone built a DIY hood out of cardboard or some kind of plastic tube for the Elmar. I could not find anything online but it seems this should be simple enough although neither historically nor esthetically 'correct'.
- Does anyone have experienc with the Canon Serenar 3.5 28mm? I read somewhere that it because of the type of glass used it fogs all the time and needs to be cleaned periodically.
thanks so much!
I am new to LTM but have been shooting with an M2 and M3 in recent years. The next "logical" step for me was to explore the screw mount system and was able to acquire an early II from 1932 and a III from 1936 along with a nickel Elmar plus SBOOI finder and FKOOH hood and a Canon 3.5 28mm Serenar + finder for reasonable prices. My questions:
- The Elmar finder is wobbly on the II but fits just fine on the III. I just added artists tape and now it fits good on the II as well. The Canon 28mm finder however will not go into the accessory show of either camera at all. I understand that the shoe did not have a standard size back then so I am wondering how to make it fit. Do I file down the VF shoe until it fits?
- The Elmar is somewhat cloudy. I have read everything about cleaning it i.e. a French website and a video in Japanese seem to be the only step-by-step instructions I could find. Is DIY worth the trouble since it is said to be relatively easy by just removing the front ring or should I send it off to have it cleaned?
- The FOOKH hood I bought for the Elmar does not fit tight enough. I used tape here as well and it is now fine. But I was wondering if the early non-serial numbered Elmars have a smaller diameter then the post war versions or do I have a defective hood? Also I was wondering if anyone built a DIY hood out of cardboard or some kind of plastic tube for the Elmar. I could not find anything online but it seems this should be simple enough although neither historically nor esthetically 'correct'.
- Does anyone have experienc with the Canon Serenar 3.5 28mm? I read somewhere that it because of the type of glass used it fogs all the time and needs to be cleaned periodically.
thanks so much!
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Hi all, this is my first post here so be kind!
I am new to LTM but have been shooting with an M2 and M3 in recent years. The next "logical" step for me was to explore the screw mount system and was able to acquire an early II from 1932 and a III from 1936 along with a nickel Elmar plus SBOOI finder and FKOOH hood and a Canon 3.5 28mm Serenar + finder for reasonable prices. My questions:
- The Elmar finder is wobbly on the II but fits just fine on the III. I just added artists tape and now it fits good on the II as well. The Canon 28mm finder however will not go into the accessory show of either camera at all. I understand that the shoe did not have a standard size back then so I am wondering how to make it fit. Do I file down the VF shoe until it fits?
- The Elmar is somewhat cloudy. I have read everything about cleaning it i.e. a French website and a video in Japanese seem to be the only step-by-step instructions I could find. Is DIY worth the trouble since it is said to be relatively easy by just removing the front ring or should I send it off to have it cleaned?
- The FOOKH hood I bought for the Elmar does not fit tight enough. I used tape here as well and it is now fine. But I was wondering if the early non-serial numbered Elmars have a smaller diameter then the post war versions or do I have a defective hood? Also I was wondering if anyone built a DIY hood out of cardboard or some kind of plastic tube for the Elmar. I could not find anything online but it seems this should be simple enough although neither historically nor esthetically 'correct'.
- Does anyone have experienc with the Canon Serenar 3.5 28mm? I read somewhere that it because of the type of glass used it fogs all the time and needs to be cleaned periodically.
thanks so much!
Welcome to the RF forum.
I had problems with finder foots and the cold shoes not being meant for each other at times, and like you I solved the problem with tape on the VF foot or bending the cold shoe top part a little wider, this was easier to do on pre IIIc Leicas and Barnack copies.
I did make a lens hood for my I-22 lens, which is close enough to an LTM 5cm Elmar. I used a plastic bottle cap that fit snugly on the lens's rim and one was used as a lens cap and another was utilized to make a lens hood by cutting the top of the bottle cap to get basically a good fitting rim and epoxying some sheet plastic around the bottle cap to the right length for no vignette and sanding and painting the whole thing flat black. It worked out fine.
