M-mount 50/3.5 Elmar on M10

[farnz]

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I've just acquired a rare M-mount version of the collapsible 50/3.5 Elmar to use with my M3 and I'd like to also use it with my M10.  I would always mount and demount the Elmar extended but does anyone know whether there would be a problem collapsing it while it's mounted on a M10 please?

Pete.

[UliWer]

This posting from the old FAQ-thread is still true for the M10.

So when you collapse your Elmar and feel some resistance, the lens hits the little wheel which activates the rangefinder. If there is no resistance, there will be no problem. The lenses rear will never touch anything near the shutter.

[farnz]

Thank you.  I didn't expect it to be a problem even though the 90/4 Elmar's tube is too long and extends too deeply to be safely collapsed.

Pete.

[JDFlood]

That is strange. One of my favorite lenses is the 90mm f4 on my M10. I have never had any issue with collapsing it. I use it all the time. JD

[01af]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb farnz:

... but does anyone know whether there would be a problem collapsing it while it's mounted on a M10 please?

No problem.

Just avoid unmounting it in collapsed position—even though that'll work without any problems as long as you're really careful.

[UliWer]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb farnz:

Thank you.  I didn't expect it to be a problem even though the 90/4 Elmar's tube is too long and extends too deeply to be safely collapsed.

Pete.

 

vor 2 Stunden schrieb JDFlood:

That is strange. One of my favorite lenses is the 90mm f4 on my M10. I have never had any issue with collapsing it. I use it all the time. JD

There is a misunderstanding - or better two of them:

1. The old collapsible 1:4/9cm Elmar has no problems to collapse into a digital M because it's tube is too long - but because the lenses rear end is much too broad. The "mouth" of the digital bodies is much narrower than for the film bodies. The rear end of the old 9cm Elmar hits the "walls" and will not enter even with force (and considerable damage to your camera).

2. The new 1:4/90 mm Macro-Elmar does not cause any problem at all. Even if the tube is fully collapsed, it will not protrude into the body. 

Edit:
When I measure the tube protrusion fully collapsed at infinity of the old 1:4/9cm Elmar with an electronic calliper I get 19.52mm - let's call it 20. With the 1:3,5/5cm Elmar (M-bayonet) I measure 20.14mm (calling this 20mm as well would be cheating). Both length are no problem for the shutter.

For the diameter of the rear end I measure 30.06 to 30.10mm for the 5cm Elmar and 32.03 to 32.06mm for the 9cm Elmar. This will not enter!

 

 

Edited January 5, 2019 by UliWer

[a.noctilux]

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Yes UliWer, thanks for more detailed infos on those two retractable 4/90mm.

In the M10 manual, some lenses are not compatible.

But in use, I can use on my M10 the SOMNI (Summicron DR 50mm) but with some precautions.

 

In the M10 manual, we can see that the "old collapsible 4/90" is not the "Macro-Elmar-M 4/90" which can be collapsed:

Quote

Important:
• The following cannot be used:
–– Hologon 15mm f/8,
–– Summicron 50mm f/2 with close-up attachment,
–– Elmar 90mm f/4 with retractable barrel (manufactured from
1954-1968)
–– Some versions of the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 (not aspherical,
manufactured from 1961-1995, Made in Canada) cannot
be attached to the camera or will not focus to infinity. The
Leica Customer Care department can modify these lenses so
that they can be used on the camera.

• The following can be used, but risk damaging the camera or lens:
Lenses with retractable barrel can only be used with the barrel
extended, i.e. their barrel must never be retracted into the camera.
This is not the case with the current Macro-Elmar-M 90mm
f/4, as its barrel does not protrude into the camera body even
when retracted. It can therefore be used without any restrictions

Page 135

[250swb]

14 hours ago, 01af said:

No problem.

Just avoid unmounting it in collapsed position—even though that'll work without any problems as long as you're really careful.

I think the typical 'Leica fear factor' could be overcome if Leica clarified what the issue is, simply that you could scratch the matt paint in the light box or if particularly clumsy bend something on the focus arm. So make it an issue that the user can understand and not imply a fear factor about incompatibility of equipment (given the published exceptions). 

Edited January 6, 2019 by 250swb

[jaapv]

 

AFAIK your post echoes Leica’s position There have been a number of threads on the subject since 2006 and the matter is addressed in the FAQ. 

[tobey bilek]

On 1/5/2019 at 11:13 AM, JDFlood said:

That is strange. One of my favorite lenses is the 90mm f4 on my M10. I have never had any issue with collapsing it. I use it all the time. JD

New 90 4.0 is no problem.  Original may be