Echo63 Posted March 19, 2016 Share #1 Posted March 19, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Anyone using one of these ? 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! I thought they were a joke when i first saw them, designed to separate Leica owners from their money. After being given one to try by my local dealer, and using it for a few hours, I am a convert. I love the focusing tab on my 50 Summarit, it makes it easy to rack the lens from minimum to maximum focus distance, and i know roughly where to stop based on the location of the tab, far right is infinity, full left is minimum, and pointing straight down is about 2m my 90 M Rokkor doesn't have one of these tabs, until i was given this hard rubber ring with a built in tab. the 90 is still too stiff to "flick" like the 50, but the ring gives more leverage, and gives an index, so you know where in the focus range it is. my only concern is the rubber stretching or wearing over time, it doesn't flex when focusing though, so i hope it will be a semi-permanent addition to my lens. (hope its ok to post that pic, from an iPhone, of a Minolta lens.......it does fit the M mount though) Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! I thought they were a joke when i first saw them, designed to separate Leica owners from their money. After being given one to try by my local dealer, and using it for a few hours, I am a convert. I love the focusing tab on my 50 Summarit, it makes it easy to rack the lens from minimum to maximum focus distance, and i know roughly where to stop based on the location of the tab, far right is infinity, full left is minimum, and pointing straight down is about 2m my 90 M Rokkor doesn't have one of these tabs, until i was given this hard rubber ring with a built in tab. the 90 is still too stiff to "flick" like the 50, but the ring gives more leverage, and gives an index, so you know where in the focus range it is. my only concern is the rubber stretching or wearing over time, it doesn't flex when focusing though, so i hope it will be a semi-permanent addition to my lens. (hope its ok to post that pic, from an iPhone, of a Minolta lens.......it does fit the M mount though) ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/258179-taab-rubber-lenstab/?do=findComment&comment=3010413'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 19, 2016 Posted March 19, 2016 Hi Echo63, Take a look here TAAB rubber lenstab. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
cbretteville Posted March 19, 2016 Share #2 Posted March 19, 2016 I put one on my 75 Summarit. Not totally convinced, but open to using it some more before I pass judgement, Cheers, Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted March 19, 2016 Share #3 Posted March 19, 2016 They are inexpensive enough to buy a few in case one wears out. I wish I had known about them when I had a lever-tab machined for my Summicron 50mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted March 20, 2016 Share #4 Posted March 20, 2016 I have one on my f/1.0 Noctilux; it is a good addition to the lens, although it does cover up the focusing scale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutanthands Posted March 20, 2016 Share #5 Posted March 20, 2016 I've been using one on my 50mm summilux pre-asph for a while now, they work pretty well imo! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musotographer Posted March 23, 2016 Share #6 Posted March 23, 2016 I have several - they're not pretty, but for me they certainly improve the handling of lenses which don't already have a focus tab - especially the ones with a wide focussing throw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abram Posted March 24, 2016 Share #7 Posted March 24, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I was using one on my 50 summicron, it works well, it's a functional addition, but I ultimately removed it (today actually), as I found I just preferred using the 50 without it (as it's easy enough to focus on its own). I love the tabs on my 28 and 35 Summicrons though! ( BTW - I think yours is on backwards OP, at least, when I look at my lenses that have tabs, they match up with the TAAB when flipped the other way around. Or maybe I'm backwards, who knows!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo63 Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted March 24, 2016 I was using one on my 50 summicron, it works well, it's a functional addition, but I ultimately removed it (today actually), as I found I just preferred using the 50 without it (as it's easy enough to focus on its own). I love the tabs on my 28 and 35 Summicrons though! ( BTW - I think yours is on backwards OP, at least, when I look at my lenses that have tabs, they match up with the TAAB when flipped the other way around. Or maybe I'm backwards, who knows!) nope, you are correct - i do have it on backwards. i tried it the other way around (so it matched my 50 Summarit, the "correct" way) and i preferred it this way around. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abram Posted March 24, 2016 Share #9 Posted March 24, 2016 Hey if it works for you then that's surely all that matters! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo63 Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted March 25, 2016 Hey if it works for you then that's surely all that matters! I think its the location of the focus ring, its further away from the body on the M rokkor, so my finger sits at a different angle. It has made focusing much faster for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
greene881 Posted April 22, 2016 Share #11 Posted April 22, 2016 My first serious camera back in the 70's was an OM1. As I have no left hand I longed for auto focus lenses to be invented for 35mm SLRs. Over the years my wish has been more than fulfilled and the choice of auto focus options is amazing. I retired recently so what did I do? Treated myself to a M246 quickly followed by an M4-P and M3. The focus tabs on Leica lenses are a great help but for those without out one I've added a TAAB. So to get to the point, they work great for me. They also look a lot better than the jubilee clips I used on my OM gear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rus Posted April 22, 2016 Share #12 Posted April 22, 2016 The tab itself is deep enough to allow your finger to fit comfortably, unlike those on some of the VM lenses. But this is a personal preference. But do note that the TAAB rubber is quite stiff (and in fact very brittle), so you'll need to make sure you get one of the right size for your lens. I ordered two that were too small for my Summilux 50 Pre-A E46 and Konica M Hexagon 50/2 (which has the 40.5mm filter thread). The rugger doesn't stretch much, and easily breaks if pulled too hard. Other than that it is fine I think. I ended up cutting out the rubber ring and keeping just the focusing tab, which I glued to a secure black tape wrapped around the focusing tab. A less than elegant solution, but at least the purchase wasn't a total waste. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpittal Posted April 27, 2016 Share #13 Posted April 27, 2016 I have a few and put it on lenses without tabs and like both the indexing and leveraging. Their website shows how to stretch them to fit larger lenses (they give diameter ranges for each of their three sizes). I messed up the first time and stretched one too much and now not as snug as I would like, so if stretching, try before you stretch it all the way. Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted April 27, 2016 Share #14 Posted April 27, 2016 As I have no left hand I longed for auto focus . May I ask if you have found an appliance to assist with left hand use? I'm good with two and a half useful fingers of the left hand but could still use some tips. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
greene881 Posted April 28, 2016 Share #15 Posted April 28, 2016 Hi pico To me it's the same feel as using a Leica tabbed lens. There is a bonus that you can position the TAAB where ever you want on the focusing ring. And if it's not for you then it's not a great waste of money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted April 28, 2016 Share #16 Posted April 28, 2016 Hi pico To me it's the same feel as using a Leica tabbed lens. There is a bonus that you can position the TAAB where ever you want on the focusing ring. And if it's not for you then it's not a great waste of money. I thought I needed something better than the Leica tab so I experimented beginning with those adjustable motion-picture gears that wrap around the lens. Too bulky. Tried the cable tie trick. Too small. For the 75mm Summilux, Leica Goodies' Steer was great! Finally, for the 50mm Summicron SK Grimes machined a lever that was just perfect. They designed it thoughtfully so that when the lever was straight down, the camera was level, supported by the lever. But the $$$! Labor and talent is worth it. Next I hope to send lenses to Leica NJ to lighten the lube, or whatever it takes to make turning easier. Welcome to the forum! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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