40mmSummicron-C on an M6 or M7

B

bherman

bherman
Local time
10:56 AM
Joined
Jul 5, 2006
Messages
162
So, I currently own a Leica CL with a 40mm F2 Summicron-C and also a 90mm Elmar-C. I know that the 40mm Summicron will bring up the 50mm Framelines on an M6 or M7, and was wondering if this is cumbersome or a pain in the neck or not?

Do you just learn to crop tightly, since the 40 has a slightly wider field of view? I would hate to have to buy a 50mm lens if not necessary.

Thanks, Brad
 
I modified the 40mm Nokton Classic to bring up 35mm line to use with M6 when I had them. Newer Ms have a bit tighter frame lines (optimized for 1m, I believe) compared to older Ms that are optimized for 3 or 6m (please someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I think for mid-infinity focus, M6 or M7's 35mm line is accurate enough. If you are shooting close focus, just think you are cropping a bit.

If you wear glasses, I'd just keep 50mm tab and use the full VF for framing and 50mm frame lines as horizontal level guide. I actually did that for a while and worked fine.
 
Last edited:
How do you use the 35mm Framelines if the 40mm Summicron brings up the 50mm Framelines on the M6? Did you have your lens flange modified? thx Brad
 
Alternatively you can manually bring up the frame line by the preview lever and possibly take it up or something, but yes, you'd probably wanna modify it if you decide to stick with 35mm line.

The process is easy, just file tiny part of a tab of the lens base so the tab pushes preview lever inside of camera a bit less than before. Just make sure you mask out the rear of the lens really well.

I'll try to find the online instruction I followed...
 
I compose with the 35 framelines, and flip the 50 framelines on when unsure as a bit of a check. Helps me get much closer.
 
I use the 40 on M6, and I find I much prefer to use the 50mm framelines rather than use 35mm. But I'm not really a fussy framelines person. As long as I get all tightly cropped in 50, the pix will have extra room on the negs
 
This is a moot point now as it just occurred to me just now after following the procedure for modifying my 40mm. But are there any health implications with filing the flange (I used a nail file), will it create any hazardous dust, do we know what material we filing on the mount? Or am I being to paranoid.
 
zeroeseight,

you definitely want to mask off the lens's rear element, focus ring, and aperture ring as you wouldn't want any metal dust finding its way inside.

i was wondering whether to file a 40 or not, but I typically crop the sides of my images. so the 50mm frame lines will work nicely. the 2:3 ratio just looks too panoramic for my taste.

jeffrey
 
i use my 40/2 on my M2 with 50mm frame lines, it came out ok (i compose a little tighter) and when not so sure, i bring 35mm frame lines with preview lever.
 
Same here as setyotomo; I use the 50 lines on an M4-P and you learn very quickly to compensate for the 40 mm, and to step in a foot closer.
 
I recently put my 40mm F2 Summicron-C lens on my M6. Yes, it does indeed bring up the 50/75 Frameline combination as expected. However, is there any effect from the difference in the focusing CAM on the M series camera vs. the CL?

I'm not sure if it was me, but the M6's double-image focusing didn't seem quite as sharp/snappy with the 40 as when I used my 50mm Summicron Lens (which I no longer own). Maybe is was just the incandescent lights at night that were the issue?

Maybe it's me or my eyes? Also, should the 90mm F4 Elmar-C also work fine on the M6, just as a say, 90mm F/2.8 Elmarit would, except for the loss of a stop?

Thanks, Brad
 
Since you aren't looking through the lens at all, it's hard to see how it could affect the image through the viewfinder.

The cam on the C-series lenses is steeper than on other M-mount lens so, if anything, the focusing "sweet spot" ought to be more pronounced. Could be it's hard to see the faster change in poor light.
 
The M framelines cover ~85% of actual frames. A 50mm frameline is therefore really a 58mm. That makes it ~70% of the actual 40mm frame.

If you compose tight in the 50mm frame, you will have a print margin ~15% all round for your 40mm lens.

Think print margin when composing will save you the lens mount modification work that would also affect lens resale value [to some].
 
Frankie said:
The M framelines cover ~85% of actual frames. A 50mm frameline is therefore really a 58mm. That makes it ~70% of the actual 40mm frame.

If you compose tight in the 50mm frame, you will have a print margin ~15% all round for your 40mm lens.

Think print margin when composing will save you the lens mount modification work that would also affect lens resale value [to some].
Click to expand...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Frankie. That really makes alot of sense. I was toying with the idea as to whether I should have the 40mm modified to show the 35mm framelines or just crop the 50mm framelines tight.

I wish that there were some photos/examples showing the % crop etc.

Thanks, Brad
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top