Hi, I have an Elmar 50/2.8; and heard that if I got the SOMKY I could take "close up" pics with the it? How do these two accesories work (SOMKY - NOOKY)? Whats the difference? Are the pics that result any good (in other words, are they of decent quality, or am I better off using another type of camera for occaisional close up work)? Thanks Phillip

-- Phillip Silitschanu (speedin_saab@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002

Answers

hello, Phillip,

These are close-focusing devices that are fitted to the Leica before the lens is fitted; then the lens is fitted on the NOOKY, ADVOO, SOOKY, or what-have-you. It works rather like the Dual Range Summicron, if you are familiar with that. For your lens, the SOOKY would be appropriate for use on most thread-mount Leicas, or the ADVOO for the IIIg. In any event, the adapter gives the lens the extra extension needed for photography in the macro range down to a reproduction ratio of about 1:4, or 1:6, or so, depending on the model. In other words, something about six to nine inches wide would be photographed at the full frame width. At the same time, the rangefinder and viewfinder are corrected for the closeup distance by means of prisms.

The short answer is yes, there are more convenient ways of taking closeups in today's world. An SLR with a macro lens and built-in meter is a better approach.

,

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), April 14, 2002.

I guess there is no way in using these closeup devices with a M- Leica ? So if I want to make closeups with my Ms, then I have to choose between the DR-Summicron, the Reprovit (don't know the code for this, but the one with the 4 legs) or a mirrorbox either from Kilfitt or Leica ? Sometimes half a meter would be nice and this little device as far as I have seen would bring one exactly to that range ...
Can someone help me there ?

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), April 15, 2002.

A SOMKY is for M cameras, Ituses collapsesd head of collapsible 50 Summicron (v1) (SM or M), first rigid Summicron (v2) head (SM or M)or the head of v3 Summicron (M only).

-- adam g. lang (aglang@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Hello

You could also use the BOOWU-stand with a screw/bayonett adapter to use an ELMAR 50/3,5 on your M6 with full metering capacity.

-- Thomas Krantz (tkrantz@kpmg.dk), April 18, 2002.

SOMKY was also sold as SOOKY M if you are looking for one. It takes a little practice to get the collapsed lens onto the sprung bayonet, and aperture ring is a little hard to access on my collapsible Summicron screw lens, but all works fine, a light and useful accessory James Elwing

-- James Elwing (elgur@acay.com.au), April 18, 2002.