Strange Leica MD

[dennersten]

Some months ago i bought myself a leica MD at ebay, wanted to do some macro and i wanted one for the collection It ended up on the shelf without looking at it. Had a tough spring.

So it was resting there until today when i investigated it. Very much to my surprise it is M39 screwthreads ....

It seems to be a rebuild. The M type lens release button is there.

The really boring part is that the threads are fitted to deep into the body so i can't use it with my Elmar and Summarit. I can't screw it on all the way.

So the question to you guys are: Have you ever heard about such a conversion? Can you understand why? Seems like a really big thing to do. Must have been cheaper to buy a screwmount camera?

And do you think i can use it with Visoflex? (I really hope so ....) which parts do i need?

[doubice]

Håkan,

Are you sure that you don't have a thread mount to M mount adapter attached to the camera?

Best would be to post a picture of the camera's lens mount here....

regards,

Jan

[dennersten]

Originally Posted by doubice

Håkan,

Are you sure that you don't have a thread mount to M mount adapter attached to the camera?

Best would be to post a picture of the camera's lens mount here....

regards,

Jan

Yep i am sure.

I have taken pictures, i've forgot my cable at home, i am out in my summerhouse now. There will be some pictures on monday.

regards

Håkan

[dennersten]

Originally Posted by doubice

Håkan,

Are you sure that you don't have a thread mount to M mount adapter attached to the camera?

Best would be to post a picture of the camera's lens mount here....

regards,

Jan

Hmm thinking once more.. maybe it is actually an adapter which is terribly stuck and need a tool to take it off hmm i will try to go to a repairshop with it.

Best

Håkan

[dennersten]

Hi everybody. Finally back in town and here are the pictures of the MD. I have tried extremly much brute force, but i can't make the plausable inner ring to move. So what do you say guys? Are we looking at a stuck M adapter here?

[jlancasterd]

Originally Posted by dennersten

Hi everybody. Finally back in town and here are the pictures of the MD. I have tried extremly much brute force, but i can't make the plausable inner ring to move. So what do you say guys? Are we looking at a stuck M adapter here?

NO. I reckon thats a 'special' made for attaching to a piece of scientific or industrial equipment.

[doubice]

Håkan,

The mount looks just like the one used on 'convertible' 35mm Summicrons and Summarons. The red dot just about confirms it too.

I am sure that it can be removed but, a special tool will have to be used; the adapter is very difficult to grasp with bare hands. I would try , in the following order:

1. Rubber block or a suitably sized bathtub stopper. Press it down on the adapter, push the lens release lock and turn with all your might.....
2. Tool called 'Flexiclamp'. Most camera repair places have those. It clamps around the whole circumference of the adapter and applies even pressure from all sides.
3. Most drastic - drill two small indentations into the mount, 180 degrees oposite each other and use an adjustable spanner (again - a common tool for technicians) to remove.

I really don't believe that the adapter is attached to the camera permanently.

Good luck,

Jan

[jaapv]

No, that must be an adapter. What is the mount release button doing there otherwise? You can even see where the lug engages the adapter on the photograph.

[earleygallery]

Agree it must be an adaptor, why would it have the red positioning dot if not? Also there would be screws visible to secure it to the body.

You could also try the tiniest drop or two of WD40 applied to the join between the mount and adaptor.

[Philippe D.]

Hi,

Originally Posted by dennersten

Hi everybody. Finally back in town and here are the pictures of the MD.

This looks like an adapter who was made for the first bayonet bodies for screw lens, like the Super-Angulon or Summaron 35.
Try not to destroy it by removing, it's valuable.

You can try with this kind of oil filter clip http://pagesperso-orange.fr/oslad/Public/pince.jpg

Or, if you see the little screw 1/3 right of the red dot, and if you have a screw lens. Put the lens in, screw tight and remove the whole.

