MP and 18mm f/3.8

[paulsydaus]

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For some reason I was reading the tech specs for my Leica MP, and happened to notice it only supports 21mm lenses and up.

Can someone please confirm there is no issue mounting the 18mm Super Elmar on the film MP!?

I think I've already done this, so I hope I haven't done anything to the camera... :-(

 

 

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[wlaidlaw]

I suspect it is another error on Leica documentation. They are legion. I have certainly used the 18 SEM on my technically identical M240 for a few years with both impunity and good results. I have also used it on cameras like the M9, M4 and CL. I have found my regular visual field approximates to somewhere between a 16 and 18mm lens (I have had bilateral cateract surgery which very slightly reduces the visual field). This means I can do without an accessory viewfinder, which even though I have 21, 35, 50 and 85mm ones, mainly for use on my LTM cameras, I find a bit of a pain to use on an M. On an LTM, you are using a separate RF & VF anyway, so it does not seem as much of a pain, particularly as the accessory VF's are usually far better than the built in ones, except on my IIIg.

 

Wilson

 

PS if you mean the film MP rather than the digital M-P (confusing to name two very different cameras virtually identically) - see my comments on M4.

 

PPS I suspect you may not be able to use it on an M5 due to the swinging meter. I have a feeling you also cannot use the 21 Super Angulon on an M5 for the same reason.

Edited June 11, 2017 by wlaidlaw

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[paulsydaus]

I suspect it is another error on Leica documentation. They are legion. I have certainly used the 18 SEM on my technically identical M240 for a few years with both impunity and good results. I have also used it on cameras like the M9, M4 and CL. I have found my regular visual field approximates to somewhere between a 16 and 18mm lens (I have had bilateral cateract surgery which very slightly reduces the visual field). This means I can do without an accessory viewfinder, which even though I have 21, 35, 50 and 85mm ones, mainly for use on my LTM cameras, I find a bit of a pain to use on an M. On an LTM, you are using a separate RF & VF anyway, so it does not seem as much of a pain, particularly as the accessory VF's are usually far better than the built in ones, except on my IIIg.

 

Wilson

 

PS if you mean the film MP rather than the digital M-P (confusing to name two very different cameras virtually identically) - see my comments on M4.

 

PPS I suspect you may not be able to use it on an M5 due to the swinging meter. I have a feeling you also cannot use the 21 Super Angulon on an M5 for the same reason.

Thanks Wilson,

 

Yes I meant Film MP.

Technically the digital is M-P and the film is just MP. So easy!

Yeah it would seem very strange that they were incompatible. Still, you'd expect the tech specs to be reviewed by a product engineer and be accurate. Fair enough if the catalogues get handed over to the marketing department but tech specs need to be accurate.

 

 

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[a.noctilux]

Here, you have data sheet of Super-Elmar-M 18mm:

 

http://www.summilux.net/m_system/objectifs/SuperElmarM18Asph-fiche.pdf

 

There is not mentioning of non compatibility with M body.

 

As this Super-Elmar-M launched on 2009 and MP on 2003, if there is something not compatible Leica may write that down in SEM data sheet.

 

Side note, Wiki can answer some questions, like SEM 18mm here:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/18mm_f/3.8_ASPH_Super-Elmar-M

[paulsydaus]

Here, you have data sheet of Super-Elmar-M 18mm:

 

http://www.summilux.net/m_system/objectifs/SuperElmarM18Asph-fiche.pdf

 

There is not mentioning of non compatibility with M body.

 

As this Super-Elmar-M launched on 2009 and MP on 2003, if there is something not compatible Leica may write that down in SEM data sheet.

 

Side note, Wiki can answer some questions, like SEM 18mm here:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/18mm_f/3.8_ASPH_Super-Elmar-M

Thanks for this.

 

 

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[wattsy]

I don't think Leica had anything wider than 21mm in the M lens catalogue at the time the MP was launched in 2003.

[wlaidlaw]

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I don't think Leica had anything wider than 21mm in the M lens catalogue at the time the MP was launched in 2003.

Ian,

 

In legacy lenses, there would have been the 15mm/f8 Hologon-M, which although made by Zeiss, was marketed as a Leica lens. This was only available for a short period from 1972-76 I believe, although Zeiss carried on making it up to 2002 for the G2 camera. Having had one for my G2 and realised what a total pain in the butt it was to use, with the essential radially gradiated ND filter, making it even slower than it started as, I cannot imagine Leica sold many.

 

Wilson

[wlaidlaw]

I have just started another thread, as I cannot get my 18mm SEM to mount on my M7. It comes to a hard metal to metal stop, about 10º off vertical. All other lenses mount just fine on my M7 except my 25mm ZM Biogon which again comes to the same hard stop. There is nothing in the lens manual which says the 18mm is not compatible and in fact to the contrary it says "mounted on a traditional Leica M" when referencing vignetting. 

 

Any thoughts folks? 

 

Wilson