Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/10/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 11:11 AM 10/21/96 +0200, you wrote: >Dear Leica Users, > >I'm normally not a Leica user (unfortunately?) but use more affordable >Nikon gear. I've been lent an old Leicaflex (w external meter) with a >Summicron R 50 2 that the owner has recently bought in a camera fair. >I'd like to check if it's still in working condition and I'd like to >know more about its (limited?) capabilities: is there a DOF preview? There is no DOF preview, because there's no focusing screen as the term is usually understood. The camera is in concept like a rangefinder, with only the center spot usable for focusing--the rest of the frame will always look sharp, because it's not ground glass. This is certainly a limitation, though interesting, because you cannot see DOF, and because the camera cannot be focused with long lenses (Leica's position on this has varied, but the limit is either 135mm. or 180mm). >What about multi-exposures? Between the timer lever and the lens lock >button, there is another lever. What is its use? That extra lever is a mirror lifter. It must be used when used with the 21mm. lens that was designed for the camera (not the current reflex 21, but an adaptation of an M-lens, with a rear element that sticks far into the camera and an external viewfinder). Is the mount fully >compatible with current R lenses? Well, the mount is, but many current R lenses cannot be used, because the "brow" over the lens mount restricts the physical width of lenses that can be mounted. So, e.g., you cannot use the 35 1.4 or the 80 1.4, among others. Leica technical services will have a full listing. However, any lens that can be mounted and has 3 cams (that is, any lens except the ones described as "R only" which have only the 3rd cam). (BTW, I think any lens that was made as "R only" was also made as a 3-cammer.) How about the shutter precision >(1/2000 is quite rapid for such an old camera). Most mechanical cameras have accuracy problems at their highest shutter speeds. But this camera and its descendents (SL and SL2) have excellent, fully adjustible shutters. If you get it overhauled it should be OK. > >Thanks for any help, > >Nicolas. > Charles E. Love, Jr. 517 Warren Place Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-7338 CEL14@CORNELL.EDU