Hello everyone,

I've been using a Super Angulon 21/4 serial # 1604180 on my M2 for quite awhile now, and I found out that the serial number dates this lens to a first year production sample. I believe that the first few 21/4 SA's were originally made as screwmount lenses, and some were converted for use with M cameras later in the year. My question: is there any way I can find out if the particular lens I own was converted to an M-mount, either by its serial number or mechanical construction?

Thanks in advance for any help you all can give me.

-- Badris (badris@mac.com), February 15, 2002

Answers

According to Sartorius, there were no bayonet mount versions of this lens; instead they made an adapter ring which was secured to the lens by way of a small screw. Try loosening the ring to see whether Sartorius was correct 8^)

-- Stuart Dorman (stuart.dorman@us.pwcglobal.com), February 15, 2002.

Hello Badris,

1958-1963, all chrome lens. Made in M and screw mount versions. M mount lenses were made with a screw mount adapter, which could be removed by turning a tiny screw. It was thus usable on the screw mount bodies. Info from http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm

Hope that helps. Tom

-- Tom Gallagher (tgallagher10@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.

I used an example of that lens for years on my M3, it has a screw holding a screw-bayonet converter as told by Tom and Stuart. This converter is diferent from others made by leitz, so I guess if your lens has a converter without screw it is from the older original screw type.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

Badris. As stated above, all 21/4.0 SA BM lenses were made as SM chassis with a factory added BM adapter. This adapter was never meant to be removed. But the original BM lenses would have a red dot to align the lens for bayonetting onto the camera. Even if the red dot (plastic) is missing, there should be a milled hole in the rear ring where the dot would b eglued on. If this hole is missing, the lens was probably an original SM.

Based on the numbers, your lens is probably a BM lens, since there were far fewer lenses (only a little more than 1000 or so) that left the factory in the SM configuration. Of course the optics are identical regardless of mount. The factory original SM lenses are collectors items.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), February 17, 2002.