Summaron and strange misalignment

Carburo · 02-18-2005

Hi!
This is a gift I've had from a friend:
http://www.carburo.altervista.org/M3/page_01.htm
(Wow! "I don't use it, so take it and take good pics"...)
It has no problems with 50 and 90mm Elmars, but when I put on the 35mm Summaron (the one with "spectacles") there's a vertical misalignment in the rangefinder.
I can use it in any case, but it's nagging.
I've some rangefinder cameras, but I've never had a problem like this: just with ONE lens.

Thanks a lot for your help.

denishr · 02-18-2005

Carburo, judging from the photos provided, I think it might be a problem with the "eyes" on the Summaron. The round one seems to be dented a bit, which might account for the misalignment. In short, if the lenses in the "eyes" are not properly aligned, that might cause the "distorted/misaligned" view through the VF.

Just my 2 cents...

Denis

Carburo · 02-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by denishr

Carburo, judging from the photos provided, I think it might be a problem with the "eyes" on the Summaron. The round one seems to be dented a bit, which might account for the misalignment. In short, if the lenses in the "eyes" are not properly aligned, that might cause the "distorted/misaligned" view through the VF.

Just my 2 cents...

Denis

Yes, it has a little dent.
Do you think it's enough to cause such a misalignment?

denishr · 02-18-2005

Well, I'm not sure - it's just that a dent is an indication of possible misalignment, due to a fall or strong hit or something. I don't know what else could be the cause.

Denis

Carburo · 02-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carburo

Hi!
This is a gift I've had from a friend:
http://www.carburo.altervista.org/M3/page_01.htm
(Wow! "I don't use it, so take it and take good pics"...)
It has no problems with 50 and 90mm Elmars, but when I put on the 35mm Summaron (the one with "spectacles") there's a vertical misalignment in the rangefinder.
I can use it in any case, but it's nagging.
I've some rangefinder cameras, but I've never had a problem like this: just with ONE lens.

Thanks a lot for your help.

Can you tell me too wich kind of lenses are these three in the Leica's M world?
Thanks.

denishr · 02-18-2005

I think 50/2.8 Elmar could be the best of the lot - most practical, if nothing else. Elmar 90/4 should also be OK. Summaron is not much, AFAIK - people often say that you can get similar (if not better) results with Russian Jupiter 12. I wouldn't buy one (Summaron), if that's any help

))
The other two should be OK lenses - you should take some photos and see for yourself.
I don't know what kind of photography you're into (people, street, landscapes?), and I don't know how much you'll like this kit. Elmar 90/4 isn't very portable, I think, being rather large.

Anyway, shoot some film in situations you usually photograph,a nd see how it differs (if at all) from your other camera(s).

It's a nice kit

Regards,

Denis

kafir2 · 02-18-2005

just two suggestions:
1 - Trash the goggles for the summaron: a nice M3 like yours doesn't deserve that
2 - Nice serial number, really
3 - the elmar 90 is great
4 - the summaron is not that bad

ciao
k

Brian Sweeney · 02-18-2005

Denis hit the misalignment problem's cause. The eyes look a little "Barney Google'd". No big deal, I bet a repair shop could align them if it really annoys you.

The Summaron is the F2.8 version, which I have. It is the same optical formula as the 35mm f2 Summicron according to "Photographic Lenses" by Neblette. The Elmar 9cm F4 is a good little telephoto; too slow for existing light portraits, but nice for outdoor isolation of your subject. I use mine at the playground. The M3 is a beauty, serial number above 1M. I do not have the 5cm F2.8 Elmar, but it is reputed to be one of the sharpest lenses around. All-in-all, that is ONE TERRIFIC FRIEND that you have.

Another M3 in the RFF world. I am very happy.

Carburo · 02-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by kafir2

just two suggestions:
1 - Trash the goggles for the summaron: a nice M3 like yours doesn't deserve that
2 - Nice serial number, really
3 - the elmar 90 is great
4 - the summaron is not that bad

ciao
k

Excuse me, but I'm new in Leica's world.
Do you mean take off the spectacles and use the Summaron without them?
I'm not a collector, so I ignore what is a nice serial... why is it so interesting?

Brian Sweeney · 02-18-2005

M3's with Serial Numbers above 1M are considered to be among the best cameras ever turned out by Leica. I had (sold here) one with a SN of 114xxxx and now have one just under 1M. The two were identical in performance, but a collector would probably never believe it. Both were freshly CLA'd. The M3 Single Stroke (that you have) has a larger eyepiece than the M3 Double Stroke, DOF marks in the RF patch (search for prior thread on use), and of course takes one stroke to wind. The shutters on my M3SS and (ex) M3SS were quieter than on my just CLA'd M3DS. The double stroke film advance on my M3 is a bit smoother.

These Leica Manuals can be downloaded for free, and the author did an amazing job of retyping them and scanning the figures.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan...camanuals.html

denishr · 02-18-2005

Brian offered sound advice - BTW, I thought the Summaron was 3.5 version. The version you have should be much better than 35/3.5 I was referring to...
Anyway, as I said, shoot some film, and tell us how you like the photos

It's a VERY nice kit you got...

Denis

ddutchison · 02-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by kafir2

1 - Trash the goggles for the summaron: a nice M3 like yours doesn't deserve that

. -->

<--

Tempting as this might be, the goggled 35's have different focusing cams from the un-goggled ones. Remove the goggles and the RF will only be accurate at infinity, reducing your 35 to a scale focusing lens.

IIRC, adjusting the allignment in goggles is pretty easy, no disassembly required.

Carburo · 02-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddutchison

. -->

<--

Tempting as this might be, the goggled 35's have different focusing cams from the un-goggled ones. Remove the goggles and the RF will only be accurate at infinity, reducing your 35 to a scale focusing lens.

IIRC, adjusting the allignment in goggles is pretty easy, no disassembly required.

So tell me, please, how to do it!
Thanks.

ddutchison · 02-21-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carburo

So tell me, please, how to do it!
Thanks.

Ah well, that's why I started that sentence with an "If I Recall Correctly". ;-)

Now, (IIRC), I got that impression from this thread at the other place...
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-...?msg_id=004BXJ
... scroll down a bit and read the post by John Collier. Tomosy is an author of camera repair books. Looks like some disassembly is required.