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Which M adapter for using 1950s LTM lenses on M240?


ironringer

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Could M240 users please advise which LTM-to-M adapter ring(s) are best for using 1950s screwmount lenses (Elmar and Summitar 5 cm with infinity lock button, and Summicron 50 mm) on the M240?

Yesterday (in order to test these old lenses, with digital files results instead of testing with film on my IIIf) I asked a friend to try using my 1950 Elmar (pictures attached), with a Leica M adapter ring (picture attached, 2.8 and 5 cm version).

It would not work - the M240 screen said "no lens attached".

Some websites (including this Forum, historical section) suggest that the edge-rim cutaway on the old Leica adapter rings does not cover the M240 body sensor, leaving it open (so the camera probably thinks there is no lens attached).

Q1: What different adapter rings should be used, to use the 1950s screwmount lenses with an M240?

OR, Q2: is there a workaround setting in the M240 camera, to effectively ignore the sensor (that does not see a lens rim with codes) and proceed to use the old lens with the old adapter ring?

All suggestions are appreciated, thank you.

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The simple way to do it is get a codable adapter with the rebates cut into the flange. Put 'LTM' into an EBay search and one will come up. Get one for a 50mm lens, and code it using matt black hobby paint for the nearest equivalent to your 3.5 Elmar. You can then leave the camera set to 'auto detect' with all your other lenses.

 

Steve

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While the ones without the cutout are needed for coding, the infinity lock on the LTM Elmar will hit the adapter and will cause problems. The Summitar and Summicron have a deeper rear flange and should work OK with the codable adapters (no cutout).

Screw a 50 Elmar (or 35 Elmar/Summaron) on a codable adapter and the non-cutout flange will prevent the infinity lock from releasing - so you can't focus, or can't go back to infinity if it was focused closer before attaching.

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That's why Leitz added the cutout - so the infinity lock on these lenses would have clearance to release:

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While the ones without the cutout are needed for coding, the infinity lock on the LTM Elmar will hit the adapter and will cause problems. The Summitar and Summicron have a deeper rear flange and should work OK with the codable adapters (no cutout).

Screw a 50 Elmar (or 35 Elmar/Summaron) on a codable adapter and the non-cutout flange will prevent the infinity lock from releasing - so you can't focus, or can't go back to infinity if it was focused closer before attaching.

[ATTACH]422010[/ATTACH]

That's why Leitz added the cutout - so the infinity lock on these lenses would have clearance to release:

[ATTACH]422011[/ATTACH]

 

Thank you TomB_tx and other advisors for the explanation. I should have tried this (with my 2.8 & 5 cm adapter ring and Elmar 5cm) to experience the interference that your pictures show clearly.

I understand that the Voightlander adapter without cutout would allow coding-marks to be added, and afterward a screwmount lens could function with the M240, IF its infinity lock button did not hit the rim of the adapter.

Has anyone tried taping (delicately) a piece of dark paper over the M240 sensor area, to fool it into knowing there is a lens mounted?

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The simple way to do it is get a codable adapter with the rebates cut into the flange. Put 'LTM' into an EBay search and one will come up. Get one for a 50mm lens, and code it using matt black hobby paint for the nearest equivalent to your 3.5 Elmar. You can then leave the camera set to 'auto detect' with all your other lenses.

 

Steve

 

Further to the use of M adapter rings ... the Pocket Leica Book (1955) by Theo Kisselbach refers to a tool (maybe the adapter's plastic container itself?) made for removing M adapter rings from the M body. Has anyone seen this tool, which probably has 3 semi-circular "fingers" that fit into the 3 rim cutouts on 1950s M adapter rings? Can someone share a picture of it? This would be be a very useful device, and I do not see anything like it on Leica websites or on eBay.

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Further to the use of M adapter rings ... the Pocket Leica Book (1955) by Theo Kisselbach refers to a tool (maybe the adapter's plastic container itself?) made for removing M adapter rings from the M body. Has anyone seen this tool, which probably has 3 semi-circular "fingers" that fit into the 3 rim cutouts on 1950s M adapter rings? Can someone share a picture of it? This would be be a very useful device, and I do not see anything like it on Leica websites or on eBay.

The Voigtlander rear caps for M lenses have the three nubs to remove the adapters, as did the older Leica rear caps. (But the newer Leica caps do not.)

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and some old (bakelite?) leica lens caps do as well ;)

 

I am quite annoyed- I have a collected over time many LTM/M adapters- all original Leica ones and for all focal length options- even a modified one for my 50mm collapsible elmar (you can easily remove a bit of the edge so the infinity lock doesn't get in the way) and now they are all quite useless on the M. If only they had put an option to turn off/disable the lens coding sensor it would not be necessary for me to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on new adapters. Given that Leica must have been/or should have been aware of this issue I think it is a shame they didn't take it into account. :mad:

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