Where have all the 40mm M-Rokkor/Summicron -Cs gone?

KEH has four listed (under Leica-M). I got mine in excellent condition here at RFF. I really really like this lens. On the M8 it's "effectively" a 53mm lens, with a DOF very close to the 50mm Summicron at close range.

I wish I could modify it so that the 35mm frames show up. It's not that easy; lots of patience. Unless I'm not using the "right" tool.
 
Jewelers needle file?


-I wish I could modify it so that the 35mm frames show up. It's not that easy; lots of patience. Unless I'm not using the "right" tool.
 
Gabriel M.A. said:
KEH has four listed (under Leica-M). I got mine in excellent condition here at RFF. I really really like this lens. On the M8 it's "effectively" a 53mm lens, with a DOF very close to the 50mm Summicron at close range.

I wish I could modify it so that the 35mm frames show up. It's not that easy; lots of patience. Unless I'm not using the "right" tool.
Click to expand...


I'll echo the jeweller's file recommend, just modified mine without incident (doesn't take much metal removed). Used masking tape to protect it and left the mount on the lens while filing. I got my 40 in Ex condition from KEH a month ago after watching their "Latest Arrivals" a little while, couldn't be happier with it. They certainly do rate conservatively (in my limited experience).

Cheers,
JB
 
Note that the 4 Rokkors listed on KEH might all be the CL, not the
better CLE version. The picture in the on-line catalogue depicts the CL
version.

Roland.
 
I sold mine here three weeks ago. The ad lasted 30 minutes! I love RFF.

> rzoulan it's pretty easy to modify it to bring the 35mm framelines. The jeweler's file is the right tool, and as Broke recommends don't forget to tape the flange to avoid scratching the chrome. The whole job took me five minutes.
 
Ronald is right, the 4 Rokkors listed on KEH might all be the CL model.

From $275 BNG to $415Mint- (KEH overpriced ...)



 
ferider said:
Note that the 4 Rokkors listed on KEH might all be the CL, not the
better CLE version. The picture in the on-line catalogue depicts the CL
version.

Roland.
Click to expand...

I have had both CL and CLE and to say that CLE is better - well, I really can't. I actuall prefer the CL one (same as Summicron - C), for a simple reason that on a CL version when focused, focusing ring while turns, stays the same size, while on CLE it goes inside/outside as you turn it, so there is 2-way travel for your focus lever - left/right and in/out, as I found annoying. Plus I like to use focus ring when I focus, not the tab, so with CL version it allowed me to do so, while CLE it didn't as part of the focus ring dissapers inside the lens. I hope I explained it clear enough. lol.
Anyway, from optical point of view - I can't say one is better than the other. Same sharpness, same character, same flare resistance. So a while back I sold a CLE version since I prefer how CL handles, (plus trust me, if CLE was optically better , Id keep that). I think it's just due to rarity of the CLE version people want it more.
And thats funny to me. Plus, I had mine (CL) in classifieds here for 2 weeks just a little bit ago and noone made an offer. Oh well, on Ebay it will go soon. As I try to raise funds for other lens. Here are photos of both side by side.
 

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One more side note - in original post it said about Rokkor/Summicron -C - so if you consider SUmmicron C, I don't understand why you say that you want CLE version of Minolta, as CLE is a later version, what is the "same" so to speak, to Summicron -C is a CL version. Just FYI.
 
I have one on my R-D1. 🙂 I reckon other 40s are on other people's cameras too. They're really nice lenses and 40mm is a great focal length.

Sorry to poke your eye out a little. 😛
 
Krosya said:
on a CL version when focused, focusing ring while turns, stays the same size, while on CLE it goes inside/outside as you turn it, so there is 2-way travel for your focus lever - left/right and in/out, as I found annoying. Plus I like to use focus ring when I focus, not the tab, so with CL version it allowed me to do so, while CLE it didn't as part of the focus ring dissapers inside the lens. I hope I explained it clear enough. lol.
Click to expand...
That's really weird behaviour. Does that mean that my "CLE" M-Rokkor is an even better "CL" version because it doesn't do the goofy things you described?