[luigi bertolotti]

For me it resembles a lot the adapter of my Super Angulon f4... pity I haven't it here (I am on vacation in my mountains...) but really I seem to remember that the look (dot, thickness, height) is very similar. But MDs were mainly sold for scientific use... could be also an adapter from some specific LTM gear of this kind.

[leitz_not_leica]

Screw in a lens, tightly...no one has suggested this yet...push in the lens release button...twist off as a unit...bada-bing.

[dennersten]

Originally Posted by leitz_not_leica

Screw in a lens, tightly...no one has suggested this yet...push in the lens release button...twist off as a unit...bada-bing.

I wish i could, the threads starts to deep into the body, so my only two screwmount lenses just goes in two turns or something.

Best

/HD

[dennersten]

Originally Posted by luigi bertolotti

For me it resembles a lot the adapter of my Super Angulon f4... pity I haven't it here (I am on vacation in my mountains...) but really I seem to remember that the look (dot, thickness, height) is very similar. But MDs were mainly sold for scientific use... could be also an adapter from some specific LTM gear of this kind.

The threads starts very deep into the body. So that is maybe the case? Super Angulon adapter?

[dennersten]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

Hi,This looks like an adapter who was made for the first bayonet bodies for screw lens, like the Super-Angulon or Summaron 35.
Try not to destroy it by removing, it's valuable.

You can try with this kind of oil filter clip http://pagesperso-orange.fr/oslad/Public/pince.jpg

Or, if you see the little screw 1/3 right of the red dot, and if you have a screw lens. Put the lens in, screw tight and remove the whole.

Great idea thanks will try that!

What is the adapter called?

[dennersten]

Originally Posted by doubice

Håkan,

The mount looks just like the one used on 'convertible' 35mm Summicrons and Summarons. The red dot just about confirms it too.

I am sure that it can be removed but, a special tool will have to be used; the adapter is very difficult to grasp with bare hands. I would try , in the following order:

1. Rubber block or a suitably sized bathtub stopper. Press it down on the adapter, push the lens release lock and turn with all your might.....
2. Tool called 'Flexiclamp'. Most camera repair places have those. It clamps around the whole circumference of the adapter and applies even pressure from all sides.
3. Most drastic - drill two small indentations into the mount, 180 degrees oposite each other and use an adjustable spanner (again - a common tool for technicians) to remove.

I really don't believe that the adapter is attached to the camera permanently.

Good luck,

Jan

I am on suggestion 2 now thanks I have a camera repairshop close to work so i will try that on thursday.

[doubice]

Originally Posted by dennersten

The threads starts very deep into the body. So that is maybe the case? Super Angulon adapter?

Håkan,

Yes, this is an adapter which used to come with the 4/21mm Super Angulon, 2.8/35mm Summaron and 2/35mm Summicron. The early versions of these lenses were made with screw mount and Wetzlar used these adapters to convert the lenses to M mount before shipping.

Screwing a lens into the adapter may be a good idea but, you have to be careful that you do not damage the mount or the lock button. I have seen this in the past, where too much force shaved a bit of the mount and lenses would not lock properly.

Do you have an old rubber tube at home? Or anything with fair amount of grip? Cut it to size, get a similarly sized block of wood and press the combination onto the mount. While pressing, push the lens lock button and turn with all your might. The rubber will prevent slippage, the wood block will give you leverage.

Best,

Jan

[wstotler]

Flat, rubber sole of a shoe (hand in shoe, pressing firmly and evenly down on ring then turning) may work.

Good luck. --Will.

[Philippe D.]

Hi,

Originally Posted by wstotler

Flat, rubber sole of a shoe (hand in shoe, pressing firmly and evenly down on ring then turning) may work.

I had, in the mean time, the same idea. I try and it works for me !
(Summaron 35mm f/2.8 with M39 > M adapter)

[dennersten]

Thankyou everybody! For all your advices, the culprit is now off!! I took it to camera repair shop, it took him two seconds and no charge to take it off with the proper tool.