Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/02/24

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Hektor 135/4.5 questions
From: "A.H.SCHMIDT" <horsts@primus.com.au>
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 13:47:25 +1100

Andrew Moore wrote:

> 1) I NEED TO FIND A LENS HEAD FOR THE M HEKTOR 135/4.5
>
> I have a Hektor 135/4.5 focusing tube (in M mount) for which I would
> like to find a matching lens head.  The threads on the lens-head end
> are different from those on my other (screw-mount) Hektor, which mates
> to lens head #1074544.  The tubes have slight different dimensions.

> Other details on the M-mount tube: it's silver and black; distances
> are marked in feet only; it measures 4.5 inches from the rearmost
> end of the focus cam to the tip where the lens head mounts; the
> thickness of the focusing ring is 1 and 11/16 inches.

Andrew, normally all the Hector lens heads fit on to any Hector focussing
tube. That is the tread should be the same. It is therefore possible that
the focussing tube you have is a later Elmar 135 tube.  You write: the
tube is black and silver. Does that mean, it has about  a 2" black
vulcanite band near the camera end? The focussing part and front is
silver?.If not, you'll have to give a more detailed description.

You will defiantly have problems swapping focussing tubes with various
heads.
You'll find Hector lens heads with focal length of  up to +- 5mm
difference. All focussing tubes are matched. They normally have the number
of the matching lens head inside marked. Either with pencil, or sometimes
scratched and sometimes a bit of narrow paper slip glued inside. I had all
three versions. A good camera shop can adjust the focussing
mount to your head.

>
>
> Can anyone tell me a range of serial numbers of lens heads that
> will fit on this tube, or is it not that simple?

They all vary.

>
>
> 2) MY LTM HEKTOR DOESN'T FOCUS PROPERLY
>
> My screw-mount Hektor 135/4.5 (lens head 1074544) appears to be
> focusing a couple feet behind where I believe I set the focus through
> the viewfinder.  This happens consistantly.  I read somewhere that
> lens heads are carefully matched to focusing tubes.  Is the match
> that critical?   Is there any common explanation as to why this is
> happening?  I do notice that when I mount the lens, the tripod socket
> on the tube is not at the bottom of the tube; it's about an inch off
> where I would expect it to be.

As said above, The head has to match the tube. It is very critical.The
position of the tripod socked can be adjusted. As far as I remember, there
are 3 little grub screws near the camera end. They can be loosened and
adjusted. But I may be wrong, having sold all my screw mount stuff. Never
the less, a good repair shop can adjust it for you.

> 3) I NEED LENS SHADE FOR LTM HEKTOR LENS HEAD
>
> I'm using lens head #1074544 with a viso/bellows outfit, whose
> bellows-shade has a clamp marked "42" which I suppose is a 42 mm
> diameter.  It's too wide for the lens head so I have to hold
> the shade in place as I take photographs, and I already need about
> seven hands to use this setup in the first place.
>

> You'll either need to purchase the 36mm slipon to 39mm screw adapter

> he code is: SOOGZ or 13154  or just dont use the FICUS lens shade
> instead of the

bellows hood.

> ------
>
> What do you want for an $80 lens?  It produces beautiful macro
> work!
>
> --Andrew
> NO ARCHIVE

  Of course it does. I think it is relatively easy to make a long focus
lens around that focal length in a very high quality. Besides the Hectors
and the Elmar  I have a few other 135mm bellow lens heads. (Schneider
Kreuznach, Pentax 100mm ) and they all perform perfect. A highly
underrated lens.

Its nice to see people using the Visoflex. It makes a better person of
you. You relax more and appreciate the brightness of the view finder. I
assume you have a Visoflex 2 or 3.
with the Bellows 2. A good setup.

Regards Horst Schmidt