Leica M Lens carrier?? Should I ??

[qruyk12]

Any users of this lens carrier? Do you use it, or does it sit in your bag collecting dust. Seems like a pain if you use a half case like me.. Help me decide..

 

[Benjamin]

It's a good way to ruin an extra lens if you drop your camera I guess.

Buy a Rapidwinder instead, at least it serves a genuine purpose..


Benjamin

 

[mirrored]

What it is? And why?

 

[MartinP]

Is that the carrier that sits underneath the body with an M-bayonet pointing downwards ? I thought about it, but a person would need one hand for the camera, one hand for the lens coming off the camera and the other hand for the lens from the carrier under the camera.... errrm.

Glue two lens base caps back-to-back together with hot-glue. That is handy and very practical to use (in my opinion).

PS. mirrored, I visited the Arctic up north in Finland last Autumn and intend to go back again. Any dba jobs around ? 😉

 

[mirrored]

Is that the carrier that sits underneath the body with an M-bayonet pointing downwards ?

I supposed that was the question. Somewhat weird idea.

(We have had snow and temperature below zero in southern Finland for a many weeks now. Nice that winter keep on - what is not happened for a many years. In southern Finland winters have been tending to go snowless... compared to my childhood time.) http://www.fmi.fi/en/index.html

 

[twopointeight]

I've been using the carrier for years. Usually a 35mm summicron on the camera and a 50mm summicron below. It makes it easy to go out with the two best lenses, no bag. Its well made, has a positive click lock, and can even enhance holding the camera steady. This is the set-up I run with on the last day of a destination assignment.

 

[Johann Espiritu]

I use one and I think it's quite handy, despite looking a little odd. I use it when I have a 28/50 combo. With a neck strap on, it makes changing lenses a breeze. It does sometimes attract attention, though.

 

[maddoc]

I have one but never use it because of the added weight of the second lens ... If your set-up is either two Summicron lenses (35/50) or / and a Tele-Elmarit thin (all of them with E39 filter size, identical front-cap, and light weight) it is OK, though.

In my case, the Noctilux is way to heavy (and large), the 90mm Summicron-M to heavy, the Super-Angulon-M has a to large rear element... Also, if you want to change film, you have to put that "large base plate with attached lens" somwhere ... 😱

 

[Philip Whiteman]

I have one, which got a lot of use when my 90mm lens was a tele Elmar. However the whole outfit – usually 35mm on the camera and 90mm underneath – just became too heavy when I switched to a 90mm Summicron and the carrier has sat in a drawer ever since.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Look around for a reasonably (hah!) Benser Baseplate if you can find one. Benser mjade Leica M accessories back in the 1960's which were actually listed in the Leitz catalog. They were best known for their leather cases with interchangeable compartments. The Baseplate fit over the camera's baseplate, attaching at one end via the protrusion on the opposite end of the camera from the one the regular baseplate uses, the other end secured by a screw in the tripod socket.

It has two lens bayonets, actual made-by-Leitz Leica M flanges with positive lock buttons to secure the lenses. The finish on the rest of the unit is matte chrome finnish that really does match the rest of your camera. It's sturdy enough to hold a 90mm Summicron or my heavy-as-hell 85/2 Nikkor, and probably even an 85/1.5, together with a Noctilux if your shoulder and strap can handle the weight.

If you carry only one extra lens you can secure it, then put the one you were using on the 'plate before mounting the second lens on the camera.

Leitz used to make a 7.5mm bayonet to bayonet extension tube. If you can locate a couple, maybe three, of those, a 21mm lens would be no problem either. I picked up a few at five bucks apiece when Leitz closed out their stock of Visoflex related items. The 'plate listed for $39 Way Back When, but I picked mine up used several years later for less. I even still had the original fitted box a few years ago when somebody made me a fantastic offer that I just couldn't refuse. They've turned up on rare occasion on the Auction Site, and since the past two generations of Leica folk have probably never heard the name Benser not many people run a search for them.

 

[Tom A]

I always find that the lens carriers were a pain in the butt. The Benser with two lenses on, would stretch your neck until you looked like a swan! It also ensured excess stress on strap lugs - if one snapped off, you now dropped 3 lenses and a body! The latest version, with one lens only - occasionally served a purpose - with a smallish 90 on it (Elmarit/Tele Elmarit) it worked as a handle for holding the camera steady. Too much weight though.
The Benser cases were jewel like. Very compact, well made and the various insert would keep you "re-organizing" the case for hours. However in real life I found that whatever I needed NOW was always in the wrong position. They also looked like camera cases and expensive ones at that. They were made for a far more contemplative form of photography, you looked at the scene, mentally composed the image, pulled out the body, selected the lens, carefully measured the light and took the shot. They were great for storing stuff though - I used to have several and they were labelled as "standard" kit (35f2/50f2/90/2.8) and fast kit (35f1.4/50f1.4 or 50f1 and 90f2) - never could find a good place for the 21/3,4 in them. When I went out, I would just "pour the content of what ever kit selected in to my "regular" shoulder bag (usually a Brady fishing bag) and use the film cans as "stuffing". They were also the only "case" that had small places for DR Goggles and filters as well as MR Meters.

 

[Al Kaplan]

The neckstrap lugs, two rivet style, on the older M3 bodies could stand the weight, and I suspect that a 35/2.8 Elmarit and a 90/4 Elmar wouldn't have been a problem.

I used to carry my 19mm Canon together with an 85/2 Nikkor using the Leitz grey plastic double bayonet thingie. The rear of the 19 sleeved into the back of the 85. When the 19 was stolen so was the adapter along with my Visoflex II mount 150/2.3 Astro Pan Tachar.

Yup, the Benser cases were Rich Guys luggage (or fondlers' cases) for sure. I mostly use the soft canvas Leica bag, a bit ratty looking after all these years, but I also have one of the Leitz grey leather combination case when I want to appear a bit more elegantly dressed. They also made a smaller grey "combination case" that'll take a CL plus the 90mm Elmar C.

 

[Chris101]

I am coming to the conclusion that the strap lugs on Leica M bodies is their weak point and that many have experienced failures.

 

[Austerby]

Well I'm a fan of the lens carrier - but it works best with two smallish lenses. I've used mine for times when I've been walking about at a specific location taking photos - the last time was a family wedding when carrying a camera case would have been a nuisance during the reception and I didn't want to leave a lens on a table or in a jacket pocket. It meant I had a 28/50 combination perfectly at hand.

I think it works best as a temporary accessory, useful on occasions that a camera bag is an encumbrance. It's certainly not on the camera all the time.

Of course the best carrier for a second lens is a second Leica....