[Leica] Close-focusing with M's

[henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)]

At 2:51 PM -0400 3/21/08, Tina Manley wrote:
>LUG experts -
>
>Which M lens will focus closest on the M's without any extra eyes or 
>anything?  I've got the 50 DR with the eyes but it's very awkward to 
>use.
>
>Thanks -
>
>Tina

The 'closest focusing' lens is the Summicron DR. It can focus to 
about .48m, or 19". That's closer than the 90 Macro-Elmar, which can 
only focus to .77m. It gives a slightly higher magnification, but at 
a greater distance. In fact, all current Leica lenses up to the 75's 
focus closer than the Macro-Elmar, namely to 0.7m. Actual focusing 
can't be closer than 0.7m with Leicas without goggles due to the 
rangefinder construction.

However, the old 21/3.4 Super-Angluon could 'focus' (ie, be scale 
focused) closer. It could be set to 0.4m or 16", and many other very 
short focal length lenses can be set similarly close. The WATE can be 
set to 0.5m, and the CV 12 and 15's can be set to 0.3m.

So the CV 15 would probably be the best lens to use when you want to 
take a picture of your dinner plate. One foot away and you get 
everything in! :-)


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