LTM Elmar on a GXR

[Dez]

I recently bought a Ricoh GXR (aka Poor Man's M8), and am in the process of learning the ropes. So far, I love it. It came with the M-mount A12, and the little lens gauge to determine lenses safe to use with it. Any listings I have seen have indicated that the Elmar 3.5 can't be used with the camera, but I have never seen anything to tell me whether this applies to the M version, or the LTM version with an adapter, or both. I tried a late LTM Elmar 3.5 with a cheapo adapter, and when collapsed the rear of the lens is exactly flush with the test gauge. Presumably it is fine to use this lens on the camera, but I wonder why it doesn't appear in lists of approved lenses.
In any case, I think the camera will spend most of its time with my Canon 35mm f2 lens, which seems perfect for it.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Rob-F]

If it passes the gauge test, presumably it is safe to use, but I don't blame you for wanting some additional assurance! I gather the risk is that the lens could crash into the sensor. When Leica came out with the M5 and the CL, precautions had to be taken for several collapsible lenses that would take out the metering stalk if collapsed. The recommended fix was to wrap some Dymo labeling tape around the barrel to limit the rearward excursion when collapsible. Where to get the Dymo tape today, I don't know; but possibly any sort of thick tape around the barrel to limit the rearward travel would do.

Or how about selling the Elmar and picking up a nice Russian copy of a Zeiss lenses? You know, Industar or Jupiter?

 

[agfa100]

I use a strip of gaffers tape on my 50 mm Fed f3.5 works fine to make sure I don't collapse the lens by mistake.

wbill

 

[Dez]

Thanks for the inputs, folks. I'm actually looking at the Elmar as a compact option. I have a Summitar as the main 50mm lens for this camera.

Cheers,
Dez