Is it safe to mount a 50mm collapsible Summicron on an M10

[MikeMyers]

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I bought this camera and lens a lifetime ago, almost literally - most likely in the 1970's.  I was using the camera along with my Nikon SP.  Back then I built up a small collection of lenses, but most never or rarely got used.  I like collapsible lenses, because I can wear them under a jacket, with the lens collapsed, making it much more comfortable to wear.  That brings me to a question.

This is my M3 with the 50mm collapsible Summicron that I used most of the time.  The serial number is easily read, if that is important.

Will it fit onto a M10 safely, with no risk of doing any damage to camera body or lens?  Will it also fit onto an M8.2 ?

I think I read long ago that the lens needs to be extended when it is mounted on, or removed from, a digital M.  Sounds logical to me.

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[pedaes]

Definitely safe to mount, always extended as you say.. Bigger question is; Is it safe to collapse? Probably. The Elmar-M, which is fine, protrudes 14mm behind mounting flange (from back face). How far does Summicron protrude? 

Edited December 9, 2020 by pedaes

[jaapv]

The width of the rear ring is the major concern; if it is too wide it might damage the paint inside the mouth. You can measure the length from the front of the flange to the baffle in front of the shutter.

[jdlaing]

Yes it is safe on the M-10

[UliWer]

There are probably as many threads about collapsible lenses on digital M-bodies as collapsible lenses. 

It is always the same: Of course you can fit every collapsible lens on any digital M. You use the lens extended, you fit it extended  and you loosen it extended. No problem at all, for no lens and no digital M camera. 

Can you collapse it? There is only one lens which cannot be collapsed in a digital body: the old collapsible 1:4/90mm Elmar, because its broad rear end will not fit into the digital body which is much narrower than the traditional body for film. But of course you can use this lens with a digital body - as long as you keep it extended (it‘s a nice lens btw, one of the best built of all Leica lenses and a little bit better in resolution and contrast than the traditional rigid one with A36 Filters since the optics were redesigned at the time when the E39 filter versions were introduced).

All other collapsible Leica lenses can be collapsed - but there may be a little problem: the rear may hit the little wheel in the inside, which activates the rangefinder. Though this is true for any body which has rangefinder coupling - be it an LTM, an M-camera for film or a digital body. The position of the little wheel has not changed since the times of the Leica II - i.e. almost 90 years now. It can be touched, though normally it will give way. Lenses have been collapsed millionfold since the Leica II and also in M bodies and did no harm. They won‘t do more harm for digital Ms. Just don‘t apply any force if you feel any resistance.  And mind the narrow space of the digital bodies by fixing and loosening it only extended. 

The collapsed lens will not touch the shutter. There is a baffle aligned  to the shutter. For the M3  this baffle was much thicker than for a digital body, which also means there was less distance between the rear of a collapsed lens and the baffle which protects the shutter. No M3 was ever „hurt“ by a collapsed lens, they were much more usual then. 

The collapsible Summicron has the shortest tube which enters the camera, nothing will happen. The old 1:2.5/5cm Hektor had the longest tube - but who uses a Hektor? If you do, you may live with not collapsing it at all, and if you collapse it, do it carefully - even on an old Barnack body.

 

[MikeMyers]

Thank you.  I have a standard 50mm Summicron, as well as the one in the photo.  If I take my M8 with me on my next trip to India (if that ever happens), I remember how much I enjoyed traveling with my M2 and M3.  And, if I walk around with the camera under my jacket, again the collapsible lens would be more convenient.  I will continue to remember that the lens goes on/off the camera while extended.  Hmm, I wonder what I did long ago for a rear lens cap???

I assume it's the same situation with the M8.2, or any other M series, including the newest models?

[jdlaing]

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2 hours ago, MikeMyers said:

Thank you.  I have a standard 50mm Summicron, as well as the one in the photo.  If I take my M8 with me on my next trip to India (if that ever happens), I remember how much I enjoyed traveling with my M2 and M3.  And, if I walk around with the camera under my jacket, again the collapsible lens would be more convenient.  I will continue to remember that the lens goes on/off the camera while extended.  Hmm, I wonder what I did long ago for a rear lens cap???

I assume it's the same situation with the M8.2, or any other M series, including the newest models?

You must be a little more careful with the M-8.

The throat is narrower than that of the full frame sensors. It would be best to try it but be very gentle so as not to damage that throat. Always mount it in the extended position.

Edited December 10, 2020 by jdlaing

[david strachan]

7 minutes ago, jdlaing said:

You must be a little more careful.....Always mount in the extended position.

Yes, that's how i do it.

[MikeMyers]

Agreed completely - assuming it is safe to use on the M8, collapsing it when not in use, extending it when I use it - or install/remove it - then I'll be fine.

If there was any doubt whatever, I would never use it on the M8.  If I travel, I'll probably be taking the M10 anyway.  But traveling is out of the question until I get vaccinated....

[UliWer]

vor 17 Stunden schrieb MikeMyers:

I assume it's the same situation with the M8.2, or any other M series, including the newest models?

No differences between the digital models. I don't know the M (Typ 240), though i presume it does not differ in this respect from M 8,9,10.