Summicron DR: on film Leica or on digital?

[raid]

I got a Summicron DR. No close-up eyes (yet). I know that as the lens is right now, it cannot be used on the M8 or M9 except at the close-up setting. I see some options:

1. Use the DR on a film Leica and buy a set of DR eyes for it.
2. Send the DR ro DAG to remove the close-up "hindrance" and make it like a Rigid Summicron (cost: $100).
3. Unscrew the optica unit from the DR and mount it on a (second) Rigid Summicron lens body.
4. Other methods or suggestions?


What would you do if you wanted to use the DR for close-up and you use digital and film Leica cameras?

 

[raid]

I have read here that I need to somehow match my DR to a specific set of eyes for the DR. Is this true?

 

[raid]

Any feedback here?

 

[pechelman]

If you only shoot digital, go ahead and hack the DR for use on digital, but if you shoot film, it would be a complete shame to waste and "ruin" that lens by removing that part of the focusing cam. While shooting the DR in the closeup mode is somewhat an appealing idea to me, the means by which one does that (EVF or LV) are somewhat more unappealing to me. Of course, you need to make your own call on how you feel.

All DR's are 51.9mm focal length. I do not believe you have to worry yourself with finding a matching goggles. It is my understanding that this was the reason Leica chose to use 51.9mm only for DR's....so that all goggles could be made to the same specs. The idea that DR's have better lens units than Rigid's originates from this, but I believe is generally not accurate. Rigids could just be of a slightly different focal length. There's nothing magical about 51.9mm other than it probably represented the center of the bell curve for the manufacturing tolerances, and increased the likliehood that any lens unit could be made into a DR or Rigid depending on the need or what was being built at that time.

If you take the DR lens unit and mount it inside a Rigid focusing unit, you will need to make sure that the rigid is also of a 51.9mm variety since they are shimmed differently. This will be inscribed (usually) inside or sometimes as the "special code" near the infinity marker on the focusing scale. However, I have read that you can shim this yourself or it really isnt a practical issue, but I'm not sure I buy that. I'd look for 51.9mm rigid focus units only if I were taking this avenue.

edit:
And to directly answer your question of what would I do if I wanted to use the DR on both digi and film bodies?
I'd search for another DR unit with trashed optics. Hack the DR focusing body on one for digital and leave the other alone for use with goggles on film.

 

[ferider]

+1

You can use the head on a SOMKY also on digital Raid. I wouldn't hack the cam, rather trade the DR against rigid and SOMKY,

 

[raid]

Thanks for the input, Gentlemen. I may get the eyes for the DR. Is the NOOKY as useful as the SOMKY?
I have two Rigid Summicrons already. Maybe this is the obvious thing to do: use the Rigid Cron on digital cameras, and use the DR on a film M.

 

[maggieo]

Since they're not making any more DRs, it would be a shame to mutilate it, I would think, especially when you've got a camera to use with it.

 

[raid]

I also feel this way. The Rigid Summicron is identical optically anyways. I love these old Leica lenses, and I cannot bring myself to disfigure this beautiful lens.

 

[ferider]

Here is the rigid on SOMKY/240, Raid:

https://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/2015/03212015

 

[raid]

Thank you, Roland. It is a viable option.

 

[Ronald M]

Two issues.

The DR were made from the lens units that hit the target focal length perfectly.

Rigid may or may not have hit the perfect and focus units were custom fitted. You need to find a proper focus unit.

Two types of eyes were made, one for the heavy chrome and one for later satin chrome. They are not interchangeable.

Also there were heavy chrome and satin chrome DR and Rigids. The optic are not the same.

 

[Capt. E]

Am I confused? A DR Summicron is useable from infinity down to 1 meter on any Leica M body made, film or digital, are they not? The eyes are needed only for the close focus range. There are many people who love the lens and never use the eyes.

 

[pechelman]

I believe the DR will only focus from 1m to about 4m on a digital leica. The close focus cam will interfere with the internals of the camera beyond the 4m range and does not allow the user to turn the lens any further.

If the close focus section of the cam surface is machined off, then the lens is usable from 1m to infinity, just like the rigid, but then, of course, it completely loses its ability to close focus using eyes on a compatible film M body.

 

[raid]

I know 🙁 Best is to use this lens on a film Leica.