Disassembly – Voigtlander 35mm F2 Ultron Vintage Line Leica M mount

Today I’m disassembling one of the smallest 35mm lens for Leica M mount – Voigtlander 35mm F2 Ultron Vintage Line. It’s beautifully crafted Japanese lens with very high quality components. It’s often a challenge to understand how to put Voigtlander lens apart, so it took some time to discover the process. This article is exposing how to disassemble focusing mechanics – area which may require maintenance more often then optical lens core.

Looks like Voigtlander engineers often using glue to additionally secure assembled lens mechanics. It can be discovered during close-up lens inspection using LED light. Glue surface is glossy and producing reflections. It makes no sense to use spanning wrench until the glue is removed, applying too much force to the securing ring socket may simply damage it instead of unscrewing. Just look how thin is that black ring with two small sockets for spanning wrench.

So I’m using acetone and precise syringe to apply it into the inner diameter of securing ring, where glue is located. Acetone is spreading to all ring inner wall and dissolving the glue. After a minute I’m trying to accurately unscrew CCW that ring using spanning wrench with applying moderate force initially to loosen it.

Then I’m extracting that ring.

At this point simply pull lens frame up, and lens core will stay on the table surface. You’ll find set of calibrating shim rings around the lens core that serve for precise focus alignment for Leica M rangefinder.

Now you have access to aperture ring transmission, and also brass securing ring. I’ll skip front area disassembly for now, since everything there is operating perfectly, though will find time for that and write a second article.

Note, there is a pin on the opposite side, it should fit inner helicoid socket when you assemble lens.

Now is time to disassemble the helicoid ring. First unscrew three black bolts of the upper part of the focusing ring and remove it.

Now mark the exact position of the outer brass guider of the focusing ring transmission and unscrew two black bolts, then accurately remove it. Memorize each bolts position to put them to the same place during assembly.

I’ve removed that guider at infinity position – so will need to put focus ring into this position exactly when assembling.

Here’s close-up look at that brass guider. My lens had very a tiny rotation play of the focusing ring, almost unnoticeable but slightly annoying. I’ve accurately tuned the guider width to fit the socket more tight, which eliminated that play.

To remove the focus ring you need to first unscrew four silver flat head bolts form the lens mount ring. Then simply rotate focus ring CCW until it completely unscrews.

The opposite side of focusing ring has a rectangular pin right near the focusing knob. This pin is limiting focusing ring rotation when moving inside of the curved slot of the ring with DOF scale.

When assembling lens back. position this pin near the “Made in Japan lettering, and rotate both rings together CW until focus ring is completely screwed. Ant hen rotate focus ring back to fit its infinity point with the lens mount ring rangefinder socket curve.

Remove the DOF scale ring.

Now you have access to the lens mount ring thread of focusing ring. I opened this area to clean the old grease and replace it with new one.

At this point I’m assembling lens back… well actually pictures are taken during the lens assembly, so it’s already sits on my camera ready for shooting.