M5 size and collapsible lenses

FrankS

FrankS

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I'm enjoying the little time I've had so far with Keith's former M5. Its larger size means that it's not the ideal camera to carry around daily as you go about your life (unless you're always carrying a bag or briefcase), but if your intent is dedicated to photography, the M5 is a pleasure to use.

I've read that a collapsible Summicron 50 can be safely collapsed into a Leica CL. I was wondering if the same is true for the M5 with its similarly dangling meter arm? My '69-'79 Summicron 50 has found a comfortable home on the M5 so far, but it doesn't make for a very compact package. This lens is age-appropriate for the M5, and the M5 makes it look rather more compact than it is. :) Can I safely use my collapsible Summicron? It collapses to a shallower extent than my other collapsible 50s: Elmar 3.5, Elmar 2.8, Summar, and Summitar.

M5 = big and nice
 
I sent an email to Sherry Krauter, asking her about collapsing a Summicron into an M5. I'll let you know what she says.
 
No collapsible lenses and the M5 -- I think that's right. I was talking to Sherry Krauter the other day and she said she dymo-tapes her Summitar open to avoid accidentally killing the meter arm.
 
I don't think you can safely collapse the Summicron all the way without damaging the meter. Have heard that it's possible to limit how far a Summicron retracts by wrapping a strip of label tape (Dymo) around the barrel making it safe to use on an M5. Sold my M5 because it couldn't use the 21mm Super Angulon without fouling the meter sensor.

Glenn

Thought you might enjoy this old shot of M5 resting on a bar of the stuff film is made from......... Too bad I couldn't slip that bar in my camera bag, unfortunately it weighed close to 80 lbs....<img>
 

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Benjamin Marks said:
No collapsible lenses and the M5 -- I think that's right. I was talking to Sherry Krauter the other day and she said she dymo-tapes her Summitar open to avoid accidentally killing the meter arm.
Click to expand...

The Summitar and Elmars all collapse to a greater degree than the Summicron though, so there may be hope.
 
Hi Frank,

Unfortunately your out of luck. Don't use the collapsables on the M5, except fully extended.

Best,

Ray
 
I don't have a scan handy for you, but I have a pile of literature from that period and the collapsible lenses are all the subject of explicit warnings against collapsing. As someone mentioned above, Leitz recommended using Dymo labeling tape to prevent destroying the metering arm on the CL and M5. Don't do it - or you'll be having a very different (and more expensive) conversation with Sherry. :(
 
You guys are right, thanks! Sherry responded: no collapsible Leica lenses on M5 without something to restrict their collapsing.
 
There is no need for dymo tape with the M3.
This is good news for me since I don't know what a dymo tape is.
 
Raid,

Dymo tape is the plastic strip used to label things. You "write" on it with a special gizmo that pushes a letter shape on the back of the tape, so it's reversed if you look at the back, but correct when you look at its shiny, usually colored front. When you remove the back of the label it reveals a glued surface that allows you to put it on almost anything.

You probably have seen them on all kinds of furniture and gear as inventory labels.

I was longing for an M5, but now that I know I can't use collapsible glass on it, the allure is gone. :rolleyes:

GAS attack eluded... :)
 
SolaresLarrave said:
I was longing for an M5, but now that I know I can't use collapsible glass on it, the allure is gone. :rolleyes:

GAS attack eluded... :)
Click to expand...


Glad I could help you out, Francisco!

There IS someone on RFF, I think Doug, who uses or used to use a collapsible Summicron on a CL with no problem. Doug?
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Raid,

Dymo tape is the plastic strip used to label things. You "write" on it with a special gizmo that pushes a letter shape on the back of the tape, so it's reversed if you look at the back, but correct when you look at its shiny, usually colored front. When you remove the back of the label it reveals a glued surface that allows you to put it on almost anything.

You probably have seen them on all kinds of furniture and gear as inventory labels.

I was longing for an M5, but now that I know I can't use collapsible glass on it, the allure is gone. :rolleyes:

GAS attack eluded... :)
Click to expand...
Here is a page from the Leica Manual (Morgan & Morgan), 15th Edition: http://home.comcast.net/~plummerl/MyPics/Leica_M5_with_Dymo.pdf with very explicit instructions!:)
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Raid,

Dymo tape is the plastic strip used to label things. You "write" on it with a special gizmo that pushes a letter shape on the back of the tape, so it's reversed if you look at the back, but correct when you look at its shiny, usually colored front. When you remove the back of the label it reveals a glued surface that allows you to put it on almost anything.

You probably have seen them on all kinds of furniture and gear as inventory labels.

I was longing for an M5, but now that I know I can't use collapsible glass on it, the allure is gone. :rolleyes:

GAS attack eluded... :)
Click to expand...

I'm not sure you can still buy Dymo tape! :D At least, I haven't seen any in ages. The new-style machines put Dymo's machines off the market, as far as I can tell (but I haven't looked very hard).

As far as GAS and collapsible lenses goes, for years all I had was a collapsible 50mm Summicron. It takes great pictures, but using the collapsible "feature" makes for S-L-O-W picture taking...so I very quickly learned that I didn't want to use it. YMMV...
 
FrankS said:
I've read that a collapsible Summicron 50 can be safely collapsed into a Leica CL. I was wondering if the same is true for the M5 with it's similarly dangling meter arm?
Click to expand...

Dear Frank, I'm sorry for what Sherry is reported to be saying, but things are different...

She's only repeating what Leitz official papers were saying at that time.

But, actually, even if Leitz says you can't, and even if Sherry says you can't, you actually can safely collapse a 50 Summicron in your M5, as I always do in mine.

The Summicron doesn't collapse so deep as an Elmar, that's why you can completely collapse it whitout any Dymo tape in an M5 body.

You can and there are no risks. But only if it's the Summicron!

This remain true even if Leitz said the contrary in that time!

Enjoy your M5.
 
My recollection is that the collapsible Cron 50 does not extend rearward beyond the mount itself even when fully collapsed. This is very different than the collapsible Elmar 50 which extends rearward well beyond its mount when fully collapsed. Assuming that my recollection is correct, then this would support what others have said above about it being okay to use the collapsible Cron on the M5 as well as the CL since there's no way the rear of the collapsed Cron lens could contact the meter lever arm which, for obvious reasons, must clear the rear mount portion of the lens when mounted in order to operate.

-Randy
 
...And what I'd love confirmation on is whether the new 50/2 collapsible Heliar can be fully collapsed with the M5. Stephen Gandy's site indicates yes, though he is careful, understandably, to not make a statement beyond what his experience is with his own M5. So, have others had the same experience? I think I'd like this lens very much, so am interested in seeing if it is in fact compatible with the M5.
 
Given that the collapsible Heliar isn't really all that collapsible, I'd be very surprised if it wouldn't work on the M5.
 
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