M8 and Summicron DR 50mm f/2

[Donald Mann]

I recently purchased a Leica M8. In the literature accompanying the camera, it says the Summicron 50mm f/2 "with close focusing" is not compatible with this camera.

I have a Summicron DR f/2 50mm (s/n 2159221.) It's the two-piece model with the close-focusing googles.

I am presuming that that warning from Lecia means that lens cannot not be used for close focusing because the googles don't align properly, but the lense can be used as a normal 50mm lens.

Is this correct? The lense does not appear to project and further into the body of the camera than my 35mm Summicron. The lens is not collapsible either.

Please advise. Thanks!

[Joe Mondello]

Don't even TRY to mount it.

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/19321-1963-summicron-50-2-dr-wont.html?highlight=summicron+1963

I DID mount mine -- with great difficulty -- and NO it won't work. In fact you might damage the camera.

[Donald Mann]

Thnaks for the info Joe. I'll just use it on my RD1 where it works just fine!

[Gabriel M.A.]

I agree: don't try it. I tried mounting one on mine; I didn't even try to turn it in at all; you can see right away that it's a no-go. Shame, really.

[Joe Mondello]

Thnaks for the info Joe. I'll just use it on my RD1 where it works just fine!

Yeah it absolutely shines on my R-D1. Better than any of my CV glass by a mile in low light.

[nrj]

I used mine on an RD1, it was excellent. Its a great lens on an M6

Nik

[Donald Mann]

I am sure glad this forum is here. I posted the same question in this forum as I sent to tech support at leica. The response from leica was a link to leica.com which had a vague warning which stimulated my original question.

The members of this forum are faster and more exact than leica tech support. Thanks to everyone who responded!

[Harry Lime]

If you want the DR look on an M8, get the 'Rigid' version.
Both of these lenses share the same optical formula
.
The only difference is the focus mount and the last element on the DR version is slightly smaller and fatter (to fit in the close focus mount), but they perform identical.

Think of the DR version as a Rigid with a built in extension tube.