Focussing the Summicron 50 mm f2 Dual range

[jwillyf]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I bought my first Leica camera, an M3, a few months ago that came with a Summicron 50 mm f2 Dual Range lens.

I have recently become aware of the fact that I cannot get the range finder images to coincide for correct focussing beyond about 20 feet. Turning the focussing ring has it reaching its limit of travel where the distance scale aligns with the triangular arrow at roughly halfway between 25 and 100 feet - see attached image. I feel I need to be able to rotate the focussing ring  further towards the infinity marker to get the rangefinder images to match up but the lens will not will not allow this.

I know there is an adjustment screw just inside the lens housing but the discrepancy seems too great to be corrected by what I imagine is only fine adjustment from this screw.

Any advice for this newcomer to old Leica lenses?

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!

[a.noctilux]

Hello, I see that you had ( managed to mount ? ) the Somni DR Summicron on your digital Leica M.

Had you set the distance of the lens to about 5 feet before mounting ?

I see here the stop at 30 feet (about 10mm).

The DR is not compatible with digital Leica M before M10 (with this one, I've done some years ago this thread )

 

From M8/M9 to M240 , the lens can be used in close range with the goggle, using the rangefinder,

but focussing is not possible to reach infinity (with some bodies to 5m or 10m)

[jwillyf]

Thank you, a.noctilux.

This explains why I have only noticed this problem recently, having just bought a second hand Monochrom type 246, thinking the Summicron to be compatible. Having placed the lens on the M3, it works fine!

So is it safe to mount the lens on the type 246 without risk of damage to the type 246 body? Can I use the lens on the type 246 accepting I cannot focus beyond the stop on the lens travel?

For the M3, I also have an Elmarit 90mm f2.8 which gives travel all the way to infinity on the type 246. Does this mean I can use this lens safely on the type 246?

[a.noctilux]

You are welcome.

 

Not many lenses which are not compatible with M246 (see the manual for a short list).

I do use DR on my M246 sometimes.

- before mounting on the M, set the focus ring of DR to about 5 to 10 feet so not to break anything

 - you can use from mini distance to about 30 feet

- if you mount the "eyes" close range attachment , of course, you can use close range with RF

- with your M246, LV or EVF can be nice for close range, just push the ball when focus is mini, then push the focus ring toward front,

turn the ring toward the close focus range, push the ball again to turn the focus ring closer

More infos on the Summicron Dual Range 50mm

...

Elmarit 90mm would work fine on your M246.

[jwillyf]

Thank you once more. It's disappointing that I cannot use the Summicron beyond 30 feet. I am going to have to look for M246 50 mm lenses compatability across the focussing range up to infinity.

[adan]

The regular so-called "rigid" 50 Summicron is the exact same lens as the DR, but without the close-up function (can't get closer than 1m/3 feet - but will work out to infinity). Thus it also doesn't have the extra focus cam that is what "jams" on the interior of digital M's and prevents infinity-focus.

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Summicron_(I)_f%3D_5_cm_1:2

Note that while they are grouped together on that wiki page - the collapsible Summicron (image 1) is NOT the same optics as the "rigid" version (images 2-3) or DR (image 4), and not as crisp wide-open.