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Is the Red dot on the lens the same for M and R ?


PasMichiel

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It's red and it's a dot. so yes.

 

In the examples I have to hand there is some sample variation in shade, but this may be due to age, wear/weathering. There is certainly no discernible difference in size between M and R.

 

It is a little known fact that the dots are in fact shipped to Leica as 4mm balls. They are polished down to size and trimmed into hemispheres with a special machine. The rejection rate is high - the dots have to be perfectly shaped, after all - and any spherical aberrations are rejected. The machine that does the splitting is getting on in years, and did not survive the original move from Wetzlar to Solms very well; it is quite large and has to be levelled to micrometric accuracy. It can spend months being overhauled, as happened recently, accounting for the delay in shipping Summiluxes worldwide. The glue that holds the dot to the lens is made to a special recipe originally devised by Max Berek.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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There are two sizes, the standard one of 4 mm and the smaller one of 1.5 mm, not in use any more but still available.. The glue is Pattex contact glue. Bisonkit transparant for Dutchmen.

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Was it mentioned above, that these dots are made of coloured glass ?

 

This is NOT simple plastic- stuff (thought that for years), and valuable little designpiece.

Better not to loose them.

 

Thx Bill for putting this product into the right historic perspective.

 

Best

 

GEORG

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Is this the glass Leica lenses are famous for???;)

 

Now I know why Leica is always more expensive but does not always provide a better performance...

 

Actually, it is the older, mid-20th century glass with its slight radioactivity which gives the ball its subtle glow...

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