35mm summicron type II

[JayC]

I have a line on one, but cannot find much info on it. The AOL site says "Contrast is improved over Type 1, but resolution is not quite as good." The one I might buy is a very early serial number in the Type II range and is made in Wetzlar. It has the little tab to change the aperture.

That's about all I can seem to find. What do y'all think of this one? Any sample pics? I recently bought a 35mm Biogon. I can sell the Summicron for what I will pay for it - no problem.

Thanks for some help.

 

[jja]

I had one briefly, it's a great lens. Very compact, and the aperture tab works quite well (I didn't think I'd like it initially). Compared to my Asph. version, the v2 has less contrast, but reproduces shadow detail quite nicely. I wouldn't know how it compares to the Biogon. Check here for sample photos:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/86731438@N00/pool/tags/LeicaSummicron35mmf2.0II

 

[cmogi10]

http://www.embafoto.com/

He pretty much uses an M4-P and a Ver II cron for everything. It looks good to me...

 

[Rob-F]

The description you read is accurate. The number was elements was reduced from 8 (in the version I) to only 6, as an economy measure. In the process, the number of glass to air surfaces was also reduced, which improves contrast; but at the same time, abberations were less well corrected. The version III was more similar than different.

Later, when the version IV was designed, the design was upgraded to 7 elements. With the better optical glasses then available, the abberations were once again highly corrected.

In practice the differences are subtle. Versions II and III are still good lenses.