Un-google Summaron 35mm

[iDude]

Good evening,

any bright ideas how to un-goggle a 35mm Summaron? I could swear I once got the googles off the lens by just unscrewing the screw at the top, but somehow it doesn't work this time. The goggles get loose but won't move.
So either I'm losing my marbles or something is stuck.
Any hint would be appreciated.

Markus

 

[laptoprob]

As far as I know the lens only works with the goggles. Something in distance to the camera. I never held one so this is just hearsay.

 

[iDude]

By googling for the goggles I actually found this: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-2920.html
So I better leave them on. I hoped it could be used without the goggles on a camera with 35mm framelines. Bummer.

 

[phototone]

There is no need to remove the goggles. the 35mm Summaron w/goggles works with ALL "M" series Leicas. The lens brings up the 50mm frame, and the goggles expand the view to show a 35mm field of view within those 50mm frame lines.

The Goggled 35mm Summaron WILL NOT FOCUS CORRECTLY with the camera rangefinder without the goggles.

I think this information would also be correct for the goggled 35mm Summicron.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

iDude,
there are two versions of the goggled summaron, early has no screw on top and no apparent way of removing the goggles, and late version that has a set screw on top, I have the later version and it sounds as if you do to. Once the screw is loosened the whole goggle assembly slides forward, it is held on by a small bearing that is spring tensioned so you need to apply a little force.
The lens was made for the M3 which has no 35mm framelines, the square part on the goggles changes the view from 50 to 35mm and is accurate. The problem is the lens markings don't agree with the focus when the goggles are off, you can test this yourself by focusing on and object, say 10 ft then look at the scale on the lens, it will be off 2-3 ft.
The benefit of the goggles is that you get the 35mm lines and can close focus to almost 24 inches!
BTW, mine has an infinity lock when the goggles are off, you have to depress the bearing on top of the lens to disengage it. So, if you were hoping for a compact lens for your Leica, this ain't the one, but if you can live with the goggles it works pretty well.

Todd

 

[Paul Connet]

Un-goggling a Summaron

Un-goggling a Summaron

Good evening,

any bright ideas how to un-goggle a 35mm Summaron? I could swear I once got the googles off the lens by just unscrewing the screw at the top, but somehow it doesn't work this time. The goggles get loose but won't move.
So either I'm losing my marbles or something is stuck.
Any hint would be appreciated.

Markus

Hi Markus,

The Summaron has to be focused to infinity to release the ball detent so the goggles can be removed. Same for reinstalling them. Bye the way, the lens can be used without the goggles, however it must be scale-focussed using the distance scale on the lens rather than the rangefinder. It is actually quite easily used this way when shooting in bright daylight as there is sufficient DOF to cover minor distance errors. You are usually shooting at f5.6 or f8 and there is a lot of in-focus depth on a 35mm.

Regards, Paul C.

 

[iDude]

Thanks, folks. The infinity lock did the trick to get the goggles off. I knew there had to be a way 😉
Anyway, you are right, it doesn't make much sense to take them off even when mounted on a camera with a 35mmm frameline since it brings up the 50mm anyway. I now just use it in its goggled state on both cameras. I somehow really like this lens.