M10 and retractable lenses

[Hey You]

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In the section headed Leica M Lenses, the instruction manual for the M10 says :

"Lenses with retractable barrel can only be used with the barrel extended, i.e. their barrel must never be retracted into the camera."

I presume that Leica wrote this in an abundance of caution, because the 50 mm Elmar-M retractable can be retracted on the M240, although the instruction manual for the M240 says virtually the same thing as the M10 manual :

"Lenses with retractable tube can only be used with the tube extended, i.e. their tube must never be retracted into the Leica M."

 

Can anyone reassure me that the 50 mm Elmar-M can be safely retracted when installed on the M10?

 

 

[Hey You]

I did some research, and believe I have the reply to my own question.

On every Leica M model, the distance from the sensor plane to to the lens mount is 27.8 mm.  

According to Leica specifications for the 50 mm Elmar-M, the lens length when extended (working position) is 37.6 mm.  The length when collapsed (storage position) is 21.6 mm.  The difference between these two is 16 mm.  When the lens is extended, its rearmost part is flush with the lens flange, and so projects 16 mm beyond it when the lens is collapsed.   I measure the lens flange as projecting 7 mm into the M body, for a total projection of 23 mm.  This leaves a space of about 5 mm to accommodate the shutter curtain and sensor micro lens and IR filter glass.  

Barely enough room.  It fits in the M240, and so should fit in the M10, but I'm not willing to take the risk.  I have the M10 on order, and when I get it I'll take Leica's advice and leave the lens extended.

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[UliWer]

Please don't  just look for the distance to the shutter (which should not really be a problem for any collapsible lens besides the collapsible 4/90mm Elmar -which must not be collapsed when used! - and perhaps the 2.5/5cm Hector which has the longest projection into the body of all 50mm collapsible Leica lenses).

 

More important is the risk of hitting the small wheel which activates the rangefinder. Even for the Leica II, which was the first to use this little wheel, you could touch it when you collapsed your proper lens. From what I read they have changed the mechanism of this little wheel in some ways for the M10 to make it more reliable. This might have - but must not have - some effect on the problem of collapsed lenses. So I would try carefully - you feel it when the wheel is touched - before giving any advise. 

 

(I don't take this photo as a proof for the compatibility of collapsible lenses with the M10, though one might have a look on the lens Mr. von Oeynhausen, who is the product manager of the M -  had on the new camera at the Wetzlar event: http://www.fotointern.ch/archiv/2017/01/18/neue-leica-m10-kompakter-schneller-intuitiverer-und-mit-wlan/

Scroll down to the chapter: "Im Gespräch mit den Konstrukteuren" where you see him together with Stefan Daniel)

 

[LCL999]

I've used and collapsed both an old 50mm collapsible 'lux and also the much newer 50mm collapsible Elmar on an M8, M9, and M10 without any problems.

I've also made good use of an old 90mm f4 collapsible but have NEVER collapsed it on those digitals. It is the only Leica lens I know of that stops down to f32, which is on the dispersion limit. Very useful when documenting smallish objects where maximum depth of field is important. 

[a.noctilux]

3 hours ago, LCL999 said:

I've used and collapsed both an old 50mm collapsible 'lux

Do you mean collapsible Summilux ?

Can you show the lens, please  ?

3 hours ago, LCL999 said:

I've also made good use of an old 90mm f4 collapsible but have NEVER collapsed it

Good, because you would have your sensor or shutter problem, as this lens goes far inside.

In your place, I'd put something ( if you want to, of course) on the tube to limit the risk.

[LCL999]

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[rramesh]

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Don't take the risk of ruining your camera by trying to compact the lens. Stick some tape on the upper end of the tube to prevent it from collapsing all the way. A rubber band may also help.

[cnguyen]

DO NOT FREAK OUT PEOPLE

I tried both my 50mm f3.5 elmar and 50mm f2 summicron collapsible and they both collapsed in my M10 fine.

 

[jakontil]

has anyone with any case that any collapsible lens mentioned, except the 90 f4 collapsible, been collapsed accidentally and caused problem or god forbid, damaged to the sensor?

 

On 6/26/2022 at 6:37 PM, a.noctilux said:

Do you mean collapsible Summilux ?

Can you show the lens, please  ?

Good, because you would have your sensor or shutter problem, as this lens goes far inside.

In your place, I'd put something ( if you want to, of course) on the tube to limit the risk.

arnaud, this 90 you talking bout it aint the macro elmar right?