Summicron-C 40mm and 11251 retainer ring -- which 39mm UV filters work?

[Raphael]

Good afternoon!

I am trying to equip my Summicron-C 40mm with a UV filter.
I do have a 11251 E39/S5.5 retainer ring -- which was not designed for this lens but for the 90mm version together with the 11250 hood... -- .

However, I have heard of people using this specific ring to hold 39mm filter glass (without the threaded mount) in place between the lens and the adapter.

Do you have any personal experience which 39mm filters have suiting glass diameter to fit between the lens and this adapter?
I do have a B+W 39mm filter; does anyone of you use this specific filter for this purpose?

I am aware of the existence of Heliopan filters with the correct thread (prone to flare due to the coating though, I tried that one), and the existence of chinese ebay 39mm/0.75-pitch to 39mm/0.5mm adapters.


Cheers,
Raphael

 

[Huss]

I bought a 39mm filter adapter for series 5.5 for my Summicron 40 and it sucks.
Why? Because while it does adapt perfectly, it touches the aperture ring and binds up against it. I now use it w/o the filter adapter, and just very lightly screw on a regular 39mm filter or hood.

The offending object:
http://www.dagcamera.com/store/p146/39mm_Filter_Adapter_for_series_5.5-_Summicron_2/40mm_Lens.html

 

[13Promet]

Three years ago I've got a cheap (3-5$ IIRC), chinese version of the same adapter and it works perfectly.

 

[Raphael]

would it be possible for you to upload a picture of the working adapter? just to avoid me buying one that also locks up the focusing ring.
Cheers,
Raphael

 

[Greybeard]

I've bought several 5.5 to 39mm adaptors from an eBay vendor that goes by the name sm-camera.

I'm using these on the 50mm/f2 Summicron and the 90mm/f4 Elmar.

All have worked perfectly.

 

[Huss]

Three years ago I've got a cheap (3-5$ IIRC), chinese version of the same adapter and it works perfectly.

On the Summicron 40mm lens?

 

[Huss]

I've bought several 5.5 to 39mm adaptors from an eBay vendor that goes by the name sm-camera.

I'm using these on the 50mm/f2 Summicron and the 90mm/f4 Elmar.

All have worked perfectly.

But they are not the Summicron 40mm lens that Raphael is talking about.

Here is mine with the adapter, and how it binds the aperture ring:

The problem is the SummicronC 40 has the aperture ring at the absolute front of the lens, with no lip or anything else ahead of it.

p.s the one that SM-Camera sells on ebay is exactly like mine...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Adapter-Rin...795586?hash=item4af0c18a42:g:X1YAAOSwl8NVawnd

 

[calebarchie]

Please avoid spreading FUD..

My cron has a lip, and I'm pretty sure all do, yours may be due for a CLA.

 

[Huss]

Please avoid spreading FUD..

My cron has a lip, and I'm pretty sure all do, yours may be due for a CLA.

Why don't you post a pic of what yours looks like? That would be helpful.
Here's mine:

It looks like every other 40mm SummicronC I've seen. Is yours different?

 

[calebarchie]

certainly.

Is this a clear enough indication of a lip?

It seems you may have over screwed your filter thread or more likely the front element group is not in its correct position.

For the OP, just check with your lens, the aperture tab should not protrude past the front of the lens. You can half screw standard 39mm filters in but be careful not to re-cut the thread or damage via a knock.

 

[Huss]

certainly.

Is this a clear enough indication of a lip?

Thanks for that! Very interesting. If you look at the white dot for the aperture setting, mine is much closer to the aperture ring than yours. Seeing mine works perfectly on all my Ms, including the M240, there must have been different versions of this lens made.

If you look at this youtube video, you can see that his is like mine, lipless (!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvFtBxWY3mA

And another image of one like mine:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AhOy3KtYdrc/hqdefault.jpg

So, to the OP, it depends on whether your SummicronC 40 has a lip or not.

 

[calebarchie]

Thanks for that! Very interesting. If you look at the white dot for the aperture setting, mine is much closer to the aperture ring than yours. Seeing mine works perfectly on all my Ms, including the M240, there must have been different versions of this lens made.

If you look at this youtube video, you can see that his is like mine, lipless (!)


And another image of one like mine:


So, to the OP, it depends on whether your SummicronC 40 has a lip or not.

