Leica LTM 1937 Summar problem

[Duff]

I recently found a 1937 Leitz Summar attached to an old Zorki 3. It was cheap so I thought I'd take a chance and buy the camera for the lens. Well, as is often the case when I think I'm getting a great deal, I overlook the obvious. The aperture does not stop down very far - maybe f/5.6. The aperture ring will turn to the right to a marked f/3.2 which actually opens the lens to past f/2. When the aperture ring is turned to the left it moves a little past the f/12.5 mark but the lens is actually only stopped down to what appears to be around f/5.6 and will go no further. The glass and chrome finish are decent but I don't know if it's worth sending it to Youxin or if it is even repairable. (Photos taken with the lens on a Sony A7II at f/2 seem fine.) Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The f-stop of the Summar is horrible to work on. The leaves are not flat, but curved, the whole is "domed". I think someone tried to clean the glass on the inside of the lens and disturbed the leaves of the f-stop. You have to come from a good family to get things back together, as we say in Dutch.

If the glass is in perfect condition it is worth it to have it repaired. The Summar is a lovely lens.

Erik.

 

[yossi]

Summar's aperture

Summar's aperture

There is a helpful thread at Leica Forum on the Summar CLA, see link below (you may have to register as member before you could view those pictures though):

Summar CLA