Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 10:34 AM 6/25/99 EDT, JimmyVenus@aol.com wrote: >Dear Luggers-I am in need of some info regarding the Visoflex.Would this unit >enable me to focus my M lenses thru the lens with my M camera? In >essence-turning my rangefinder into an SLR for certain applications? What are >the differences between the models if any? Can I use one of these units with >all of the M lenses or only longer focal lengths? Does the Visoflex require >any exposure compensation? There are two families, the original PLOOT and Visoflex I, and the later Visoflex II, IIa, and III. The PLOOT was available in thread-mount only, the Visoflex III in M-mount only, and the others are available in either mount, though finding an LTM Visoflex IIa can be a royal pain and a real problem, and, no, mine is NOT for sale! These move the lens out from the camera body by the depth of the reflex housing, 91.3 mm for the PLOOT/Visoflex I, and 68.5mm for the later units. Hence, lenses cannot just be moved to the Visoflex, as you lose infinity focusing. Leitz made a range of Viso-only lenses, from the 65mm Elmar to the 800mm Telyt, though, and many other lenses, especially the rangefinder-coupled long-focus lenses, have removeable lens-heads which can be fitted to the Visoflex or to the Bellows units. The lens head of the 50mm rigid and NF Summicron could be fitted to the Visoflex units, as well, but only for close-up work, while the Zeiss Mikrotar and Luminar and Leitz Micro-Summar, Milar, and Photar close-up lenses can also be used for macrophotography. (I regularly document cameras and lenses with my Bellows II rig and either a 25mm Zeiss Luminar, 24mm Micro-Summar, or 80mm Micro-Summar.) Exposure compensation is necessary when you are taking close-ups, otherwise not. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!