jaques Posted February 13, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted February 13, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have often wondered about this- they seem to me in general to be quite annoying... What was their point- and why were they ultimately abandoned? does anyone know? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Hi jaques, Take a look here why do many old lenses have infinity locks?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
FrozenInTime Posted February 13, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted February 13, 2014 It makes it easier to collapse and extend the lens when the focus helicoid is not also turning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 13, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted February 13, 2014 Hard to find a topic that hasn't been covered, including this one, from this old thread via the search box. Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share #4 Â Posted February 13, 2014 It makes it easier to collapse and extend the lens when the focus helicoid is not also turning. Â this doesn't explain why many non-collapsible lenses also have infinity locks... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted February 13, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted February 13, 2014 this doesn't explain why many non-collapsible lenses also have infinity locks... Â These lenses are most probably screw mount, helps taking lens off camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 13, 2014 Share #6 Â Posted February 13, 2014 Why? To stop them going to infinity and beyond! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 13, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted February 13, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) The infinity lock was used on the earliest Leica's which had a fixed, collapsible lens. The lock would make it easier to extend and collapse the lens. The lock button has a dual purpose as it also serves as a focus tab. Â The lock continued with some non collapsible lenses on the LTM cameras, where the lock made it easier to fit/remove the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted February 13, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted February 13, 2014 I have often wondered about this- they seem to me in general to be quite annoying... What was their point- and why were they ultimately abandoned? does anyone know? Â Way back when earth was flat and all was black and white, things were also farther away, hence the lock made sense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted February 13, 2014 Share #9 Â Posted February 13, 2014 Way back when earth was flat and all was black and white, things were also farther away, hence the lock made sense. Now that makes sense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted February 13, 2014 Share #10 Â Posted February 13, 2014 ...they seem to me in general to be quite annoying....why were they ultimately abandoned? Â I believe this is called "answering your own question." Â The infinity locks carried over to the M-mount lenses, in the beginning. Some had a new design - a crescent-shaped button within the contours of the crescent-shaped focusing tabs, rather than the push-knobs. Â As a photojournalist, my bet is that as 35mm cameras, including Leicas, replaced 4x5 and MF press cameras starting around 1960, Leica got feedback from the fast-working newspaper pros that the locks were a PITA. And began deleting them as new lenses were introduced. Â The last hold-outs with the locks were the 21 f/3.4 and the 35 f/1.4 pre-ASPH. Not sure when their locks were eliminated, although both ended production without locks. Â It is of note that when Leica reintroduced collapsible lenses in the 1990s (50 f/2.8 and 90 Macro) - they saw fit NOT to include either focus tabs or locks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted February 13, 2014 Share #11  Posted February 13, 2014 My beautiful little 1967 Summaron-M 35mm has an infinity lock embedded in the focus tab. The combination is very ergonomic with the pad of the forefinger settling into the tab and simultaneously releasing the lock. But as to why Leica saw fit to include the lock in the first place... 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/221967-why-do-many-old-lenses-have-infinity-locks/?do=findComment&comment=2531723'>More sharing options...
Jean-Michel Posted February 13, 2014 Share #12 Â Posted February 13, 2014 My 50 Summicron (1965) and 35 Summicron 1960) both have locks, I find them useful for taking or putting on a lens on the camera. I like them for that reason alone. Jean-Michel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan c. davis Posted February 13, 2014 Share #13 Â Posted February 13, 2014 My CV 50/3.5 Heliar (the most recent incarnation) has an infinity lock. Makes it a bit quirky in use but something you grow accustommed to. No biggie for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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