koray_p

<p>Fantastic resource on leather re-stitching Ferdi! Thanks for sharing!<br> K.</p>

This is looks like a lens element separation. It happens when the cement holding two optical elements start giving up due to age or a shock. There are people repairing that kind of problem, with varying success. K.

Try rubbing the contacts on both end with a soft eraser. That will remove any corrosion and contamination without damaging the gold coating. Be careful on the door, the hinge protrusion on the right is a structural part of the door. It is made of the same pot metal like alloy the door is cast from. Very brittle and easy to break under undue stress. Koray

Hi Dave, This lens is the popular Summicron M 35 version IV, aka bokeh king. You have the plastic inner shell variant which is prone to catastrophic damage when subjected to impact. The serial number should be hidden underneath the aperture ring, for an example see the fifth photo in ebay listing # 351675466619. In good condition this lens goes for over $1500. Good luck with your sale! Koray

Bill, Michael, and John, Thanks for your clear explanations, much appreciated. I intend to use the lens on a mirrorless Sony NEX camera. So I neither need rangefinder coupling, nor there is a mirror clearance issue. I mentioned the 40mm Konica Hexar for a donor focusing and diaphragm mechanism because it is the same focal length (presumably), it is cheap, and it can be used on Sony NEX with a cheap adapter. I was just wondering if I could keep the distance scale in usable condition (though, exact accuracy is not that important except for infinity since focusing will be live view). There are companies making the Leica M conversion of that lens but price is not attractive. Let's see, maybe I will sort it out cheaply. Thanks again! K.

<p><strong>A technical question:</strong> there is a direct relationship between the lens focal length and the total movement of the lens block when you change the focus from infinity to close-up. Is this relationship universal across all types of lenses?</p> <p>For example can I use a 40mm Konica Hexar AR helicoid for a 40mm Leica Summarit removed from a Leica Minilux, and expect the meter scale show the correct relative distance?</p> <p>Yes, I have a spare Minilux lens that I want to play with after some machining and adaptation. :-)</p> <p>Thanks in advance!</p> <p>Koray</p>

Any flash will do, just avoid weirdass Minolta/Sony ilSO hotshoe flashes! :-) By the way, thanks to Wikipedia, I just learned that "The mechanical design of the accessory shoe now common on most cameras dates back to 1913, when Oskar Barnack, the inventor of the Leica, devised it for attaching an accessory viewfinder." K.

I would sell both while they have some value and immediately get a nice M2 with the quarter of my earnings. K.

I would still both while they have some value and get a nice M2 for the quarter of my earnings. K.

Do they scratch the sensor, LCD, and the finder as well?

Don't you love it when a lurker drops the bomb and goes away, not to be seen again? Then it is all assumptions and long futile discussions... :-)

<p>M2 with 35mm Summicron type IV</p>

Chris, to be honest I was going to make the very same remarks that Gus has done, much earlier; but I didn't have the guts since I am not a professional Leica repair person. I have successfully repaired many photo gear for my personal use before (including several fungus infested Leica M lenses). Believe me, it is not rocket science to take things apart and put together. Some hand skills, common sense, and maybe printed guidance seems enough. But I was never under the impression that I could achieve perfect and sustainable results within manufacturers' specifications. Now, from my experience I can easily tell one that the workbench photos you provided do not give much confidence. Just my two cents. K.

<p>Ha ha! Reminds me the <strong>green</strong> Canon T90 that I came across at a pawn shop web sales site. I made lots of research and no hints to its existence, except for a single reference at a forum. So I came to the conclusion that it was the rarest beast. I bought it and it turned out to be a very amateur paint job by a previous owner!<br> I think this special FDn 50mm is the same thing. You can hardly see the brush strokes at the edges of the bottom silver/white ring. <br> But who knows, maybe I am wrong? :-)<br> Koray</p>

John, fantastic story! Thanks for sharing. :-) Koray