Re: [Leica] Hektor 4.5/135mm SM Mounts

[Bruce Feist <bfeist@flock.org>]

Hi, Marc and other Leicaphiles;

The thicker adapter is indeed an OUBIO.  The thinner one is not marked with a model number, but it *is* marked 5cm on the lens-side surface (which may explain why it didn't work with the Hektor!).  My guess is that it goes with an Elmar 50mm f/2.8 SM lens I have; that lens is contemporary with its bayonet cousin (I assume), so that would be a reasonable combination.  Its serial number is 1192922; on the camera-side surface it has a four-digit code
inscribed: 7938.

I don't know much about Visoflex models, but I have some reason to believe that mine is a Visoflex II (it's scrawled onto an import certificate I have).

I also know very little about the bayonet-mount lenses.  Are the M and R lenses at all compatible?  Which is compatible with my Visoflex?  Is it possible that the short mount is intended to be used with whichever style my Visoflex isn't intended for?

Thanks,
Bruce

> From: Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Hektor 4.5/135mm SM Mounts
>
> At 05:51 PM 4/8/98 -0400, Bruce Feist wrote:
> >I have a Hektor f/4.5 135mm SM lens which consists of a front section
> >with all the glass, and two swappable barrels which sit behind it.  They
> >are of different lengths; one is clearly to be used to attach the lens
> >directly to the camera, while the shorter one, I assume, is intended to
> >be used in conjunction with a Visoflex.  Well, I have a Visoflex, too;
> >I'm not sure of the model, but it attaches to a SM body and accepts
> >bayonet-mount lenses.
> >
> >I also have two SM/bayonet adapters.  One is a very thin (in length)
> >ring; unfortunately, the Hektor can't use it, because it's too wide (in
> >the radial direction) -- the outer part of the Hektor collides with the
> >ring.  The other adapeter is lengthwise thicker; it has a tripod socket
> >in it, and is a significant chunk of metal.  I can attach the Hektor to
> >this using the short barrel, but it cannot focus to infinity -- it is
> >only capable of focusing at a distance of roughly 10 feet, indicating
> >that the barrel is too long.
> >
> >Clearly, there is part of the puzzle that I'm missing.  How can I make
> >use of this lens with the Visoflex?  What is my thicker adapter really
> >intended for?  Is there some other kind of adapter that I should try to
> >find?
>
> I don't know what these two adapters are, and it would help if you would
> post the part numbers that are stamped on them (if any!).  The thicker is
> probably an OUBIO and that, with the ZOOAN short-mount, should allow
> infinity focus with your Viso II/IIa/III.
>
> This is a puzzle:  send us the numbers off of the adapters, and we'll give
> it a rethink.