Leicaflex SL2 with R lens issue

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CharlesDAMorgan

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I have been using both an R4S and an R7 with no issues for some months. I have a 35mm Summicron, 50mm Summicron and 80mm Summilux, all of which work perfectly on the two cameras.

Last week I bought an immaculate black chrome Leicaflex SL2 in the Leica Store in the Leica Park at Wetzlar. I've put in a battery with adapter and the meter is working well, if not yet fully tested. But to my confusion, the Summicron 50mm aperture setting does not register at all on the 'Flex, while the other two work perfectly. Perplexity reigns. Any guidance on what I have got would be much appreciated. I am probably going to part with the R4S and might sell this with it, but I don't want to misdescribe the lens.

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summicron50-1-of-1.jpg


Compared to the backs of the 35mm Summicron and 80 Summilux

img_8320.jpg
 
You're 50 is 'R Only', meaning no 1 or 2 cams (the silver ramps inside the mount) that are used in the Leicaflex and Leicaflex SL/SL2. It will only fit R3-R9 bodies.
 
Charles,

The metering on the SL2 is a tight spot meter. Just be aware that it is more sensitive than other meters.

I own a SL2-MOT.

I bought a R macro adapter to secure the ramps required to convert my 50 Lux "E60" which was ROM to retrofit it to "three-cam." The Macro adapter had a F2.8 ramp which I filed down into a F1.4 ramp. The ramp is a simple inclined plane and pretty much involved just shaving off material parallel with the original ramp.

Cal
 
Thanks Cal, I so much prefer spot meters for most things.

I'm intrigued - you can basically instal a new set of ramps and the lens will then mate with the system? I like the idea, not sure my implementation will be up to much though!
 
CharlesDAMorgan said:
Thanks Cal, I so much prefer spot meters for most things.

I'm intrigued - you can basically instal a new set of ramps and the lens will then mate with the system? I like the idea, not sure my implementation will be up to much though!
Click to expand...

Charles,

I bought my Macro Adapter from B&H for about $40.00.

The amount of material removed was very little. Pretty much the cam is a wedge of chromed brass and all is required was a smooth file. I scored a line of a thin straight edge and began filing. It was a bit of trial and error.

The only cam I had to adjust was for the aperture readout in the VF'er. One of the cams is used for the ROM and basically the other two cams were supplied from the Macro Adapter.

I believe Leica USA no longer does camming on R-Glass.

Cal
 
Right, found a macro adapter with the cams (mine is stop down only).

How did you transfer them from the adapter to the lens?

(this is very very helpful - Summicrons are not cheap to replace!)
 
Calzone said:
Charles,

The metering on the SL2 is a tight spot meter. Just be aware that it is more sensitive than other meters.

I own a SL2-MOT.

I bought a R macro adapter to secure the ramps required to convert my 50 Lux "E60" which was ROM to retrofit it to "three-cam." The Macro adapter had a F2.8 ramp which I filed down into a F1.4 ramp. The ramp is a simple inclined plane and pretty much involved just shaving off material parallel with the original ramp.

Cal
Click to expand...

Oooo, I need to do this to my ROM 80 Lux! Would love to use that lens on my Leicaflexes!
 
I have a similar issue with my Summicron-R 50mm f/2 in that it is a very very old model (1964 vintage) made for the original Leicaflex ... only one cam, so it doesn't couple correctly with the aperture on either my Leicaflex SL or R6.2.

Since I have a Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 three-cam model, it's okay ... I mostly use the Summicron 50 for use with the Leica Focusing Bellows-R or adapted to the Leica CL with ELPRO or extension tubes for macro work (it's an amazingly good macro lens!). The 'Cron only cost me about $100 once upon a time a decade ago and, for all the use I get out of it, that's a heckuva bargain.

I'm going to spend some money on it and have it CLAed now: the focusing helicoid is getting very sticky since the lubricant has long since turned to tar...

G
 
From memory

1 cam = Original Leicaflex
2 cams = SL and SL2
3 cams = Leicaflex, SL, SL2 and R

2 cam lenses used to be the cheapest but not so noticeable these days.

