Getting a LEICA M 9CM 90MM F4 ELMAR LENS

[kivis]

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This a 1954-1964, Collapsible M-mount version. Had one before. Thought it had a lot of character. Will I have any problem mounting it on my M-P 240? Pretty sure it will mount fine on my M-A. Anyway, love to hear others pipe in.

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[pippy]

53 minutes ago, kivis said:

This a 1954-1964, Collapsible M-mount version.....Will I have any problem mounting it on my M-P 240?......

According to the Leica instruction booklet for the M-D Typ-262 - which shares the same mechanical internals as the M262 / M240;

"IMPORTANT : The Following Cannot be used : Elmar 1:4 / 90mm with retractable tube (manufactured from 1954 - 1968)."

The booklet goes on to explain that the 'current' 90mm f4 has no such issues as;

"...the tube does not protrude into the camera body even when retracted..."

It sounds to me like the older version has a different mechanical build. I don't have any experience with this lens myself so you might want to hear from others who own this version of the lens...

Philip.

[luigi bertolotti]

Simple rule ; ignore the collapsable facility, keep it always extracted. 

Personal experience : on M8 it really did interfere with the chamber, risk of scratches. On my current M240 my feel is that MAYBE there isn't anymore the issue, but the blades of the collapsing tube are anyway a lot next to inner chamber' sides... I prefer not to mount collapsed, neither retract when mounted.

Collateral : oddly enough, the old Elmars 50 M (2,8 and 3,5) have the retractable tube that protrudes into the body a bit MORE than the Elmar 90.

The "modern" collapsibles (Elmar M 50 and Macro Elmar M 90) have not the issue (and MEM 90 is a GREAT lens)

 

 

Edited February 16, 2022 by luigi bertolotti

[kivis]

Bummer.

[Decimusmaximus7]

While I always mounted and unmounted mine (before I sold and bought a Tele-Elmarit) in the extended position, I did collapse it into body while static and did not see any problems.

[lct]

44 minutes ago, Decimusmaximus7 said:

While I always mounted and unmounted mine (before I sold and bought a Tele-Elmarit) in the extended position, I did collapse it into body while static and did not see any problems.

Do you mean on film? Mine did touch something in the M240 innards last time i tried but it was a long time ago. I would follow Luigi's simple rule above anyway. 

Edited February 16, 2022 by lct

[kivis]

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So if the lens is fully extended then I could use it on my M-P240. Just to be safe do NOT collapse it. Right?

[lct]

Just now, kivis said:

So if the lens is fully extended then I could use it on my M-P240. Just to be safe do NOT collapse it. Right?

Right. It works perfectly in extended position. 

[Decimusmaximus7]

23 hours ago, lct said:

Do you mean on film? Mine did touch something in the M240 innards last time i tried but it was a long time ago. I would follow Luigi's simple rule above anyway. 

I know it was risky, but no, it was on my M240. 

[luigi bertolotti]

4 hours ago, Decimusmaximus7 said:

I know it was risky, but no, it was on my M240. 

I am not sure... but when had just bought my M240 and dedicated some trial to the matter (with care) I seem to remember that my vague conclusion was that mount/retract was close to ok...  but it would have been risky to fire accidentally the shutter with lens on, retracted... but don't remember how I got this conclusion...

Edited February 17, 2022 by luigi bertolotti