[Leica] Unfortunate accident removes red dot! Devastated in Victoria! :-(

["Ted Grant" <tedgrant@home.com>]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I had an unfortunate accident of sorts today while shooting my way through
several hospital care units and ORs. This concerns my Noctilux which is
causing me great mental strain with several questions as what to do?

As many of you know the Noctilux is my lens of choice and has been by my
side night and day for many years, so you can understand my heart felt
sorrow.

And as I know many of you are so good with your kind advice, I thought best
to ask for your considered opinions,  "what should I do with my Noctilux and
will this situation effect the lens?"

I'm grief stricken over the red dot loss! :-(

Sometime during the day, the little "red dot" attached to the lens
indicating where the lens should be inserted into the body has gone missing.
And although I have inserted it into the body on many occasions and can find
the right insertion location in available darkness, "Will this hurt the
lens?"

Should I have concern using this lens or should it be returned immediately
to Solms for repair of the red dot?  I have several concerns regarding this
travesty to my dearly beloved Noctilux, which, without question, I know you
fine Leica using ladies and gentlemen will show sympathy and give me astute
guidance for it's full recovery.

Will this missing red dot from the lens barrel create possible "lens barrel
distortion?"

Will the depth of field, commonly known as DOF, be affected in any manner?
More or less, thicker or thinner? Shorter or longer?  And which ever the
case maybe or none at all?

Is there a possibility this could cause exposure change due to possible
light leaking in somehow where the little red dot was?  It doesn't appear
possible, however?

I have great concerns over this matter and as I know many of you are very
busy in your picture endeavors for the PAW, PAD's etc, I would appreciate
any advice you may wish to pass on in regard to this Leica red dot worrying
photographer,  as my Noctilux has been a companion of which I have on
occasion kept snuggled at my side during the deepest of a dark night!  I
mean deepest of dark nights! And for nearly 30 years I've felt the
smoothness of her curves and the comfort of her exposures by available
darkness and I do wish to keep her in the best of shape for another 3o
years. Or I die, whichever comes first.

All comments will be kindly appreciated.

heart broken and devastated in Victoria, please help me find my little red
dot! :-(
ted

Ted Grant Photography Limited
www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant