M8.2 and Canon 50 1.8

[martha]

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Hello, Folks:

 

I just purchased a Canon 50 1.8, fitted with a Leica M mount on the bay. It locks into an M3 (and thereby displays the 50 viewfinder) but will not lock into my M8.2. What's up with that? Any ideas? Thanks....--martha

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[martha]

Hello, folks:

 

I just purchased a Canon 50 1.8 with an M mount and it will not lock into my M8.2 (just short of clicking in.) It will, however, lock into an M3. What gives with this? Any ideas....?

[giordano]

Quite a few people seem to have found the lens mount on the digital Ms to be a bit tighter than on older cameras. Also, it's possible that the bayonet adapter is a fraction oversize (especially if it's a cheap 3rd-party one) or has been damaged.

 

The first thing to try is to make sure that both the mount on the M8 and the bayonet on the lens are scrupulously clean. Then use a cotton bud (Q-tip) or similar to apply an extremely thin smear of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the bayonet.

 

If that doesn't make the difference, then (1) make sure that normal Leica lenses fit the body properly; and (2) try a different bayonet adapter.

[martha]

Thanks, Giordano.

 

Examining the adapter closely and backed up against another of my M mount lenses, it appears that the adapter is well used; in fact, one of the four "leaves" (for lack of the proper terminology) may be slightly damaged, as it does not exactly mirror the known M mount to which I am comparing it. I am not sure if it is a cheaper third party mount. I think I don't dare try the petroleum jelly suggestion. I may just bite the bullet and purchase another adapter. Oh well, caveat emptor, as the saying goes....

 

Thanks again.

[giordano]

The difference in the bayonet lugs is probably because the lens has one focal length and the adapter is for a different focal length. (There are three versions of the adapter, for focal lengths 35mm (and 24 and 135), 50 (and 75) and 90 (and 28) respectively, and apart from the focal length(s) engraved on them the only difference is the size of one of the bayonet lugs, which moves a little lever inside the body to set the viewfinder framelines.)

 

Leica themselves recommend using Vaseline (petroleum jelly) to lubricate the bayonet if it's too stiff (it's in the instruction booklets for current lenses). Just be sure to apply it very sparingly and then wipe virtually all of it off, leaving an invisible, infinitesimally thin coating.