Re: [Leica] CLE lenses on M bodies

[Thomas Kachadurian <kach@freeway.net>]

Andras:

I suspect your reason #3 is the closest to the truth. I use a 28 Rokkor on
my M4 & M6 with outstanding result. I went to a Leica clinic. I handed the
tech my M6 with the Rokkor mounted and he acted as if I had slapped him. He
didn't want to check the shutter until I replaced the Rokkor  with a 35
summicron. It seemed childish to me, but he was serious.

Tom

At 09:57 AM 1/16/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Fellow Luggers,
>
>can anybody clear up my doubts? I am sure this has been discussed in the
>past but not since I am on the list. Sorry, if for some of you this is
>repetitive.
>
>I know that the CLE lenses fit physically. What I would like to know for
>certain is about exact RF coupling. When I was in Solms the last time I
>asked this question. The "official" Leica reply was: you can mount the
>lenses but they will not couple properly with the M RF. It is possible that
>the difference will be covered up by depth-of-field, but the correct answer
>is no, they do not couple.
>
>Since I now own an M6 body I became curious and made all kinds of
>combinations. In a (admittedly unscientific) test I mounted the M6 and the
>CLE bodies side by side on a tripod and kept exchanging the same CLE lens
>focussing on different subjects at different distances with the RF. After
>adjusting for exact focus the position of the helical was always the same
>for the same subject on BOTH bodies. This makes me think of the following
>possibilities:
>
>1. Leica's "official" answer is correct in a mathematical sense, but the
>practical differences are imperceptible.
>
>2. Leica misunderstood and was referring to CL lenses instead of CLE
>lenses. According to "Handbuch des Leica-Systems 1984/4" CL lenses have a
>"steep curve" helicoid, whereas M lenses have a "differential" helicoid
>maintaining the follower cam always parallel. Because of this CL lenses can
>not be focussed correctly via RF on M bodies. This is printed Leica
>information.
>
>CLE lenses have a "plane cam" as Minolta states in the manual, whatever
>that is.
>
>3. Leica doesn't like to admit, that a competitor's lenses can be used
>succesfully on an M body. Minolta is something of an ex-wife to Leica now.
>
>4. Leica is plain wrong (unlikely but not impossible).
>
>Who knows the answer?
>
>
>
>Andras Iklody-Szabo
>Caracas / Venezuela
>
>
>
>