Re: [Leica] 2x tele converter for leica

[jeremy.kime@bbc.co.uk]

As far as I know, 2 teleconverters were made for the Leica,
Russia made one, in screw mount, which was fairly basic and rare,
and Komura made the other in a much more professional way...
It was their famous Telemore II, sold in many other camera mounts. It 
featured both M and Screw coupling, using a screw to bayonet converter which 
was moved from one end of the device to the other to give you 2 mounts the 
same, frequently these are sold on and the device is left incomplete.
The focussing remained possible as a floating ring transferred the cam 
movemnets of the lens to the camera, of course it stretches the capabilities 
of the system somewhat to focus a 270mm F8...
The viewfinding was made possible through a finder supplied with the kit 
which offerred focal lengths of 80-270mm, this was a relatively poor device 
(cf a Leica v/finder) and showed 'not very bright' cropping lines in (if I 
remember correctly) a non-zooming finder, though it was parralax corrected.
The final part of the outfit was an accessory shoe which took the hot shoe 
sync output to a rear co-ax socket and left the v/finder raised a few 
millimetres. All of these items including caps for the converter came in a 
black leather case set in yellow velvet, along with instructions showing it 
on a Leica CL, in a plain-ish brown cardboard box.

Quality was never up to Leitz standards, Using a 90/2 Summicron I wasn't 
happy with it until I stopped down to F4 (F8), using a 135 Hektor, the 
results were better, again smaller apertures improved matters, it is an item 
best left to the collectors unless you are prepared to use small stops and a 
disapointing v/finder.

Latest prices have been up to the 495 (UKP/GBP) mark, and that was 
incomplete!

Jem
 ----------
From: 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'
To: KIMEJ44; 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'
Subject: Re: [Leica] 2x tele converter for leica
Date: 30 March 1998 18:47

Original Subject:
Re: [Leica] 2x tele converter for leica M & SM bodies

delia wrote:
>
> Just thought I'd drop a few lines on the subject since there has been no
> mention of it yet.

> Cambridge Camera Exchange just advertised in Shutterbug April 98 (p 164) a
> 2x Tele converter for Leica rangefinder cameras (available in both M and 
SM
> versions).  Price $399.50.   Not made by Leica.

Sorry for the simple questions but I have not actually held a Tele
converter of any kind in my hand.

I assume that this cylindrical shaped, but very short lens-like gadget,
connects between the M6 body and whatever lens is being used doubling
the focal length.  A 90mm now becomes a 180mm.  So the M6 would not be
able to focus the combination and there would be no frame lines but the
lightmeter reading would be OK.  And the aperture reading would be
exactly half of the lens reading.  That is, if the lens read f4 the
system would actually be exposing at f8.  Right?

So what other tradeoffs are there in the use of a Tele on a rangefinder
camera?

Is this the only Tele available for the Leica M6?   Thanks for the
info.   Dale
 --
$  dale-reed@worldnet.att.net   Seattle, Washington U.S.A.  $