One thing I have to say about the M-Rokkor I have (whatever version that may be, because the bokeh and blur is exactly the same as the C-Summicron) is that it lets very little IR light through with my M8. Only a few pictures exhibit the hypermaligned "magenta cast" with this lens, compared with the C-Summicron, or any other lens, for that matter.
 
Broke said:
I'll echo the jeweller's file recommend, just modified mine without incident (doesn't take much metal removed). Used masking tape to protect it and left the mount on the lens while filing.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the recommendation, JB and rlouzan. I'll do it eventually 😉
 
Gabriel M.A. said:
That's really weird behaviour. Does that mean that my "CLE" M-Rokkor is an even better "CL" version because it doesn't do the goofy things you described?

One thing I have to say about the M-Rokkor I have (whatever version that may be, because the bokeh and blur is exactly the same as the C-Summicron) is that it lets very little IR light through with my M8. Only a few pictures exhibit the hypermaligned "magenta cast" with this lens, compared with the C-Summicron, or any other lens, for that matter.
Click to expand...


Well, look at the photos I posted in a previous post - lens on the left is a CL version that I prefer, lens on the right is a CLE one. What does your lens look like?
If look at the lens on the right (CLE) it has a wider (taller) bottom section of the lens - one with the DOF scale on it. Thats cause part of the focus ring is hidden under it as you focus. On th eleft lens - CL version, part of the lens with DOF scale on it is thinner because it doesn't have to "hide" that part of a focusing ring. Plus there also other well known differences as to determine which lens id which - CLE one has IR mark on DOF scale, 40.5mm filter size written on a front as well as serial number being on a barrel and not on the front, like CL does. But those are minor things that don't affect anything. Both lenses take 40.5mm filters and as far as I can tell perform identical as far as sharpness, contrast, flare resistance etc. goes.
 
Last edited:
When I compared photos taken with my Summicron-C with photos taken with Roland's Rokkor for the CLE, I was unable to see differences. Both were excellent. Both had optical performances closer to lenses with a modern design that lenses that were more vintage
 
Because they make the perfect standard lens for M8's I wondered if the prices would rise and/or their availability decrease when the cameras became widespread. I haven't seen a huge change in prices so it must be availability thats been affected.
 
It looks like Robert may have hooked up with kroysa for a lens. Anybody else looking for a mint Summicron-C?

I love mine but have to admit to myself that it is getting zero use since I picked up a 35mm UC Hexanon.

Someone else should have this wonderful little lens - send me a pm.

- John
 
Here...

Here...

rlouzan said:
Where have all the 40mm f2 M-Rokkor/Summicron-Cs gone?🙁

:bang:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=7254&cat=7


others are asking the same question😕 ...
Click to expand...

So, I'm sitting here with a Summicron-C 40mm and an Elmarit-C 40mm that I never use. I've never been very good at selling things...

Am I holding untold wealth that would repay the effort involved in working up a classified ad?

(The Summicron has a Leitz branded push on cap and a Leitz branded rubber lenshood. The Elmarit has a plain screw on cap, but a Leitz branded hard plastic end cap. I can't really speak to the photographic value of either (unused, as I said) but they are clean)
 
cjago said:
So, I'm sitting here with a Summicron-C 40mm and an Elmarit-C 40mm that I never use. I've never been very good at selling things...

Am I holding untold wealth that would repay the effort involved in working up a classified ad?

(The Summicron has a Leitz branded push on cap and a Leitz branded rubber lenshood. The Elmarit has a plain screw on cap, but a Leitz branded hard plastic end cap. I can't really speak to the photographic value of either (unused, as I said) but they are clean)
Click to expand...

I have never heard of an Elmarit-C 40mm lens before.
 
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