Can I use a Dual Range Summicron without the close-up googles on a Bessa-T without any problems in mounting it or without the rear element hitting the front shutter of the camera body?

For the CL, can I use the DR Summicron on the body without the rear element hitting the metering cell which swings downward?

Main reason is that I am considering buying a used one. I don't plan to use the close-up googles obviously because those don't fit on the CL or Bessa-T... doubtful because of the various sizes of the top late amongst the M-compatible models. In this case, I'm just worried about applying the DR Summicron and committing irrepairable damage to either one of the camera bodies without any foreknowledge of the DR Summicron compatibility.

-- Bill Bolger (bill.bolger@yale.edu), January 20, 2002

Answers

There is no problem mounting the lens itself to either camera. The CL does not have 50mm framelines in the finder but actually at longer distances (greater than about 5m) the 40mm frames in the CL are more accurate for a 50 than the 50mm frames in an M body.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

The CL has framelines for 50mm lenses.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 20, 2002.

Anyone else find it odd that this posting appeared on the LUG this morning word for word, from leica_phile@hotmail.com? I tried to send a response directly to Bill.Bolger@Yale.edu-- returned undeliverable. I have used the DR on a friend's CL with no problem-- I dont know how accurate you're going to be if you try to focus closer tham the normal range. Its a great lens Alfie.

-- Marke Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

Marke, Yes I noticed this also and it struck me as very strange. Alfie has made posts to this forum subsequent to his announced leaving last month and no one objected. I don't know why he is either using someone else's email address or having them submit the question.

In any case, the answer in the case of the CL is as you have mentioned and also is on Steve Gandy's website's writeup of the CL.

-- RP Johnson (rpjohnson2@mindspring.com), January 20, 2002.

John's right, now that I recall my CL did have a 50mm frameline, it was the 35mm framelines missing. I only had my CL for about 6 months, of which it spend four months (2 x 2 months) getting repairs to the meter. Then I traded it.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

The DR without goggles functions like a normal lens after have turned the collar from close to normal focus. Then it focuses from infinity to one meter.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4u.or.jp), January 20, 2002.

You can focus closer than 1 meter with the DR without the goggles-- just rotate the lens to close focus range, depress the detent ball where the goggles mount, and you can continue into the close focus range. I sure wouldnt want to bet on my own accuracy like that though... Best,

-- Marke Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

Sorry, forgot to add above, that the close focus without goggles has to of course be done without the rangefinder.

-- Marke Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), January 20, 2002.