Leicaflex SL2 with R lens issue

[Steve M.]

"On the principle......that it's easier to remove too much metal than put it back..."

Amen to that. It's also a sound metaphor for life, yes? It'e easier (and less stressful) to do things right the first time than to have to go back and correct them later. I never got on w/ any of the R bodies, preferring instead to shoot Leica R glass on Nikon bodies, but a well tuned and smoothly running Leicaflex is a fun camera to shoot. Their viewfinders are like looking at the world through a big, bright picture window.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

"a well tuned and smoothly running Leicaflex is a fun camera to shoot. Their viewfinders are like looking at the world through a big, bright picture window.

It was in the Leica Store in Wetzlar at a sane price, and it was the first time I'd seen one in the flesh, so having looked at the CL they had next to it, I asked if I could have a look, without any plan to buy, and putting that viewfinder up to my eye was like looking through the brightscreen of my Rolleiflex. My eyesight a bit weaker now, but I could see things in focus across the screen, not just in the centre prism. Everything about it is exquisitely mechanical. It sold itself.

 

[Godfrey]

Good to hear you've got it sorted out!

Yes, the Leicaflex SL was/is my dream SLR for many many years. I could never afford the lenses for it in the past, but after Leica discontinued the R system, lens and body prices tanked for a few years. My first R gear was a black Leicaflex SL with 50, 90, and 135 mm lenses, all for the grand total of about $500 per lens with the body thrown in for nothing.

I remember when a similar kit in the 1990s based on the R8 and adding a 24mm lens, would have cost $15,000 or more.

Regards lens compatibility, people wiser in this stuff than I have told me there's really no problem using ROM lenses on the Leicaflex and Leicaflex SL, but Leica was always very conservative about the possibility of damaging the ROM contacts. I don't know the truth of it because I concentrated on buying 3-cam lenses for maximum compatibility across the Leicaflex and R series bodies.

Also, again on compatibility, a few lenses in the R system range cannot be used on Leicaflex and Leicaflex SL bodies due to mechanical interference with the mirror. The SL2 and later R bodies have a revised mirror action that permits their use. DO NOT defeat the lockout (ridge on the lens flange) and fit them to the Leicaflex & SL body: used like that, the likelihood is that the mirror will both jam and be damaged, and the rear element of the lens could be damaged.

I know that the Elmarit-R 24mm and Super-Elmar-R 15mm are two of these. I've also heard that the later version of the Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8 is incompatible with the Leicaflex and Leicaflex SL, but I don't know the truth of that.

G

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Thanks Godfrey, I have the 35 and 50 Summicrons and an 80mm Summilux that I recall you recommending. A wide angle will be next, but it's not essential. Very useful info on the incompatible lenses.

I have to say, I think it's a beauty.

 

[Godfrey]

Thanks Godfrey, I have the 35 and 50 Summicrons and an 80mm Summilux that I recall you recommending. A wide angle will be next, but it's not essential. Very useful info on the incompatible lenses.

I have to say, I think it's a beauty.

https://reluctanttenor.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/leicaflexsl2-1-of-1.jpg?w=2720

It is indeed! Lovely camera. 🙂

I can no longer find this web page, but luckily I rendered it to a PDF an eon ago when I found it. It has a lot of good information about the R system lens mount differences and a clear compatibility table

Leica R Lenses - cams - compatibility.pdf

enjoy! Make photos with it!

G

 

[Calzone]

I had heard that the 80 Lux was Mandler's favorite lens.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

An interesting lens is the 65/3.5 Elmar made for the Visoflex that can be adapted to a SL2 via a Leica 14167.

This lens with adapter allows full metering, although the aperture readout does not couple. Know that this lens has a click stop that is settable for stopping down, but the F-stops otherwise have no detents. Kinda funky.

The great things about this lens is low cost, interesting rendering, low contrast, macro close focus ability, flat field, and an interesting old school look. Also know that if you like focusing a Rollieflex that this lens has a very strong focus snap that makes it great for shooting street.

I think I paid about $350.00 for both the lens and Leica adapter. Mine is a silver version.