For working on your cloudy lenses, my advice is if you are not handy or experienced in such work, it is better to pay some camera tech with a good work rep to do the work, especially for work on pricey lenses like Leitz made lenses, just my two cents on the matter.
lxmike
M2 fan.
welcome to the forum, likewise I have recently had the same problem with my SBOOI on my III, see this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=158402
you have a great ltm set up by the way, good luck shooting with them
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=158402
you have a great ltm set up by the way, good luck shooting with them
scigeek
Well-known
Welcome to the world of ltm, and the forum!
I'm a great fan of the 3.5/5cm Elmar. I shoot mine with no hood, or the only Leica ltm hood I have - a FOOKH - made for the 3.5cm Elmar/Summaron. My hood has a little thumbscrew to tighten it. That is the period hood. Later hoods had a couple of clips which you pressed before pushing the hood on, and you may have one of those. No problem - sell it and get the earlier model which works well.
Back to your foggy Elmar - my advice is that unless you know what you're doing have a professional deal with it. Your fog may be evaporated gunk from the iris lubrication, or it may be fungus, or a mixture of both.
This isn't some Industar (may be good/may be awful). This is a period Elmar, and all these lenses were capable of first class results, and can be again, if cared for.
After the Wedding. Leica 111c, 3.5/5cm uncoated Elmar, no filter.
I'm a great fan of the 3.5/5cm Elmar. I shoot mine with no hood, or the only Leica ltm hood I have - a FOOKH - made for the 3.5cm Elmar/Summaron. My hood has a little thumbscrew to tighten it. That is the period hood. Later hoods had a couple of clips which you pressed before pushing the hood on, and you may have one of those. No problem - sell it and get the earlier model which works well.
Back to your foggy Elmar - my advice is that unless you know what you're doing have a professional deal with it. Your fog may be evaporated gunk from the iris lubrication, or it may be fungus, or a mixture of both.
This isn't some Industar (may be good/may be awful). This is a period Elmar, and all these lenses were capable of first class results, and can be again, if cared for.
After the Wedding. Leica 111c, 3.5/5cm uncoated Elmar, no filter.
Richard G
Veteran
A nickel Elmar is very old and it won't be easy taking its front ring off. I'd get a pro to do it. I've tried mine and it won't budge. But more to the point, I'm not sure I want to get rid of the haze on the back of my Elmar front element. I've had some magical shots with my 1932 Leica II and nickel Elmar. I now have a much more modern set up, a 1937 III and 1950 Elmar, coated and clear. I'm worried I won't like the results. I see the first negs tomorrow.
scigeek
Well-known
MikeMGB
Well-known
maddoc
... likes film again.
I have an unnumbered, non-coated 3.5 cm Elmar (but not Nickel version) and the FKOOH hood fits perfect. I also have an old PRIMO lens cap which fits perfectly as hood-cap.
My Elmar had a very stiff aperture but I was not able to open it so had sent it off DAG who did a perfect job.
My Elmar had a very stiff aperture but I was not able to open it so had sent it off DAG who did a perfect job.
Luddite Frank
Well-known
Your nickel Elmar - Does the Infinity lock at 7 o'clock or 11 o'clock ?
If 11 o'clock, is is quite early, and will not work on your early III: focusing tab will collide with the slow-speeds knob.
I will echo suggestions about leaving the cleaning to a pro, especially a nickel lens.
Great kit, enjoy !
LF
If 11 o'clock, is is quite early, and will not work on your early III: focusing tab will collide with the slow-speeds knob.
I will echo suggestions about leaving the cleaning to a pro, especially a nickel lens.
Great kit, enjoy !
LF
scigeek
Well-known
Richard G
Veteran
Absent minded lay parked my 11 o'clock nickel Elmar on the III: collision with the slow speed dial confirmed, of course. That's why they changed to 7 o'clock.