I have an SLMOT, 21 SA (because it was a lot cheaper than the M version) and 65mm Macro, haven't used the motor for ages.
 
CharlesDAMorgan said:
Right, found a macro adapter with the cams (mine is stop down only).

How did you transfer them from the adapter to the lens?

(this is very very helpful - Summicrons are not cheap to replace!)
Click to expand...

Charles,

The only things you need from the Macro adapter are the two cams and the screws. These screws are tiny so you have to buy some jewler's screw drivers.

In my case I had to remove the ROM interface.

Go to the Lietax website and look at all the photos for Leica-R. It will be clear to you from the photo's the evolution of one-cam, two-cam, three-cam and ROM differences.

Pretty much you are just canabilizing a Macro adapter for the cams. If needed filing the aperture cam to make it faster than F2.8.

Really not difficult, unless you have "sausage fingers."

In my case the 3-cam allows me to use my 50 Lux "E60" on my SL as well as my SL2-MOT.

I also have Leitax adapter to F-mount that has an "almost auto aperture" so I can mount the 50 Lux "E60" on my Nikon F3P. There is a spring loaded diaphram that opens the iris for shallow DOF and for added focus snap. Release the lever and the lens stops down. In practice seamless for me.

Cal
 
CharlesDAMorgan said:
Perfect thank you - the Leitax site is very clear, I've even managed to install one on a Zeiss Rollei mount lens, so I hope I can do this.
Click to expand...

Charles,

E-Z: P-Z.

All that is required is care in dialing in the aperture ramp. Not really a cam. Four screws. If I remember correctly there is a cutout in the base of one cam so in a way it is "keyed."

The third cam if needed or required nests with one of the two cams.

Cal
 
Actually though the mounts from R-Only and Rom lenses has a ridge that won't let you mount the lenses on Original Leicaflex and SL. Sl2 I'm pretty sure has the lens mount that can take these lenses.
 
analoged said:
Actually though the mounts from R-Only and Rom lenses has a ridge that won't let you mount the lenses on Original Leicaflex and SL. Sl2 I'm pretty sure has the lens mount that can take these lenses.
Click to expand...

A,

It is my understanding in my case with ROM contacts that mounting the lens on my SL2-MOT would result in damage.

As I remember I use the same lens flange which is identical to the lens flange on the Macro adapter.

The only time I change the lens flange is when I use the Lietax F-mount to go Nikon.

When I mount my Noct-Nikkor 58/1.2 on my SL I utilize a Novaflex F-mount to M adapter that allows me to use the Noctilux F1.2 lens profile on my SL.

Another interesting lens to use for film is the 65 Elmar Visoflex lens with some adapter that Leica made. This lens is low contrast, does macro focusing and has a very pleasing rendering.

The aperture readout does not work, but the SL2 metering works with the 65 Elmar, but not on other earlier cameras. A very interesting lens on the SL2, inexpensive, and wonderful on film. Not the best for digital though.

Kinda crazy how I can stack M-R-Visoflex and how it will work on my SL, but it isn't the best for digital. On my SL2-MOT the focus has a very-very strong snap. Only F3.5 though.

Cal
 
Big success time. I managed to transfer the necessary pieces of cam ware from the macro adapter (under £30 and immaculate) to the 50mm lens. No screws got lost, I even managed to keep the little ball bearing for the aperture clicking. Having the right tools (bought for previous bodge jobs) was essential - very good JIS screwdrivers rather than cheapo ones.

On the principle (learned in a classic car workshop when helping restore my old Benz) that it's easier to remove too much metal than put it back, I measured the cam heights at each end (2.8 through to 22) which had a tiny 4 mm difference top to bottom, and then used very fine sandpaper which I could press each cam into evenly across the whole length. My first go worked perfectly.

The only thing I need to do is to adapt is the gasket from the R cam 50mm which lacks the spaces for the new cams. The one from the macro adapter is plastic and fits into the tube, so no good except as a template. As I've pushed my luck as far as possible today I'll deal with it when I can find my Dremel. This is needed to have the hard stops at f2 and f16 on the R cam bodies, so it has to be done but is not vital.

Excellent - for the cost of £30, a fully compatible lens. Thanks very much Calzone, what a brilliant hack!

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