Cal

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Interesting Cal - I love old school lens looks, and of course it could be used on my M too. I already have the 100mm Macro Elmar with bellows, which is superb but somewhat clinical. I'll look out for one, thanks.

 

[Dralowid]

Motor doesn't get used these days, the Macro Elmarit is a great alternative to a 50mm and does so much more.

SL MOT by dralowid, on Flickr

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

That's nicely compact!

 

[Dralowid]

Build quality is old school, shutter speeds progressive (if that is the right word) then 10 x AA batteries in boxes with gold contacts, a motor that goes off like an old Norton with the ignition too far advanced...get rid of all that stuff and it becomes a very nice and simple camera to hold...

SL60 by dralowid, on Flickr

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I think they are beautiful, it sits in my hands perfectly. I find the build quality and looks somehow reminiscent of a mid 70s Benz - form following function, frippery free.

Nice!

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Evening sidelighting, taken with my Zeiss Ultron 50mm f1.8. One over-engineered German beauty period saluting the other (with the 80mm Summilux on the SL2 - it's a perfect match for the camera size).

 

[Calzone]

Charles,

Sherry's favorite R is the SL. When I had her build my SL2-MOT from two parts cameras she mentioned that with the SL2 they went crazy with the overbuild.

One camera, the SL2-MOT was a shelf queen. I suspect that early on the CdS cell died early on in it's life and it went unused. This camera also suffered a desilvering prism.

The donor SL2 was a silver version that had a working meter and a perfect prism. The camera was so well used that the lens mount needed to be replaced (no lie), and the body was dented from possibly from being used for street fighting.

Sherry mentioned that she hated working on SL2's because of the overbuild made them hard to work on. Only about 1K SL2-MOT's built.

Cal

 

[cary]

A couple of months ago I had Don CLA and replace the prism only SL MOT. Just a great camera to use!

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I have to say I am worried about something going wrong on the SL2, it's not a camera I'd trust to many repairers. I might leave it as a shelf queen as this one is so so nice, and try an SL. But the pure mechanical nature and the sense of quality just oozes out of the camera.

 

[Calzone]

I have to say I am worried about something going wrong on the SL2, it's not a camera I'd trust to many repairers. I might leave it as a shelf queen as this one is so so nice, and try an SL. But the pure mechanical nature and the sense of quality just oozes out of the camera.

Charles,

I think it would of been cool to just replace the lens mount and have a really beat up SL2 that remained a working camera. My SL2-MOT dates back to 1975.

I use to be a big fan of the F2. Over the decades I have owned many F2's, but now own none. The SL2-MOT kills any GAS for an all mechanical SLR.

Cal

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Actually it's so good it's mad not to use it, it will still look great if it turns out to have a fault that's unrepairable.

It's funny - I have a really nicely zinged and brassing F2AS, but I have no desire to use it - the metering display is nowhere near as clear and the focus screen on the SL2 just pops. Funny old world, I never intended to buy one and now I think it beats the F2. Time for a bit of a clear out.

 

[Dralowid]

What is the legend about the SL or SL2 in the Leica museum that fell out of a fighter during some war or other and was retrieved from the desert a long time later...repairable?

My SLMOT is a little tatty, I sent it to CRR in the UK not long after I got it but at the time didn't have the money to re-sliver the prism. I've got used to a few spots, I suppose they'd annoy me if I took a lot of snow scenes but I don't. It is a very low volume camera, like the SL2MOT and still with a low value.

Curiously you can't turn the meter off on the MOTs.

The viewfinder, spots and all, still surprises people.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I wouldn't want a Leicaflex SL dropping on me, it was probably thrown as a last resort when the bombs ran out!

I'm encouraged that those who love them, really love them. I have had so many SLRs and I can't think of a single one with a viewfinder so focussed. My first reel having been developed with me using the Summilux wide open at f1.4 and there is only one missed focus - by a good two feet with me firing accidentally. A recent shoot at the Morgan factory with my F2AS and 50mm f1.4 had at least two thirds off. I can have good days and bad days so I won't over-do it, but it was the reason I bought it.

Tomorrow, some portraits of my father.