Yours is an earlier production, mine is the latest '75 run. The position of my dot/markings is a little awkward see here
http://www.jumboprawn.net/jesse/cams/gear-profiles/leica-summicron-40mm.html

 

[Huss]

Yours is an earlier production, mine is the latest '75 run. The position of my dot/markings is a little awkward see here
http://www.jumboprawn.net/jesse/cams/gear-profiles/leica-summicron-40mm.html

Better being an early production run than needing a CLA!
😉

 

[k__43]

I bought the Series5.5-39mm adapter too. Ground it down and attached a Summicron35 square hood to it.
Untitled by Kay K, on Flickr

I actually didn't liked that combo so much (it was making this beautiful small lens too big and also made it difficult to move the aperture ring with my thick fingers). I just screw the 39mm filter directly into the thread. If you don't force it too much you won't damage anything and it sits tight enough.
That said I got a rubber hood with a series 5.5 UV filter with the last cron-c I bought and use that in the moment

 

[Greybeard]

But they are not the Summicron 40mm lens that Raphael is talking about.

Here is mine with the adapter, and how it binds the aperture ring:

The problem is the SummicronC 40 has the aperture ring at the absolute front of the lens, with no lip or anything else ahead of it.

p.s the one that SM-Camera sells on ebay is exactly like mine...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Adapter-Rin...795586?hash=item4af0c18a42:g:X1YAAOSwl8NVawnd

Typing error on my parts. Sorry.

I am using the adaptors on two different Summicron C 40mm/f2 lenses and there is no interference with the aperture ring on the lenses that I have.

 

[Fraser]

I just used a regular 39mm filter screws in a couple of turns fine, never liked the adapter added too much bulk.

 

[fer_fdi]

I'm currently using one of the 5.5-39 adapter from Heavystar without trouble on my Summicron-C (2598xxx, it has the "lip")
They are reasonably priced and work.

Since I don't have a Leica 12518 5.5 rubber hood and I use a filter (B+W 007 MRC) I have found a hood solution for it. A foldable, threadless, rubber hood made for the c-mount CCTV Fujian 35/1.7 lens, available on the bay if you search a bit.
This threadless rubber hood will slip away if mounted just around the 39mm filter but will hold in place if mounted around the 5.5-39 adapter, so it works.
So, my setup is: Summicron-C + 5.5-39 + 39mm filter + 41mm cap, and hood mounted around adapter.
The cap will reach the 39mm filter with the hood mounted.
A 40.5mm cap would be better with B+W filters, but I coudn't find any... so I put a bit of camera tape on the inside of the push-on 41mm cap. Other filters have a larger external diameter.
I described it here: https://www.flickr.com/groups/summicron-c/discuss/72157622716299533/ incl. other options I use.

Alt. I also use a plain 39mm filter partially screwed-in (with care)

I read around that it is preferable to have the filter as close to the front element as possible, but I'm not sure it's really important (in fact I'd prefer to avoid putting a piece of glass in front of a good lens...)
In case it's better, the best would be to partially screw a 39mm filter, or find a 5.5 clear filter and a 12518 rubber hood,
or a 11251 ring and the glass of a (37mm?) threaded filter (since 5.5 glass will not fit inside 11251) Note 11251 has no female threads on the top.

Some users lathe the outside of a 11251 ring to fit a 12526 hood. Or trim and sand the rubber of a deteriorated 12518 hood to do the same. But 12526 hoods are very expensive. I see here https://flic.kr/p/dQ56CC that 12524 hood could also be used in this fashion.
The 12526 can also be used on the 28/2.8 ASPH Elmarit, so I guess one could find something more efficient for the 40/2.

I think the most elegant and safe solution if using a filter is Heavystar 5.5-39 adapter + 39mm filter + screw-in 39mm hood and cap.
Series 5.5 filters are old, most used, and very possibly non multicoated.
If you have/find a good condition 12518 hood and cap, that would be the most compact and simple.

 

[jaapv]

Watch out with those Heavystar adapters. They are aluminium and that can bind, making them impossible to remove! I know - I had to send one to Will van Manen to remove by force. 🙁

 

[fer_fdi]

I read that the glass from a 39mm B+W or Tiffen filter will fit inside the Summicron-C hood with no rattle.
But it seems that the usual series 5.5 threadless filter is around 35.9mm diameter.

Any of you tried the glass from a 39mm filter in place of a series 5.5 filter between hood and lens?

Can anyone check the diameter of a series 5.5 filter that fits inside the Summ-C hood please?

What's the safest way to remove the glass out of the frame on a 39mm filter?

 

[Fraser]

Why go to all that effort when a 39mm filter will screw in a couple of turns and if you really want a hood then a generic 39mm one will work.
If you go for a b&w or heliopan filter these are made from brass and won't get stuck or damage the thread so easily.