Using a collapsible FED 50mm/3.5

[PentHassyKon]

I have a couple of questions on use of collapsible FED lenses in general and their use on a Leica CL

I just purchased and rcvd one from a fellow RFF member.

Is there a means to lock it while collapsed?
How about when extended?

Not sure if this is the proper forum to ask about their use in a Leica CL but I'll ask anyways - it appears I can collapse the lens but I'm not sure if it's fully collapsed, since it doesn't seem to lock in a collapsed position. My thought is that at least I can store and travel with it in this manner. Am I risking my CL's meter gizmo this way? I have no intentions of activating the shutter while collapsed as I fear it'll probably hit the lens - right?

Eventually I'd probably get a collapsible Elmar (5cm) as I think it's a very compact way to carry the camera. Never held an Elmar but the FED lens, although somewhat hefty, does not give me confidence as to it's build quality. At least compared to the CV 28 Skopar that I have.

 

[Frontman]

I have a couple of these lenses, and they do not lock in the collapsed position. But I don't have a problem with them creeping out either.

The FED and Industar lenses are not bad lenses, and the ones I have are good performers, as good (or better) than my Leica Elmar and Summitar lenses. Quality varies from lens to lens, with later models being better than the earlier ones.

 

[PentHassyKon]

Another thing I noticed is that there are a few Industar versions of the collapsible; what are the differences between them? Are FEDS the same? ie different versions?

 

[wolves3012]

The Industar 10 locks the same as an Elmar or the Industar 22/50 lenses - turn it clockwise, when extended, to lock. You can't lock it in the collapsed position but it shouldn't fall back out unless the felt is very worn. Variations on the FED lenses are pretty much limited to uncoated (early) or coated (later) but I'm sure there will be minor cosmetic detail differences. The industar 22 and 50 have more cosmetic variations but optically they're all very similar.

 

[David Hughes]

I have a couple of questions on use of collapsible FED lenses in general and their use on a Leica CL...

Not sure if this is the proper forum to ask about their use in a Leica CL but I'll ask anyways - it appears I can collapse the lens but I'm not sure if it's fully collapsed, since it doesn't seem to lock in a collapsed position. My thought is that at least I can store and travel with it in this manner. Am I risking my CL's meter gizmo this way? I have no intentions of activating the shutter while collapsed as I fear it'll probably hit the lens - right?

Hi,

Collapsible ones risk hitting the cell inside and so should only be used jammed open, as advised by Leica. They suggest using sticky "Dymo" tape but I fit the lens opened out with an elastic band wound round the rear of the barrel a few times to stop me collapsing it...

Regards, David