Convertible Lenses ( LTM <-> LM )

[de-JTC]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello everyone!

I recently bought a pretty nice 21mm f4 Superangulon-M and noticed that it has a convertible mount. I read that there are some more M-lenses with this feature - can someone tell me which ones do?

Thank you very much in advance,

Jan

[Orient XI]

The 6th edition of the Leica Pocket Book of 1994 lists the 35mm Summicron & f / 2.8 Summaron, the first few 90mm Summicrons and even the f/1.5 85mm Summarex besides the Super-Angulon you mention. These lenses date from 1954 onwards where the factory converted lenses to meet demands for more M-mount lenses when a surplus of screw mount lenses was in stock.

Of course nearly all screw mount lenses are "convertible" by addition of sundry M-adaptors. However, the very old lenses with a focussing lever at "11 o'clock" cannot be used on M cameras as the focussing lever fouls the guard around the bayonet lock at 9 o'clock.

Small batches of screw mount, modern lenses have been made from time to time and could also be classed as "convertible".

[de-JTC]

Thank you very much, Oriental!

Then I will start looking around for a 35 Summaron.

[bill]

Note that there are THREE different mounts, one for 28 & 90, another for 35 & 135 and one for 50 & 75mm lenses. All will fit, but you must match "like for like" to bring up the right framelines.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Sent from another Galaxy

[jc_braconi]

Note that there are THREE different mounts, one for 28 & 90, another for 35 & 135 and one for 50 & 75mm lenses. All will fit, but you must match "like for like" to bring up the right framelines.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Sent from another Galaxy

Depending what kind of M you use the frame do not correspond to the frames engraved for. Take in mind that this adapters were made initialy for the M3.

With an M6, for example, you must check what adapter gives you the right frame for the lens you plan to use.

[de-JTC]

Thank you both for your hints,

I already knew about the ability to convert all screw lenses to M-Mount via the usual adaptors and also own one for my collapsible Summicron.

However the outer diameter of the M-Mount is larger, which doesn't look as nice with the normal adapters. With the unscrewable M-Mount of the Superangulon, this is not the case, as you probably know, so I wanted to know which other lens would have that "feature".

Are the 35 Summarons with detachable M-Mount especially expensive?

[luigi bertolotti]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Well.... Super Angulon 21 f4 has indeed the most elegant adapter that was ever made... but is strictly made for it.... even the chroming is consistent with the finishing of the lens' body (which is a finishing not "Leitz style" but "Schneider style", coming the lens not from Wetzlar but from Kreuznach) ; anyway the "factory fitted" adapters of the above mentioned 35s and 90 are more "discrete" than the listed "general purpose" adapters IRZOO etc. : it is not difficult not costly to find a Summaron 35 (3,5 or 2,8) with adapter : it can be recognized because the adapter is secured (as in the SA) through a very little screw, which is well visible along the diameter at lens' base : if you remove it , the lens can be used on a LTM body... even if the rangefinder works only to 1m , while the lens in itself can focus to 0,7m (Summaron 2,8).

The Summicrons 35 with factory adapter are rarer and more costly, and even more the Summicron 90, in which the adapter is not secured by the screw, but glued to the flange.

[de-JTC]

Thank you very much Luigi,

Is the screw located in the region of the DOF-Scale?

Jan

[luigi bertolotti]

No, usually in a zone "free of scales"... see herunder Summaron and Summicron

 

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!

 

[Guest]

No, usually in a zone "free of scales"... see herunder Summaron and Summicron

...

 

Thank you Luigi,

 

have you still a photo of the Schneider-Super-Angulon-M 4.0 - 21mm showing the screw which has to be removed? I would like to try mine on a IIIa syn.

[luigi bertolotti]

Here is... btw, all the 21 f4 in BM have the screw-fit adapter : a "true" BM version was never made.... you need a very little screwdriver to dismount it.

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!

[de-JTC]

So I picked up my 21mm Super-Angulon in Milano at Newoldcamera on Friday and am very pleased with the lens!

Unmounting the M-Adaptor works a treat.

I tried mounting it on my collapsible Summicron, but it seems that it is half a millimeter wider, so it doesnt screw in enough. Now I am thinking about asking a machineshop to make the inner diameter a little tad wider. Any thoughts on this?

[luigi bertolotti]

I think is better to leave it as is : if one needs a M adapter for a Summicron, is better to use a standard one (Leitz or 3rd party) ; it costs less than modifying the SA adapter, disrupting the originality of an item that has a value of its own... if one "files" the inner diameter of the SA adapter can even be that some minor problem about the small screw does occur... I don't remember if the hole is threaded also in the adapter... but is a finely machined assembly which imho is better not to touch.

 

P.S. :happy you bought from newoldcamera... is a very good dealer - the best in Italy imho

[de-JTC]

You are probably right - I shouldn't tamper with it too much, but I really like the adapter as it just looks so much better than the regular adapters and fits the look of the summicron as well.

Newoldcamera is a great dealer - I had a very long conversation with the owner and enjoyed both the buying experience, the great attitude of all employees and the owners policy about business, his approach to photography and everything. The best camera-dealer I have found up to now!