Hektor 135/F4.5 on M8

[india42]

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OK, I just purchased a used M8, and I have a Hektor 135mm lens from 1954. The lens is an M mount, however it won't lock into place on the M8. When I say it won't lock into place, I mean it will only turn about a quarter of the way. This is the second M8 that I tried to mount this lens to. I works fine on my M3, I don't want to force it on the M8.

 

Any ideas???

 

Thanks,

Paul K

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[luigi bertolotti]

That is really strange... I think this issue has never been reported (but Hektors 135 in BM, and still in use, are rather uncommon) , even if the same issue has been reported on some old BM lens (like the first Summilux 35, but is due to finishings of the glass cell, which of course in the Hektor is far away from flange).

 

Can you post some enlarged pictures of your Hektor's M-mount ? Being it of 1954 it must be one of the VERY first in BM... I do not remember to have read something about, but it could be a screw mount lens with a factory fitted adapter (like other old BM lenses) and someway the assembly can have some detail which interferes in the M8 mount... do you feel a "block" or simply a "hard friction" ? Another question... you say it mounts fine onto M3... does it regularly activate the 135 frame in the VF ?

[wda]

I have recently bought an old 135mm f/4 Elmar which dates from the 1960s and it fits my M8 perfectly. It is slightly softer definition than current Leica lenses, but that is to be expected. It is ideal for portraiture. Perhaps there is something wrong with the bayonet flange.

[india42]

Thanks for the help, Well, it feels like a block, however I really don't want to force it. Yes, on the M3 it pulls up the 135 framelines. I have taken some shots with this on the M8, the problem is that you can't focus it, not to mention that I'm constantly worried that the lens might fall off (even though it is tight) . So as long as the focus point is infinity, it looks nice, but I would like to be able to use this lens.

Hopefully these pictures are OK.

 

Let me know what you think...

 

Thanks again,

PK

[H. James Wolf]

I have a similar problem with a new Sonnar 50mm 1.5 - it won't mount on one of my M6s but mounts fine on everything else. You could try setting the lens focus at its closest distance and then trying again - this seems to work with some of the older lenses that foul the camera's rangefinder arm.

[india42]

I have a similar problem with a new Sonnar 50mm 1.5 - it won't mount on one of my M6s but mounts fine on everything else. You could try setting the lens focus at its closest distance and then trying again - this seems to work with some of the older lenses that foul the camera's rangefinder arm.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, just tried it and it didn't make a difference. It's as if the nodes for the bayonet on the lens are too thick to fit on the camera. Seems odd that it would fit on the M3 but not the M8.

 

PK

[scsambrook]

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I have a 135 Hektor of similar age which clicks into place on my M8 . . . but the resistance to turning is greater than on my M2. Not enough to cause any worries, but certainly much firmer. In fact, all my M mount lenses from the 1960s show the same characteristic, as do both my Leitz and Voigtlander screw-bayonet adapters.

 

I've never felt the mount on my M2 was slack, and seem to recall reading somewhere that the mounting flange on the M8 was more "precise" than earlier cameras. I'm not absolutely certain about the exact phrase, but I feel that was the meaning. Maybe it was on the Puts site?

[luigi bertolotti]

The possible conclusion is that it can be "something" related to the bayonet's blades dimensioning... I think that a possible verification that can be made is to take your Hektor and a "modern" BM lens that mounts fine on your M8, take a good caliper and start a series of well done measurements (thickness and lengths... well done, repeat, and this is not so easy... some tool needed, I think)

 

BTW... me too have an old Elmar 135 f4: perfect mounting onto M8, my Hektor on the contrary is in SM.

[india42]

The possible conclusion is that it can be "something" related to the bayonet's blades dimensioning... I think that a possible verification that can be made is to take your Hektor and a "modern" BM lens that mounts fine on your M8, take a good caliper and start a series of well done measurements (thickness and lengths... well done, repeat, and this is not so easy... some tool needed, I think)

 

BTW... me too have an old Elmar 135 f4: perfect mounting onto M8, my Hektor on the contrary is in SM.

 

Well, I 'took the bull by the horns' and filed the bayonet blades. Now I have a 13.5cm Hektor that mounts to my M8. Not the greatest Leica lens...however it IS a Leica lens. Haven't really had time to test it, but I noticed that framing it may be a bit of a challenge.

 

Still, I am a happy man!!

 

Paul