jaques Posted November 26, 2011 Share #1 Posted November 26, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) had a lucky day rummaging- first Leica find in a long while and it's a beauty. I found this lens at the bottom of a box of old (worthless, redundant) sony video equipment. Paid a princely sum of $5... Cleaned the dust off- removed the little close focus screw- unscrewed the helicoid- cleaned away the 60 (?) year old grease and dirt- lubricated with a pin head of silicon grease- and this lens came up very, very well. Focus is smooth, aperture blades perfect- opens and closes nicely. Looks barely used and glass is very clear with just a few flecks of dust... Is this an unusual Elmar lens in any way? The serial number is: 1001797. Red scale with meters... Tried it out on the M9 and it was very sharp even wide open. I found I couldn't focus to infinity as the voigtlander adapter ring wouldn't allow the infinity focus lock to engage. Would a true Leitz ring solve this? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/167192-red-scale-elmar-50mm-35-fleamarket-find/?do=findComment&comment=1854246'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 26, 2011 Posted November 26, 2011 Hi jaques, Take a look here Red Scale Elmar 50mm 3.5 - Fleamarket find. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
mikebidwell Posted November 26, 2011 Share #2 Posted November 26, 2011 had a lucky day rummaging- first Leica find in a long while and it's a beauty. I found this lens at the bottom of a box of old (worthless, redundant) sony video equipment. Paid a princely sum of $5... Cleaned the dust off- removed the little close focus screw- unscrewed the helicoid- cleaned away the 60 (?) year old grease and dirt- lubricated with a pin head of silicon grease- and this lens came up very, very well. Focus is smooth, aperture blades perfect- opens and closes nicely. Looks barely used and glass is very clear with just a few flecks of dust... Is this an unusual Elmar lens in any way? The serial number is: 1001797. Red scale with meters... Tried it out on the M9 and it was very sharp even wide open. I found I couldn't focus to infinity as the voigtlander adapter ring wouldn't allow the infinity focus lock to engage. Would a true Leitz ring solve this? You lucky guy !!!!! Best wishes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 26, 2011 Share #3 Posted November 26, 2011 Amazing find!! It's not a rare lens but is the best of the 5cm 3.5's. The Red Scale had an improved optical design and was factory coated. You need an adapter with a cut-out to allow infinity focus (I think the earlier Voigtlander ones were purely for fitting Voigtlander LTM lenses to M bodies, they didn't consider the older lenses, although my adapters do have the cut-out). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted November 26, 2011 Share #4 Posted November 26, 2011 Looks to be in v. nice condition, well done on the find. I"m gradually finding that the older lenses can produce remarkably good images on digital. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted November 26, 2011 the more I think about it- the more happy I become. also I remember now that I had a leica hood for this lens- another rummage find from years ago- that I had used on an old Zorki 'elmar'... but I can't remember if I kept it or sold it or what. So now I need to rummage through my own junk boxes... I"m gradually finding that the older lenses can produce remarkably good images on digital. there's no doubt- this lens is a tiny jewel! here is the first test picture I took- unaltered in LR- (to me) the detail in the crop is great considering the lens is wide open (an advantage of slower lenses I guess). It looks incredible on the m9-p- at home Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/167192-red-scale-elmar-50mm-35-fleamarket-find/?do=findComment&comment=1854444'>More sharing options...
mikebidwell Posted November 26, 2011 Share #6 Posted November 26, 2011 That's interesting but something I'd never thought of until now. I have an M6 and also a Red Scale 5cm f/3.5 lens which is on my IIIf Red Dial. could someone give me details of the Leica Adapter mount I would need to get to try the lens on my M6 please ? Best wishes Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 26, 2011 Share #7 Posted November 26, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why bother if you have a lllf, the perfect match! Just search Leica screw adapter in eBay. You need one for the 50 lens (to bring up the correct framelines) and check that it's cut so it doesn't block the infinity lock - looks like half the flange is trimmed away. The cheap copies work fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebidwell Posted November 26, 2011 Share #8 Posted November 26, 2011 Why bother if you have a lllf, the perfect match! Just search Leica screw adapter in eBay. You need one for the 50 lens (to bring up the correct framelines) and check that it's cut so it doesn't block the infinity lock - looks like half the flange is trimmed away. The cheap copies work fine. I just fancied trying it on my M6, I suppose because its possible to do so and purely for no other reason James. I bought the IIIf as body only several years ago and sent it Malcolm Taylor to CLA it for me. Malcolm sorted out a vgc red scale lens to match it. Best wishes Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted November 26, 2011 Share #9 Posted November 26, 2011 there's no doubt- this lens is a tiny jewel! here is the first test picture I took- unaltered in LR- (to me) the detail in the crop is great considering the lens is wide open (an advantage of slower lenses I guess). It looks incredible on the m9-p- at home The same is for the 5.6/28 Summaron The rendering of so tiny piece of glass can make .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fWord Posted November 27, 2011 Share #10 Posted November 27, 2011 Wow, that's a lucky find. The only stuff I find at the bottom of a box of worthless, redundant equipment is MORE worthless, redundant equipment. Or a pair of dirty knickers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted November 29, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted November 29, 2011 Keep digging- the good stuff is always under the old knickers!! Always... ha ha. I took a dremel to my voigtlander ring and now the lens mounts perfectly. This lens has cured me of any slight desire I may have harboured for the smallness of the Perar lens! Now I am sure people are going to think my M9 really is an ancient film camera: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/167192-red-scale-elmar-50mm-35-fleamarket-find/?do=findComment&comment=1856955'>More sharing options...
farnz Posted November 29, 2011 Share #12 Posted November 29, 2011 Great find! Be sure to remember to mount and dismount the Elmar to your M9-P when it's extended or you risk striking the sides of the chamber if the lens barrel doesn't go in absolutely straight. I believe there's only about 1 mm tolerance. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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