[Leica] 'cron 50mm DR on M8

[pklein at 2alpha.net (Peter Klein)]

Steve:  That was me.  I had the idea of getting a cheap Rigid Summicron 
with bad glass and the correct focal length marked inside.  The DR and 
Rigid lens heads unscrew from the mounts, so I thought I could put my DR 
lens head in the rigid mount for the M8, and still have the close range on 
film.  I asked DAG about it, and he said that the mounts were different and 
it wouldn't work.  But he also said that he could cut off the close focus 
part of the cam, and then it would work in the normal range on the M8.

The unmodified DR does work in close-focus range on the M8.  I know for 
sure, because I've tried it. When it's set in the normal range, the 
close-focus half of the cam sticks out too far, and it hits something 
inside the body when you try to mount it.  I have read about this, and I 
have decided to believe it and not try it myself.  :-)

I'm still thinking about whether to have DAG do the "operation."  It will 
depend on how much I like the 67mm equivalent length the 50mm turns into on 
the M8.  And whether I want to desecrate a sacred object.   Funny that I 
feel this way--I've used the close range all of twice since I got the 
lens.  But another DR was my first Leica lens, way back in 1970.  I really 
love how the DR draws, how it's made, how it feels.  And it's a Wetzlar 
product from the Golden Age.  So I'm reluctant to give the lens a 
"vasectomy" unless I'd really use it a lot on the M8.

Decision postponed while I experiment with my other 50s.

--Peter

At 02:29 PM 6/21/2007 -0700, Steve Barbour wrote:
>  recall hearing that the cron 50mm DR can be modified,
>so that it can be used on the M8 body...
>maybe that was reported here...
>if someone can substantiate this, and give me details, I'd appreciate
>it...
>
>thanks, Steve