In another thread someone questioned the need to consult a Barnack manual. Well, there isn't one for a Leica II, but I recently downloaded a Leica IIIc/f manual and learnt something very useful. Start the lens mounting procedure with the focus tab towards the VF window and the thread entrance is right there. Works for 7 o'clock and 11 o'clock Elmars.
In another thread someone questioned the need to consult a Barnack manual. Well, there isn't one for a Leica II, but I recently downloaded a Leica IIIc/f manual and learnt something very useful. Start the lens mounting procedure with the focus tab towards the VF window and the thread entrance is right there. Works for 7 o'clock and 11 o'clock Elmars.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
I've a poor copy of a model II manual, called as usual 'Directions' and published January 1933. It's "List Photo No. 7280" and has 48 pages.
The model they seem to have abandoned was the Standard Leica as there's a page or two about it in the IIIs's manual/directions of 1937 and I've also a copy of a folded sheet (4 pages) of "Supplementary Directions for the Standard Leica Camera".
The Focal Press also published a guide and updated it several times and it's also the easiest to find on ebay.
Regards, David
I've a poor copy of a model II manual, called as usual 'Directions' and published January 1933. It's "List Photo No. 7280" and has 48 pages.
The model they seem to have abandoned was the Standard Leica as there's a page or two about it in the IIIs's manual/directions of 1937 and I've also a copy of a folded sheet (4 pages) of "Supplementary Directions for the Standard Leica Camera".
The Focal Press also published a guide and updated it several times and it's also the easiest to find on ebay.
Regards, David
David Hughes
David Hughes
Nearly forgot, after the war, I was told, there was a cottage industry coating - after a fashion - old lenses. I had a coated Summar but sold it as it was fit only for display as a curiosity.
Regards, David
Regards, David
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Leica certainly offered it as a service after the war.
timse
Newbie
Thank you all for your comments. This has been helpful.
My nickel Elmar has the 7 o'clock infinity lock so it works fine on the III. I will take your advice and send it off to have it cleaned. My hood (actually it seems to be the FISON not FOOKH. I think the latter is for the 3.5cm lens) does have the thumb screw but even screwed in all the way it sits very loose on the lens. It seems like I might have gotten a bad one so I will send it back to KEH and will try to get it replaced or just not use one to see how bad the flare really is.
An update on the finder that would not go in the accessory shoe: I sanded down the foot of the Canon 28mm finder with very fine 400 grit sand paper. I did not have to sand much at all and it now fits nicely.
Developing my first roll I took with the II + Elmar tonight. I am quite impressed with these little 80+ year old cameras. Shooting was fun and not much slower than it would have been with an M camera. Even film loading was a breeze with a NYC Metro card stuck in the back when inserting the film.
My nickel Elmar has the 7 o'clock infinity lock so it works fine on the III. I will take your advice and send it off to have it cleaned. My hood (actually it seems to be the FISON not FOOKH. I think the latter is for the 3.5cm lens) does have the thumb screw but even screwed in all the way it sits very loose on the lens. It seems like I might have gotten a bad one so I will send it back to KEH and will try to get it replaced or just not use one to see how bad the flare really is.
An update on the finder that would not go in the accessory shoe: I sanded down the foot of the Canon 28mm finder with very fine 400 grit sand paper. I did not have to sand much at all and it now fits nicely.
Developing my first roll I took with the II + Elmar tonight. I am quite impressed with these little 80+ year old cameras. Shooting was fun and not much slower than it would have been with an M camera. Even film loading was a breeze with a NYC Metro card stuck in the back when inserting the film.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
The FOOKH fits 35mm (Summaron and Elmar) lenses and was sold as suitable for them and the Summar in the late 50's and early 60's; although I can't nail down the exact years as I don't have that many old catalogues. It was listed as the 12 505 R or FOOKH in some catalogues.
Regards, David