can I modify

[chipchip]

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i have a 90mm elmarit 2.8 about 40 years old. I love the classic colours and crisp sharpness. Once mastered the art of getting focus right with an oldie I discovered that the glass lens part unscrews from the barrel. Aparently so it can be used with a visoflex adaptor. (I am a newbie to leica and am learning about equipment old and new. The visoflex contraption is an astonishing creation, it looks like cross between a lunar landing buggy and a sherman tank, imagine carting that round. made me laugh any how)

Does anyone know if a 50mm barrel exists that I could screw my elmarit lens bit into?

I dont really use telephoto but a 50mm would be useful. Sort of a modify swap really. If not I might sell and buy a vintage 50. Any ideas?

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello chipchip,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

A 90mm Elmarit is a lens which is constructed to cover a specific angle of view: Appx 27 degrees. A 50mm lens covers an angle of view of about 45 degrees. Putting the lens head of a 90mm Elmarit into the focussing mount of a 50mm lens does not change the in focus angle of coverage of the 90mm lens head into the in focus angle of coverage of a 50mm lens head.

 

The focussing mounts of different focal length lenses are the lengths they are in order to hold their respective lens heads the required distances from the film/sensor plane for a properly focussed image to register on the film/sensor. If that lens head is closer or further from the film/sensor plane than this optimal distance then the image will be out of focus.

 

A 50mm lens needs a mount of a certain length to hold its lens head a specific distance from the film/sensor in order to focus on a subject @ a given distance. A 90mm lens needs a mount that keeps its different lens head a further distance away than the distance appropriate for a 50mm lens when focussing within the same range of subject distances. A 90mm lens mount must also move the lens head a greater ammount @ a given subject distance than would be necessary for a 50mm lens.

 

The closer a subject is: The further the lens head of a given focal length must move away from the film/sensor in order to create an in focus image of the subject.

 

The longer a lens is: The further a lens head must move when focussing closer to bring the same image plane into focus.

 

btw: Is there a reason you don't use telephoto? The 1 you have is a nice 1.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited September 22, 2012 by Michael Geschlecht

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[lars_bergquist]

I have owned and worked with that 90mm Elmarit (made 1959–74). It is still a good 90mm if you stop it down to 5.6 or so, and your surmise about the reason why the lens head is unscrewable, is correct. This head went on the Visoflex II or III via the focusing mount 16464, and it did then focus from infinity down to 50cm. Pretty spiffy.

 

But the optics of a lens does have a specific focal length (natch) and the rear principal plane of the optical assembly has to be at that length from the film or sensor in order to focus to infinity. And that it is, with the 16464 and the Visoflex! If it is at a longer distance, the lens will focus closer than infinity (that is what the lense's focusing helical does) and if at a smaller distance, the lens will focus beyond infinity, which is bad because there's nothing there!

 

If you want a 50mm lens from the same time as the Elmarit and with about the same characteristics, you should pick up a well-kept Rigid Summicron (1956–1968). Many people like it for its 'classical' drawing. But steer clear of the 'Dual Range' or 'Near Focus' version, because that will not work on a digital M.

 

The old man from the Age of the Rigid Summicron

[chipchip]

Thanks for that, i understand now that its not just the lens bit thats important but the body as well. I photograph artwork and 'things' and have found that 90mm on an M8 gives about 130mm, simply I cant get far enough away to capture it! A fifty will most likely do just fine.

Rigid crom sounds lovely, will sell the elmarit first though Its on ebay right now if you want to take a look; item 230855588640 they dont sell for great deal so will have to sve up for the crom!

[tobey bilek]

Wrong camera for doing art work.

 

Either find a 65 Elmar for the viso and mark it down for the smaller field of M8. The viso shows 23x35 mm. the M8 is 18x26. A black 65 is better than the chrome and you may have to modify the focus to get it perfect and you will need a chimney finder or one with flat bottom the clears the top of the camera. Then you need to filter the lens for the M8 like any other lens.

 

See what I mean?

 

Just get a Dx Nikon and 40 2.8 and save yourself a lot of grief. Hang the art on a neutral colored wall, center the camera, light with 2 lights at 45 degrees, set the camera to tungsten and you are good to go.