Lens coupler availability and experience

[wda]

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When I first bought an M camera I remember a lens coupler was an available accessory. I never used one but now am wondering if one would be a convenient way to carry two lenses in a single partition in my camera bag. I doubt they are still made by Leica, but there may be third-party alternatives.

 

Has anyone use a lens coupler? If so, good or bad experiences? Apart from second-hand, any thoughts on availability new? Thank you.

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[jaapv]

Heavystar sells an exact copy of the original Leica couplers. However, they are dangerous to use with wideangle lenses, as the rear element may poke through and hit the opposite lens, depending on the type. The safest way is to glue two rear caps together.

[bill]

I have a couple of M-couplers and one for R. They are very useful indeed. Although no longer made by Leica they do come up secondhand and I believe that a third party now makes them - perhaps someone else has that detail? Don't let anyone tell you to glue two rear caps together - they take up much more space and could come apart at a critical moment with obvious consequences!

 

Practicalities - the M couplers are "hollow" - this means that with some lens combinations, particularly wideangle, you run the risk of rear elements touching. I only ever couple wide/tele or wide/standard or standard/standard to be on the safe side, although it has never been a problem in 10 years+ of use.

 

A 35mm Summicron and 90mm Elmarit-M joined in this way are almost identical in length to a 135mm Tele-Elmar M. They will fit comfortably in a Billingham AVEA3.

 

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Hope this helps.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[jaapv]

If you want to couple two wideangles, Bill, you have no choice but to glue two together. If you score them well and use epoxy glue they certainly won't come apart. I only use my couplers if one lens is something like a 90 mm.

[wda]

Bill and Jaap, thank you for your quick responses and warnings. I'll Google Heavystar after checking with Leica dealers who may have a second-hand one.

[giordano]

I've been fixing caps together to make couplers for more than 20 years with no problems whatever. For one I used heavy-duty double-sided tape, the stuff they've been using for decades to fix external trim and badges to cars: that was in 2001 and it's still going strong. (Ok, I probably wouldn't use it for playing baseball with a 560mm Telyt, but I wouldn't trust the current Leica caps for that either!)

[spydrxx]

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As an aside, besides the coupler, there is a device based on the old Benser plate, which screws in to the tripod socket of the baseplate of M cameras (not sure about older LTMs, but I've used one on an M4 before) and holds an extra lens in a downward position centrally placed on the baseplate. It looks sort of goofy, but can be really handy if you are going out with two lenses and plan to interchange them. The lower lens locks in place just as it would on the camera, so it is secure.

[wda]

spydrxx, thank you. I know the accessory you describe. But my need is rather more for economical stowage of two spare lenses in a bag compartment. Incidentally, I think I have found what I am seeking.

[tobey bilek]

Use caution with the wides as stated.

 

Used ones can be worn and the lens can come off.

 

I sometimes stack two together back to back in a suitable tube and do not glue or I use some padding inbetween. I do have 4 or 5 M couplers sitting around somewhere I used to use.

[wda]

When I first bought an M camera I remember a lens coupler was an available accessory. I never used one but now am wondering if one would be a convenient way to carry two lenses in a single partition in my camera bag. I doubt they are still made by Leica, but there may be third-party alternatives.

 

Has anyone use a lens coupler? If so, good or bad experiences? Apart from second-hand, any thoughts on availability new? Thank you.

 

Just to complete my side of the story, I have just received two near-mint Leica coupling rings from Ffordes in Scotland. A quick trial uniting a current 35mm Summicron and a 75mm Summarit (my longest likely combination) fits neatly into my A & A bag central compartment. I can see that two wide-angles might cause problems with touching rear elements, but I can avoid that combination. At the time of purchase they still had one other coupler in stock if anyone is interested in this useful but obsolete device. The cost was £10 each plus postage £2. There are few Leica items which come at such a bargain price, although they are only pieces of moulded plastic!