Corfield lens on Leica

[Guest moonwrack]

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I have a 135mm f3.5 Corfield Lumax gold Star lens for the Periflex, which was offered in the UK in the Fifties as a spare body for Leica lenses, since these were subject to import restrictions at the time. This lens fits my M6 but will not focus to infinity Does anyone know why. (It also has an adapter ring for use on M42 mounts).

[giordano]

I have a 135mm f3.5 Corfield Lumax gold Star lens for the Periflex, which was offered in the UK in the Fifties as a spare body for Leica lenses, since these were subject to import restrictions at the time. This lens fits my M6 but will not focus to infinity Does anyone know why. (It also has an adapter ring for use on M42 mounts).

 

When you say it won't focus to infinity, what do you mean?

1. When the distance scale is at infinity the rangefinder isn't? If so, does the lens actually have a rangefinder coupling cam? Lenses made for the Periflex didn't, because the Periflex didn't have a rangefinder (in fact the whole pint of the Periflex design was to avoid the precision engineering needed in an interchangeable lens RF camera). I believe that some Lumax lenses were sold in Leica mounts: if yours isn't one of those you can only use it on a Leica by setting distances on the focusing ring.
   
2. When the distance scale is at infinity and the subject is a couple of hundred meters away, the picture isn't sharp? The lens may need adjusting or overhauling.
   
3. You can't turn the focusing ring to infinity? The lens needs adjusting.
   

I'd be interested to know which it is.

[Guest moonwrack]

Thanks Giordano. It is some time since I tried the lens but I am sure I had it set to infinity (being aware of the absence of a rangefinder cam) but the results, even with distant objects, were not in focus. However, I'll try again and report back.

[Guest moonwrack]

I have tried again; the Corfield 135mm lens will quite definitely not focus to infinity.

[microview]

I have tried again; the Corfield 135mm lens will quite definitely not focus to infinity.

 

I used to have a Corfield Gold Star Periflex which after many many years fell to pieces. I kept the very capable 50mm lens which as you say is LTM fit. Obviously it's not coupled so you use the distance settings ring; but I seem to remember that it too was 'out' at infinity. I made a film comparison with a 50mm pre-ASPH Summilux at around 8–10 feet and in sharpness there was not much difference. However the Leica lens could 'see' into the shadows in a manner that eluded the German made Periflex lens. Malcolm Taylor told me the lens manufacturing company did not have a particularly high reputation.

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[giordano]

I used to have a Corfield Gold Star Periflex which after many many years fell to pieces. I kept the very capable 50mm lens which as you say is LTM fit. Obviously it's not coupled so you use the distance settings ring; but I seem to remember that it too was 'out' at infinity. I made a film comparison with a 50mm pre-ASPH Summilux at around 8–10 feet and in sharpness there was not much difference. However the Leica lens could 'see' into the shadows in a manner that eluded the German made Periflex lens. Malcolm Taylor told me the lens manufacturing company did not have a particularly high reputation.

 

IIRC most Periflex lenses were made by Enna in Munich.

[giordano]

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I have tried again; the Corfield 135mm lens will quite definitely not focus to infinity.

 

That's a shame. If the lens seems to perform well otherwise, it might be worth having a repair shop adjust it.

 

(On second thoughts: you've said the lens won't focus to infinity, and I've assumed that means you've ruled out the possibility that it's focusing "beyond infinity". Is that right?)

[Guest moonwrack]

Thanks. I'ts not focusing beyond infinity. I have tried it on Minolta x-700 via adapters and it is focusing near to infinity but not quite although that may be caused by having to use two adapters - 42mm screw-to-Minolta and 39mm to 42mm screw.

 

I think the lens was made by Enna in Germany. I used these 49 years ago on a Praktina. The results were not as sharp and contrasty as today's lenses but perfectly adequate for pictorial work - and still adequate.

[giordano]

Thanks. I'ts not focusing beyond infinity. I have tried it on Minolta x-700 via adapters and it is focusing near to infinity but not quite although that may be caused by having to use two adapters - 42mm screw-to-Minolta and 39mm to 42mm screw.

 

I don't see how that can be. The lens flange to film distance on a Minolta is about 44mm, and with the M42 adapter it should be 45.46mm (I don't know how much more is added by the 42-39mm adapter).

 

Meanwhile on the screw mount Leicas (and therefore in principle Periflexes) it's only 28.8mm. So if the Periflex lens focuses near infinity on a Leica it should (at the same distance setting) focus a few feet away on the SLR. Conversely, if it focuses near infinity on the SLR it will focus well "beyond infinity" on a Leica.

[Guest moonwrack]

Be that as it may, that is the way it is and I can se no resolution to the problem. Incidentally, I was mistaken about Enna being the manufacturer; it is stamped "made in Japan".

[scsambrook]

Be that as it may, that is the way it is and I can se no resolution to the problem. Incidentally, I was mistaken about Enna being the manufacturer; it is stamped "made in Japan".

 

If it says 'Made in Japan' then it's a post-Corfield era lens. The Vines Cameras photo retail group acquired the rights to the name and what you have is T2-mount lens intended for single lens cameras. If yours has a 39mm thread adapter it was probably used on an old Zeith C or 3m at some time past. For it produce an in-focus infinity shot you'll need an extension tube to make up the difference between the two registers. Perhaps not really worth the effort ...