burancap
Veteran
I have just stumbled upon and purchased a similarly numbered kit consisting of a IIIc stepper, 588 Summitar, and the original case. I have only performed a quick look over, so will post a bit more later when I have time.
1942 Coated Summitar Info help
- Thread starter Denton
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 41
- Views 50K
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
It may be that the coating started a bit earlier, or that some lenses were recoated during the war years. I have Summitar 526607, which conventional wisdom places as 1939 production, and it has a strange light blue coating rather than the darker purple coating I have seen on later lenses. The lens has the older F-stop sequence, and a distance scale calibrated in feet. Would this have been coated after the war, but with a different material than usual?
Cheers,
Dez
oltimer
Well-known
Tom a very interesting topic, and my 1st post. If I remember reading one of Jim's book's "correctly" were he stated that from around serial # 546,000 up they were all coated?
rivercityrocker
Well-known
I was wondering if anyone could help me with dating my Summitar? From everything I could find on the web, the Summitar SN's are from 487XXX to 993XXX. My lens has a WAY lower SN #246783.
It's definitely a Summitar. The front ring reads : Ernst Leitz Wetzlar / Summitar f = 5 cm 1:2 Nr. 246783
It's definitely a Summitar. The front ring reads : Ernst Leitz Wetzlar / Summitar f = 5 cm 1:2 Nr. 246783
rivercityrocker
Well-known
I was wondering if anyone could help me with dating my Summitar? From everything I could find on the web, the Summitar SN's are from 487XXX to 993XXX. My lens has a WAY lower SN #246783.
It's definitely a Summitar. The front ring reads : Ernst Leitz Wetzlar / Summitar f = 5 cm 1:2 Nr. 246783
It's definitely a Summitar. The front ring reads : Ernst Leitz Wetzlar / Summitar f = 5 cm 1:2 Nr. 246783
Vince Lupo
Whatever
The serial number puts it at 1935, but the Summitar didn't come out until 1939, so something doesn't line up.
Got a photo?
Got a photo?
burancap
Veteran
Looking forward to a pic ... Sounds like it may be a Summar, not Summitar?
Vince Lupo
Whatever
My Summar is 247897 -- don't know how large of a serial number 'range' they devoted to a specific model of lens, but yes, it sounds more like a Summar.
But if you say it's a Summitar, then I dunno.
But if you say it's a Summitar, then I dunno.
rivercityrocker
Well-known
Oh it's a Summitar alright. It's messed up. It front focuses by 2-3 meters. Picked it up for $99.
burancap
Veteran
Hmmm... 😕
burancap
Veteran
Well, I reviewed mine. Your example is physically similar to a true Summitar as you and the lens clearly state. The trim ring on a Summar is much flatter. Your text is more pronounced and has Nr. VS No. compared to my 588. Your serial number squarely falls in the Summar production range, circa 1935.
I wonder if it is possible that this was a Summar that may have been factory reworked later in life, and had the original serial placed on a replacement trim ring? (The lens base is Summitar, not Summar as well). It is tough to tell in your image -is there any semblance of a coating?
I wonder if it is possible that this was a Summar that may have been factory reworked later in life, and had the original serial placed on a replacement trim ring? (The lens base is Summitar, not Summar as well). It is tough to tell in your image -is there any semblance of a coating?
Vince Lupo
Whatever
This might be a question for Jim Lager.....
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Will be interesting to see whats going on here. A Summitar that far out of the serial range really would be something! Jim Lager for sure?!
rivercityrocker
Well-known
Well, it appears to have a very faint light blue coating on the front element. The rear element is definitely not coated. The glass is in very good condition. Much better than my '56 Summicron.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
I think the only person who could likely solve this mystery is Jim Lager, so I'd suggest that you drop him a line: Jlager@bellatlantic.net
rivercityrocker
Well-known
Taking a closer look, the distance scales are old style. f/stops numbered f/2-12.5 and the aperture ring is standard, f/2-16. The aperture ring numbers are on the bottom.
Also on the inside there are some very crude etchings that say 59x
Obviously the lens has been frankensteined together. The glass is very clean, but I could not fix the focus, which was off by at least a meter and a half. I have the whole thing in pieces right now.
I'd like to find an old copy with a bad front element that I can replace with mine, but without being able to definitively identify a date I don't want to to go around buying anymore broken lenses and run the risk of the front not being compatible.
Also on the inside there are some very crude etchings that say 59x
Obviously the lens has been frankensteined together. The glass is very clean, but I could not fix the focus, which was off by at least a meter and a half. I have the whole thing in pieces right now.
I'd like to find an old copy with a bad front element that I can replace with mine, but without being able to definitively identify a date I don't want to to go around buying anymore broken lenses and run the risk of the front not being compatible.
Dralowid
Michael
lundrog
Established
great into, thanks all.
Tom,
I have a SN 668069, what year would that be?
Tom,
I have a SN 668069, what year would that be?
jojo
Newbie
coated
coated
I own a Summitar of the series from 589 xxx also coated
coated
I own a Summitar of the series from 589 xxx also coated
Steve_Pfost
Established
Uncoated Summitar
Uncoated Summitar
I purchased a Summitar in nice shape the other day, slight haze which seems to be able to be cleaned but no cleaning marks. Anyway, I assumed it was from '42 with a serial number of #586667 and going off of what I thought was accurate numbers on the internet. However, last night I stumbled upon this thread. The lens seems to be uncoated I don't see a tint of any sort of color on any of the glass. When would this lens have been made? late '45? early '46? also when you state "American PX" what does that indicate? I would love to know a general history behind this guy.
Thanks so much!
Uncoated Summitar
I purchased a Summitar in nice shape the other day, slight haze which seems to be able to be cleaned but no cleaning marks. Anyway, I assumed it was from '42 with a serial number of #586667 and going off of what I thought was accurate numbers on the internet. However, last night I stumbled upon this thread. The lens seems to be uncoated I don't see a tint of any sort of color on any of the glass. When would this lens have been made? late '45? early '46? also when you state "American PX" what does that indicate? I would love to know a general history behind this guy.
Thanks so much!
Similar threads
- Article
