Ask Unvcle Al

[michael_j._kravit1]

Al,

 

Where can I get a 15mm lens for my M7?

I love tha nagle of view you are getting with your Bessa/15.

[michael_j._kravit1]

oops make that "Angle of view".

[al_kaplan1]

www.cameraquest.com for a new one. A few have appeared here on the forum in the last week or so. While cameraquest still has some Bessa L bodies available you should get one of them also. It's cheaper to buy the L body than to buy an M adapter and deep rear cap. Think of the L body as a deep rear cap with a film transport system and through the lens light meter.

[al_kaplan1]

The lens and finder is $345, the L body is $69, and an M adapter to use it on your Leica is $55.00

[al_kaplan1]

Matt has one for sale:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00D4ae

[stuart_richardson]

Al -- just a note, you don't need a deep rear cap with the 15mm, a regular m cap works fine if you have the adapter on there.

[al_kaplan1]

I don't know which version of the rear cap you use but the two piece style with the grey inner part barely work. You have to put the M adapter into the cap and then you can screw the lens about half a turn into it.

[ronald_moravec1]

The newest version rear caps are deeper than the ones with the grey inside.

[al_kaplan1]

Thanks for the info, Ron. I think that I have one kicking around here someplace. I'll lok for it. On the rare occasion when I wanted to take the 15mm lens with me without the L body I've used the #16469 7mm extension tube that has male and female M bayonets along with the old style rear cap. Unless space is an issue that doesn't make much sense. The tube is probably worth a small fortune these days and is a heavy hung of chrome plated machined brass comprising at least 10 parts including screws, plus the red dot.

 

If I were to be buying new today I'd still opt for an L body over an M bayonet adapter for just $14 more.