35 Summaron f/3.5 Min Focus

[bayernfan]

Something for the 1950s Leitz lens experts out there:

I have an M-Mount 35/3.5 Summaron that focuses to 3.5ft. Until today, I assumed that all 3.5 Summarons focused to 3.5ft.

I've been looking into a goggled version for my M3, and I see that the minimum focus distance of the goggled version is 2' 4" (see attached).

What?! How!? Why?!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Why i don't know, but I have both M in regular and goggles versions. They have this difference in MFD.
Both very sweet mechanically and nothing special optically, IMO.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Goggled lenses and non-goggled lenses have a different curve for the rangefinder. Too complicated to explain here why, but goggled lenses cannot use the rangefinder without their goggles.

Lenses with goggles can be used closer up.

Erik.

 

[bayernfan]

Why i don't know, but I have both M in regular and goggles versions. They have this difference in MFD.
Both very sweet mechanically and nothing special optically, IMO.

keep telling people they're nothing special, I like the price they're hovering at. 😉

Lenses with goggles can be used closer up.

Erik.

Erik, if you have the time and inclination to expand upon this, I'd be quite eager to learn the mechanics behind it. I suspect they have a deeper / more robust barrel which permits a farther extension, but that's just an educated guess.