Modifying Summaron M 35mm 3.5 to 35mm frame line

To be fair, I had no idea about these early M lenses until I saw them discussed on places like l-camera-forum - a few of the guys over there seem to have collected or at least know about every minor variant. When the M2 came out, I wonder if some buyers of the M3 lens wished they'd bought the screwmount version so they could just swap the adapter to bring up the correct framelines? I don't think I could face taking a file to one of these things in its original condition, but I can understand why people do the modification.

Although changing an M lens flange from 50 to 35 really isn't that hard (it can be done cleanly with a nail file), I would have Don Goldberg ("DAG") do it. He'll typically turn a small job like that around within a week - and he'll make it look like it came from the factory that way.

The OP may not want to hear this but:

This lens is rare. I would not modify it. Leave it as is. If using the DOF preview is a problem, see if someone will trade a lens for it.

It is rare enough someone might trade up to a better lens, and you can leave this one as it is. I would try to trade it for a 35/2.8 Summaron.

http://www.photo.net/barryfisher

Yes, my camera has a 35mm frameline, and it works as should with another 35mm lens, like Jupiter-12 via an appropriate adapter.

Just to interject here -

 

EVERY 35mm lens Leica produced prior to the M3 without goggles (these glass goggles essentially enlarged the 50mm framelines to 35mm framelines) was a screw-mount lens, which could be used on an M3 with a LSM to M adapter. Leica never produced a 35mm M-mount lens that brought up 50mm framelines that did not have goggles. Stating it clearly - EVERY 35mm M-mount lens Leica produced prior to the M2 had goggles (the flange brought up the M3's 50mm framelines). The very early 35mm lenses intended for the M2 brought up 35mm framelines.

 

Therefore, there are only three possibilities here -

1) Your lens has a screw mount with an M mount adapter fitted to it (and this adapter brings up 50mm framelines),

2) Your lens flange was changed by a technician with an M-mount flange that brings up 50mm framelines, or

3) Your lens had goggles originally and they have since been removed (on some lenses they were detachable).

Sorry, but you`re wrong. They existed.

UPDATE: I see above you`ve already found them :)

Honestly, I`ve never heard about theses m3 lenses before I`ve bought this one and started to search on the internet.

The OP may not want to hear this but:

 

This lens is rare. I would not modify it. Leave it as is. If using the DOF preview is a problem, see if someone will trade a lens for it.

 

It is rare enough someone might trade up to a better lens, and you can leave this one as it is. I would try to trade it for a 35/2.8 Summaron.

I would gladly trade it on Summaron 35/2.8. I`m a photographer, not rarities collector, so wider aperture for me is more important.

If somebody wants do to the exchange - I`d be happy.

You might try listing a "For Trade" here, or on Rangefinder Forum. Get some good pictures of the lens, especially of the condition of the glass. Post some shots taken with it. There are a lot of Leica collectors out there. I suspect you should get some good offers. Your lens should carry a premium as it is rare.

Thank you, Brian.

I`m new here, maybe you can help, where here can I create this trade topic?

Classified

Click the Above

The Classified Ad section on Photo.net is a good place to try.

You could list it as a Sell Ad with "Open to Trades", or just a Want-to-Trade. I would check Ebay prices on Summarons and set to the upper end as this one is rare.

I would give that a try.

Classified

 

Click the Above

 

The Classified Ad section on Photo.net is a good place to try.

 

thank you!