someonenameddavid Posted November 9, 2011 Share #1 Posted November 9, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The midland visoflex and MD body that went for an astronomic price on Westlicht recently started me thinking about the "enigmatic curved slot" on the bayonet mount: I looked at my, somewhat cheaper viso III and jumped to a conclusion. It seems that there is an empty space at the "6 o'clock" position in the casting of the viso body: perhaps Leitz intended that visoflex should have an auto diaphragm function in some of their lenses, but it proved unworkable. thoughts, anyone ( especially from our Italian mentor ) David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Hi someonenameddavid, Take a look here Musings on The Visoflex. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pico Posted November 9, 2011 Share #2 Posted November 9, 2011 Can anyone provide a picture of this "empty space at 6 o'clock"? Mine has no such. And I cannot imagine how an M lens can be made auto-diaphragm/aperture. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
someonenameddavid Posted November 9, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted November 9, 2011 Can anyone provide a picture of this "empty space at 6 o'clock"? Mine has no such. And I cannot imagine how an M lens can be made auto-diaphragm/aperture.. I did make it clear that it was just a guess, but if you consider that the Nikon F allows the diaphragm to stop down with a lever that moves out of the way and a pre-tensioned spring closes the diaphragm down. Maybe they used the prototypes to work out that it could not be done to a price. I could not think of a better reason for the curved slot in the hammertone visoflex David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 9, 2011 Share #4 Posted November 9, 2011 Can anyone provide a picture of this "empty space at 6 o'clock"? Mine has no such. And I cannot imagine how an M lens can be made auto-diaphragm/aperture.. I suppose that David refers to this item : Rare Leica MD Gray Hammertone with Visoflex III E7RBLBB - Item #: 2304372 (iGavel auction - not Westlicht) : the empty slot is well visible in some of the pictures, and a std. Viso III surely hasn't it... what about its function ? I don't think is related to some prototype of auto diaphragm... in this case there would be at least "something" connected to the shutter lever to actuate the diaph closing "button" through the slot... Btw, the slot is rather roughly machined...the view from back is revealing... given that those precious hammertone MD+VisoIII were made for NASA (Gemini or Apollo project ?) I'm more prone to think that they planned to use some specific lens with "something" in that position... maybe even something made simply as an aid to position it for mounting... as a 2nd reference besides the usual red dot at 9 o'clock... if the item was for people wearing helmets, gloves etc, it could result ergonomically useful. I think of a specific lens for it seems that those sets did NOT include one of the "usual" Leitz or Elcan lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckrider Posted November 9, 2011 Share #5 Posted November 9, 2011 prehistoric try of a six bit encoding? kind regs Thomas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 9, 2011 Share #6 Posted November 9, 2011 I have just read on Lager that the hammertone MD+VisoIII were made for using with "scientific apparatus".... so, maybe, it was neither a "pure" lens that had to be fitted, but some other complex mount which could "need" that slot.... who knows ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
koray Posted November 18, 2011 Share #7 Posted November 18, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I suppose that David refers to this item : Rare Leica MD Gray Hammertone with Visoflex III E7RBLBB - Item #: 2304372... Whoa! I want an M2 just like that!.. Beautiful! K. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted November 18, 2011 Share #8 Posted November 18, 2011 Whoa! I want an M2 just like that!.. Beautiful! K. You can get a MP in hammertone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washington Posted November 25, 2011 Share #9 Posted November 25, 2011 Whew, given all the Visos I’ve restored in crinkle-black…. grey hammer tone would be fun. Slots? How many do you want? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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