Leica M39 Lens Advice Needed

Two23 · Jul 16, 2012

I now have a Leica IIIc and also a Jupiter 35mm f2.8 (modern) and Elmar 50mm f3.5 (c.1930,) and a VIOOH finder for 35/50/90/135. I'm wanting to put together a little system. Goal: lenses of 1940s vintage, all use same lens shade, filters. I will sell the Jupiter--too modern for me. I might sell the 50mm f3.5 and replace with a Leica 50mm f2 collapsible. I also want an Elmar 90mm f4. Here's where I need help. I want one lens shade to use on all three lenses. That would be the FIKUS made for 35/50/90, right? I also want to use filters yellow/orange/red on all three lenses, preferably while also using lenshood at same time. Filters don't need to be Lecia brand. I know there is an adapter for Leica E36 filters to be used on A36 lenses--would that work for me? Finally, regarding lens hood. I've read the FIKUS hood will fit the Elmars 35mm f3.5, 50mm f3.5, 90mm f4, but does it also fit the 50mm f2? What I want to end up with is my Leica IIIc, with lenses from 1940s of 35mm/50mm/90mm, a lenshood that can be used with all three lenses, and Y/O/R filters that can be used on all three lenses. Is this do-able? What do I need?

Kent in SD

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jul 17, 2012

I owned IIIC with 1946 Elmar 5 and two Summitars. If your new lens will be Summitar , it has a larger front glass and larger diameter and may be it doesnt compatible with Elmar diameter. There is a Leica forum at internet and best advise would come from frequent users.

Good luck ,

Umut

ath · Jul 17, 2012

The "modern" Jupiter 12 (35mm 2.8) is a Zeiss pre war design.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jul 17, 2012

ath said:
The "modern" Jupiter 12 (35mm 2.8) is a Zeiss pre war design.

I was thinking the same thing. Biogon I believe? Got one and love it.

carbon_dragon · Jul 19, 2012

Some people say Russian lenses are terrible and some say they're great. The reality is that both are right. The optical design is first rate (for the period) but the mounts ware often poorly designed out of substandard materials by indifferent workers. But they're cheap, so you can buy several and look for a good one. Kind of like Russian Roulette.

lacavol · Jul 22, 2012

The Russian lenses actually have a different pitch thread from the Leica lenses. Sometimes this is a problem as they don't screw down all the way without bunging up the threads. I have a 35mm Summicron Type III and a collapasable 50mm Summicron I really like they both have 39mm filter threads. I use a screw in cheap lens hood and cheap snap on plastic caps as I am notorious for dropping those things or losing them. I don't think the FIKUS works on anything but the Elmars. You can download the old catalogs from the Butkus Camera Manual site to see what fits what.

leicarfcam · Jul 22, 2012

lacavol said:
The Russian lenses actually have a different pitch thread from the Leica lenses.

Never heard this one before.. Maybe the very early lens but not the post war screw mount Jupiters..

I have several Jupiter lens and never had an issue mounting them on a Leica..

lacavol said:
Sometimes this is a problem as they don't screw down all the way without bunging up the threads.

Never had this proble either..

lacavol · Jul 24, 2012

Colyn, it depends on the camera and lens some have the threads worn. The Leica specs are 39mm X 26tpi (turns per inch) (.977mm) and the Russian lenses are 39mm X 1mm. Read the last paragraph here on the Survival Guide: http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page433.htm

I have a IIIa that doesn't take Russian lenses and a IIIc that does. Yes, they are good lenses, if you find a good one.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jul 24, 2012

Someone at APUG , uses soviet lenses on his IA , especially 800 dollars worth Roosinov wideangle.

leicarfcam · Jul 24, 2012

lacavol said:
Colyn, it depends on the camera and lens some have the threads worn. The Leica specs are 39mm X 26tpi (turns per inch) (.977mm) and the Russian lenses are 39mm X 1mm. Read the last paragraph here on the Survival Guide: http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page433.htm

I have a IIIa that doesn't take Russian lenses and a IIIc that does. Yes, they are good lenses, if you find a good one.

Is this the paprgraph you refer to?

Very early FED and FED lenses used a slightly different thread pitch which would may not make it compatible with lenses with the true LTM thread pitch.

As stated in my post I said basicly the same thing.. However post war Jupiters are fully compatible with all Leica screw mount cameras as well as other Leica copies. The exception would be the J-12 which will not work on some such as the Canon P, 7, etc due to the light baffles..

All of my Leicas III, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, and IIIf work fine with my Jupiter lens..

BMbikerider · Aug 4, 2012

carbon_dragon said:
Some people say Russian lenses are terrible and some say they're great. The reality is that both are right. The optical design is first rate (for the period) but the mounts ware often poorly designed out of substandard materials by indifferent workers. But they're cheap, so you can buy several and look for a good one. Kind of like Russian Roulette.

I think this may be down to absolutely rubbish quality control at the factory. As we say in UK:- "If you pay them peanuts you get monkeys." As we all know monkeys are not the easiest to train to make high quality goods.

I actually used a Kiev 4a fitted with the standard 50mm F2 lens (Zeiss Sonnar copy I believe) and the resolution on that was incredible, but the actual camera was quite frankly unreliable, to the point of being almost unusable

Xmas · Aug 4, 2012

Hi

I you standardize on 39mm ilters and the clip over Leitz hood {or generic (clone) 39mm screw in hood,} you can use the Summaron 35mm /2.8, Summicorn, (or late Elmar) 5cm /2, and Elmar/Elmarit 9cm. I'd recommend using a tighter (i.e. optimum) hood for a 9cm lenses.

You need to be careful to get the correct version of the Summaron or Elmar

Noel

ath · Aug 4, 2012

BMbikerider said:
I actually used a Kiev 4a fitted with the standard 50mm F2 lens (Zeiss Sonnar copy I believe) and the resolution on that was incredible, but the actual camera was quite frankly unreliable, to the point of being almost unusable

That's nearly exactly what happened to me except it was a Zorki 4, but the same Jupiter 8 (clone of Sonnar 50/2). The Jupiter now sits on an M2.

Leica M39 Lens Advice Needed

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