39mm is not 39mm?

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

I think i just messed up. I just bought a 39mm Nikon orange filter for my M2 lens, one a 50 f2 DR Summicron and a 90 f2.8 Elmarit. It will not fit the Elmarit but seems to work ok in the DR. All are 39.. so I'm at a loss why it won't fit the ElMarit. I haven't tried it with the Zeiss lens as yet. The threads appear to be more coarse than other 39mm filters I have.

Well, got it for $10 so, I'm not out much. It was in superb shape and 39mm so I figured it would fit all my lens. It nearly dropped down inside the Elmarit

Dr Croubie · Oct 23, 2015

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the early leicas were indeed a coarser thread than other regular 39mm filter threads.
Maybe it was on Cameraquest or Ken Rockwell. Got any really fine calipers?

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

Got any really fine calipers?

Yep, as fine as they come.

MattKing · Oct 23, 2015

It could be that the thread pitch differs.

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

That's probably the reason comparing it to a 39mm B+W filter. I was under the assumption a 39mm filter would fit any 39mm lens. Shows I've learned yet something else I "assume".

Odd it will work with the DR but not the Elmarit. The threads on those lens should be identical.

Sirius Glass · Oct 23, 2015

Some times a 39mm thread is really a 38.5mm thread for filters if I remember correctly.

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

According to my RCBS calipers it's right on 39mm. My Starrett dial calipers read 1.530". It doesn't read in mm's.

there's about 1mm before the threads start at all on the filter.

gone · Oct 23, 2015

Your Elmarit takes a 39 x 0.5mm screw-in filter (E39).

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

That's why it won't work. The threads of the Elmarit are much finer than the ones on the filter. Ditto the Zeiss lens. The only lens that seem to take the filter is the Summicron(DR).

AgX · Oct 23, 2015

39x0.5 is the standard. I do not know of a 39mm thread with another pitch.

But there is 40x0.75 .

Get yourself a thread gauge. A cheap tool, that comes candy.

Fr. Mark · Oct 23, 2015

25.4 mm = 1.00" exactly if that helps.

Knjy · Oct 24, 2015

39mm thread

If you offer the Nikon up to a known 39mm filter thread to thread (so it makes an infinity shape) you should be able to see if they are have differing thread pitch. I bough a few Chinese 40.5mm Lens Hoods for Contax and the threads were either poorly machined or slightly oversize. I greased the threads and they screwed in tightly, after a few repetitions the threads lost the anodising and now fit reasonably well although one has a 'short' amount of thread. This may not be your issue but does illustrate that sometimes the thread is OK just other factors.

Cycler · Oct 24, 2015

Unless they're 'Double-Leads' Most male threaded components have the threads rolled into them. Machinists and operators have to make certain that the components being rolled are all at the same angle. Otherwise you can get annular ridges rather than threads. As an engineering inspector I oncle rejected about 4 tons of double-leads! The Dept manager went potty; he blamed me! Talk about shooting the messenger; I just found & identified the fault. My manager then discovered that said manager had falsified the records to get the machine started sooner. Major Row!

Cycler · Oct 24, 2015

Test for 'double-leads'. Insert a finger-nail in the 'thread' and rotate component. Fingernail should move up or down. If it don't it's a DL.

lxdude · Oct 24, 2015

Cycler said:
As an engineering inspector I oncle rejected about 4 tons of double-leads! The Dept manager went potty; he blamed me! Talk about shooting the messenger; I just found & identified the fault. My manager then discovered that said manager had falsified the records to get the machine started sooner. Major Row!

Been there. They get angry at inspection instead of themselves for the bad parts. I've been browbeaten, bullied, insulted, threatened, and physically assaulted. Never once did that change the dimensions of the parts or their acceptability.

RalphLambrecht · Oct 24, 2015

different pitch?:confused:

RalphLambrecht · Oct 24, 2015

AgX said:
39x0.5 is the standard. I do not know of a 39mm thread with another pitch.

But there is 40x0.75 .

Get yourself a thread gauge. A cheap tool, that comes candy.

Isn't there a std M39 that also comes a 'fine' (smaller pitch)?

Ronald Moravec · Oct 24, 2015

RalphLambrecht said:
Isn't there a std M39 that also comes a 'fine' (smaller pitch)?

Yes. Both lenses take the same filter thread.

Some cameras use a 39x.5 mm pitch and some 39x.75 mm pitch. All Leicas except two , CL 40 & 90 which use the other. Leica std is .5 mm pitch. Just looked it up.

It is possible to put one on part way if the pitch is wrong, but it will jam and not go on fully.

Maybe you have a bad lens from the factory or someone messed with it.

bsdunek · Oct 24, 2015

Interesting chart on metric threads. According to this there are four pitches standard for 39mm threads.

Dead Link Removed

ColColt · Oct 24, 2015

That's quite a chart. There's as many variables as cereal in the grocery store. As I mentioned, the B+W yellow and Haze filter I have fit great on all my lens...the Nikon does not. Obviously, it was for the Nikon range finder and not Leica. I figured it would still fit being "39mm". The Nikon threads are definitely more coarse. No big thing. I'll just buy another B+W orange filter. They're not that expensive.

AgX · Oct 24, 2015

Ronald Moravec said:
Some cameras use a 39x.5 mm pitch and some 39x.75 mm pitch.

M39x1 and M39x0.75 are threads at lens mounts.
So far I did not know them being used at filters.

More reason to have a thread gauge in house.

RalphLambrecht · Oct 25, 2015

AgX said:
M39x1 and M39x0.75 are threads at lens mounts.
So far I did not know them being used at filters.

More reason to have a thread gauge in house.

How come, every time I want to take a picture someone suggests I buy yet another thing?

ColColt · Oct 25, 2015

For this you don't need a thread gauge. It's obvious the thread pitch is different. I made the wild assumption ALL 39mm threads were the same but, you know what they same about assuming.

AgX · Oct 25, 2015

RalphLambrecht said:
How come, every time I want to take a picture someone suggests I buy yet another thing?

In real life you may do so,

But here at Apug with us tech nerds around you definitely have to buy that and modify this.

Sirius Glass · Oct 25, 2015

RalphLambrecht said:
How come, every time I want to take a picture someone suggests I buy yet another thing?

Because we all know that throwing money at a problem or a perceived problem will always solve all problems.

39mm is not 39mm?

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