I am trying to find out which of the Voigtlander lenses couple to the M6 rangefinder and which, if any, brightlines they bring up. I am interested in the lenses for use on an M6 but hate the idea of having to carry and use a separate finder.

-- Christopher Goodwin (christopher.goodwin@gte.net), November 14, 2001

Answers

I am trying to find out which of the Voigtlander lenses couple to the M6 rangefinder

12/5.6, 15/4.5 and 25/4 do not couple. 21/4, 28/1.9, both 35/2.5, 35/1.7, 50/1.5, 75/2.5 and 90/3.5 do couple -- with any screw-mount body or any M body (with adapter).

and which, if any, brightlines they bring up

That depends on adapter that you mount. There are three adapters -- 28/90, 35/135 and 50/75. If you do not have any screw-mount bodies I recommend putting adapters permanently on the lenses you intend to use and buying generic rear M caps.

-- Alexander Grekhov (grekhov@wgukraine.com), November 14, 2001.

Sorry about italics. I should watch my spelling better.

-- Alexander Grekhov (grekhov@wgukraine.com), November 14, 2001.

FYI: Rear lens caps come with the Voigtlander adapters.

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), November 15, 2001.

It is my experience that the Voigtlander branded adapters mount the lenses so that the focusing mark ends up at about one o'clock (past center when screwed on). The adapters I bought from Mr. Gandy or Dante Stella line up at 12 o'clock consistantly. Of course this only matteres with a lens like the 15mm Voigtlander Heliar with fixed lens hood cutouts.

BTW: Rear Konica "M" lens caps are about $3.50 directly from their parts department. The phone number is on their web page.

It was dissapointing to me that Voigtlander adapters didn't line staight up with their own lenses and I had to find another brand to use the 15mm on. The lenses base plate can be taken off the 15 and orientation changed but I use the lens also on a Bessa L and R (which line up) - I wanted compatability.

-- Jon Ladd (jonladd@mediaone.net), November 15, 2001.

"It is my experience that the Voigtlander branded adapters mount the lenses so that the focusing mark ends up at about one o'clock (past center when screwed on)."

This sound like a potential source of focusing error. Seems to me that rotating the lens away from 12:00 would also rotate the cam away from its proper infinity setting, no? So maybe the Voigtlander adpters are to be avoided.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), November 15, 2001.

Actually, when screwed into a Bessa R camera, Voigtlander lenses don't always line up at 12:00 o'clock. I briefly owned a Bessa R and noticed this right away. I called the Cosina distributor and was told that tolerances on screw mounts cannot be made precise enough to insure exact alignment. In effect, this was a characteristic of the product that could not be avoided, but that it did not affect the performance of the product, i.e. that it was only a cosmetic flaw. Honestly, I never had any problems with focusing, but I didn't like the feel of the Bessa R and promptly got rid of it. The lenses, however, are good performers and an economical way to supplement one's Leica lenses.

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), November 16, 2001.

Bob, I don't think it really matters whether the lens lines up @ 12:00 or not. I have many Leitz LTM-M adapters & they *always* make the lens line up @ 1:00 (I believe there was a discussion on the LUG that this was intentional to make things compatible w/the "eyes" for the early 35 Summcron for M3 & other VF accessories). In contrast, my modern generic Japanese LTM-M adapters make my LTM lenses line up @ 12:00.

-- Chris Chen (furcafe@NOSPAMcris.com), November 17, 2001.

The fact that these lenses don't line up at 12 o'clock does not mean there is any potential for focusing error. I have a drawer full of LTM lenses from various manufacturers including Leitz and none of them line up perfectly. My 70 year old Summar lines up at 8 o'clock and it is accurate because I use it wide open from 6 feet away and it is spot on. My brand new Leica 35mm Summicron ASPH in LTM lines up at 1 o'clock on any adapter, on my IIIf and Bessa R but focus is spot on as well. My advice is don't worry be happy!

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), November 18, 2001.