Shac
Well-known
Can an unmodified 50 DR Summicron be used on an M9 (I don't mean with the close-up goggles - just on its own)
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
JMQ
Well-known
The quick answer is NO. You can mount it, but the focusing is very limited, even in the normal mode. The 50DR is my favorite lens, and the first lens I mounted on the M9 when I bought it...good thing I did not break anything.
Shac
Well-known
jmq - thank you for the bad news - I too love this lens and do not want to have it modified - c'est la vie
The other way to use it on the M9 or M8- buy a Rigid Summicron type 1 with bad glass. The Optics Module from the DR unscrews and will screw into the non-DR mount.
Shac
Well-known
Thanks for the tip Brian
peterm1
Veteran
When I had my M8 in the offing I ended up selling my lovely near mint DR summicron for this reason. At least it helped me pay for the darned M8. And luckily I had another later summicron 50 to use with it. But I still miss that lens - it was so beautifully made. A real gem.
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Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
I had this problem then a friend sold me a mint condition rigid 'cron focusing helicoid sans optics module and I swapped it over. Works perfectly.
Of course, now I own another rigid 'cron and the DR as well as the helicoid. Oh yeah, I'm not using the pretty helicoid now, I guess. PM me if you want it.
Phil Forrest
Of course, now I own another rigid 'cron and the DR as well as the helicoid. Oh yeah, I'm not using the pretty helicoid now, I guess. PM me if you want it.
Phil Forrest
hans voralberg
Veteran
I think Sherry can modify it to fit the M8/9
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Not without cutting the close-range cam. Then the lens is no longer a Dual Range.
Phil Forrest
Shac
Well-known
50 Dr
50 Dr
Thanks Phil appreciate the offer - however, I have a rigid cron as well and was trying to figure out whether to sell it or not
50 Dr
Thanks Phil appreciate the offer - however, I have a rigid cron as well and was trying to figure out whether to sell it or not
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Phil, I sent you a PM on the helicoid, I'll take it if possible.
Ronald M
Veteran
You can not freely swap lens cells. They are a matched set with the focus mount.
The last 4 numbers of the lens cell serial are engraved inside the focus mount for a reason.
The last 4 numbers of the lens cell serial are engraved inside the focus mount for a reason.
rogerzilla
Well-known
It is sort of usable for people shots. See Ken Rockwell's page.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f2-dr.htm
Waste of money on an M9 really; leave it for someone who can use it fully.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f2-dr.htm
Waste of money on an M9 really; leave it for someone who can use it fully.
I have swapped lens cells, shimmed it to work correctly.
I have also swapped front elements to fix a Type 1 Rigid Summicron- but had to bore out the optcal fixture to do it. Again- worked correctly.
It is fairly easy to know when you have the shim set correctly with a Digital camera.
I have also swapped front elements to fix a Type 1 Rigid Summicron- but had to bore out the optcal fixture to do it. Again- worked correctly.
It is fairly easy to know when you have the shim set correctly with a Digital camera.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Rigid 'Cron and DR 'Cron optical units may be matched to the helicoid with an engraved number but don't tell that to my m8 or M9 since I can swap two optical modules freely across three helicoids with no focusing error at all. It's spot on at infinity and spot on at close-focus. The ONLY issue I've had is with the aperture index marking not sitting at top dead center when I mix and match.
Basically, if the lens was a DR it's nominal focal length is 51.9mm and it needs to be mated to a helicoid with a nominal focal length of 51.9mm, be it rigid or DR. Leica also made rigid 'Crons in 51.6mm so those helicoids exist but I haven't seen one. If you interchange the two, the focus error will be only slight anyways.
Phil Forrest
Basically, if the lens was a DR it's nominal focal length is 51.9mm and it needs to be mated to a helicoid with a nominal focal length of 51.9mm, be it rigid or DR. Leica also made rigid 'Crons in 51.6mm so those helicoids exist but I haven't seen one. If you interchange the two, the focus error will be only slight anyways.
Phil Forrest