Re: [Leica] Leica M5 Lens use

[Kip Babington <cbabing3@swbell.net>]

I had an M5 and DR Summicron for a while.  The only adaptation I had to make
was to remove the small post on the DR eyes that had a milled step that just
fit over the top cover of my M3, and effectively kept you from removing the
lens from the camera if the eyes were still attached.  The M5 top cover is a
few millimeters higher on its right side than the M2/3/4, where this tab
would otherwise sit, so it had to come off.  It was held on with a small
screw, which as I recall could be removed from the front of the eyes if you
had the appropriate jeweler's screwdriver (get one at a hobby shop if you
don't have one.)  No cutting required.

As to collapsible lenses, I recall the M5 instructions advising the use of
Dymo type label tape as a protection against collapsing a lens into the
meter arm.  I think you could use a certain size (3/8 or 1/2 inch, maybe?)
at the front of the lens barrel, which would allow a bit of retraction but
would stop short of contacting the meter.  I just put a strip around the
back of the barrel, and treated it as a rigid lens.

I never had any deep recess lenses.  But the 35 Summicron, 35 Summaron (w/M3
eyes), 50 Elmar, 50 DR Summicron, 90 Tele Elmarit (fat) and 135 Tele Elmar
all worked perfectly on the M5 without anything more than bayoneting them
on.

Cheers,
Kip

Bill Satterfield wrote:

> Just bought a mint- 3 lugger from original owner. He advises me he has a
> Summicron   50/2  DR   that been adapted for the  M5. This causes  me
> some concern. Are there restrictions on lens you can use? Will my 50,35
> and 90 work as is? If not, I see no point in keeping the camera. Please
> advise as I have 5 days to send it back.