35mm Summicron

[xasthur]

Hey all,

I bought this M3 and lens from someone today for $800. (he needed money for car repair). From what I searched on the serial number on the body it's from 65 I believe. From what I gathered from the serial number on the lens it's from 59?. I assumed that price with the body and lens was a good one so I got it. I'm gonna have the lens CLA'd to clear to haze in there.

So my question is about how much does this lens sell for? I saw one on ebay that looked like mine and it's selling for a outrageous price (for me anyways). I'm just curious to know if anyone could shed anymore light/info about the lens because I know there are people on here that know way more these than me.

 

[Ronald M]

You stole the camera and lens. Not up on pricing, but a late M3 has all the improvements and it all depends on condition.
The lens is the first 35 F2 and collectible. Chinese are making copies.

M3 has frame lines for 50 90 135. There are no matching frame lines for 35 mm

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Congratulations. An average condition 35 2 Summicron first version alone could sell for at least $2000 nowadays. You have to send the lens to a repairman see if the haze you mentioned can be cleaned or not. If the haze issue is very slight and with no other serious issue, you can easily sell it for a lot of money compare to what you pay for.

Kevin

 

[DwF]

You for sure stole it but to get the most out of it, you need it to come off the M3 and put it on an M2 where the viewfinder is optimized for 35mm.

Don't be concerned with dollars. It's the 8-Element worth an easy $2500 if in as good shape as it appears here, and more if it were black. Nice score, use it well!

David

 

[splitimageview]

Lens value depends on glass condition, inspect it with an LED flashlight and tell us what degree of haze, and anything else you see. Does the aperture and focus move smoothly?

 

[xasthur]

There is a lot of haze 🙁 no fungus tho. The focus is really smooth and aperture is nice and clicky, easy to move. The main problem is definitely the haze for sure 🙁

I'm hoping it can be cleaned enough so I can use it at least.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

There is a lot of haze 🙁 no fungus tho. The focus is really smooth and aperture is nice and clicky, easy to move. The main problem is definitely the haze for sure 🙁

I'm hoping it can be cleaned enough so I can use it at least.

It seems very serious. I have a goggle version serial #1656546, which is very close to yours, and the haze inside my lens looks exactly like yours. It makes me believe that the early batch of this lens are prone to haze issue. I send the lens to Don (famous technician in the States), but he was not able to clean it as he said the haze is permanent...

Still worth a try in my opinion. You got this combo real cheap. Good luck.

Kevin

 

[xasthur]

It seems very serious. I have a goggle version serial #1656546, which is very close to yours, and the haze inside my lens looks exactly like yours. It makes me believe that the early batch of this lens are prone to haze issue. I send the lens to Don (famous technician in the States), and he was not able to clean it as he said the haze is permanent... Still worth a try. You got this combo real cheap. Good luck.

Kevin

Have you tried to use the lens with that amount of haze? I don't have another lens to use with it. At least the body is nice and seems to work perfectly fine.

 

[TenEleven]

Seconding Kevin's remarks. The uniformity of the haze worries me a bit. From my experience if it looks more uneven or like droplets it can be usually cleaned well.

Still at that price it's totally worth a shot to send to a repairman. I doubt you'd lose any money on it if you sold it on when it turns out to be not repairable. That would be still a "free" M3 at the very least.

 

[TenEleven]

Have you tried to use the lens with that amount of haze? I don't have another lens to use with it. At least the body is nice and seems to work perfectly fine.

Before you load up any film, hold up the camera with the back flap open and no lens on the front to a strong light source. Check the shutter curtain for tiny pinholes. Be sure to check the shutter in both cocked and uncocked states.

What a hazy lens does depends also on the nature of the light you're shooting in. It most likely would produce a glowy picture in contrasty light, especially back-lit situations will likely result in a very low contrast dreamy look. In dim or very diffuse light the lens will likely draw almost normally.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Have you tried to use the lens with that amount of haze? I don't have another lens to use with it. At least the body is nice and seems to work perfectly fine.

Yes I did try to use it after I received it back from Don. I use it on my M10 and the result looks really hazy as you can imagine that the amount of haze inside the lens would affect a lot on the picture. I keep the lens as repair parts.

Kevin

 

[xasthur]

How unfortunate for me. If nothing can be done with it do you think it would be worth anything to actually offer it up for sale? If it's really that bad and there's nothing that can be done, I don't see any reason to keep it.

On better news, I checked the both curtains against strong light and see no pinholes or light through them. yay

 

[TenEleven]

Good news on the curtains. You're already ahead with $800 on the body alone in my opinion.

I'd see the lens as a sort of "freebie" bonus. And yes even if you say - pay another $150 for an unsuccessful repair - I totally see you being able to sell it (quickly to boot) for $1000 or more in that condition. I've seen some sell in truly pitiful condition. A beater with goggles sold for ~$1250 recently.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I agree with TenEleven. You could still earn decent by selling the lens as is. This lens is collectible. I guess many people out there would like to have it as parts for repair.

 

[TenEleven]

I agree with TenEleven. You could still earn decent by selling the lens as is. This lens is collectible. I guess many people out there would like to have it as parts for repair.

Yes, I agree! I assume that it is still useful because you can use the helicoid part to convert a goggles good condition lens into a non-goggled version without having to drill/hack or otherwise mutilate the lens.

 

[Freakscene]

If DAG cannot fix it, Kanto camera may be able to fix it. They can polish and re-coat a hazy element. Focal Point in the US used to do this but the owner, John van Stelten, retired. Gevorg at Arax in Ukraine also used to do this, but closed down. Kanto is your last option as far as I can tell. Expect it to be expensive, but the lens will be as good, maybe better, than new.

Marty

 

[TenEleven]

If DAG cannot fix it, Kanto camera may be able to fix it. They can polish and re-coat a hazy element. Focal Point in the US used to do this but the owner, John van Stelten, retired. Gevorg at Arax in Ukraine also used to do this, but closed down. Kanto is your last option as far as I can tell. Expect it to be expensive, but the lens will be as good, maybe better, than new.

Marty

Kanto is a possibility, however - from my experience they seem to "randomly" turn you away with some items. This was always strange to me as with others that seem just as - if not more - trashed - they basically do magic. It is however absolutely not cheap.

Reworking a Summilux, including adjustment, re-coating, re-cementing lens elements etc. ran close to $1000, takes about 4 months and a good outcome can not always be guaranteed.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This lens doesn't have matching framelines anyway. So, no reason to keep it.
But I would open it to check if haze is removable. It is not complicated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf-xzBVlCRo
If I not mistaken, front ring is also threaded, not glued in like on modern "economy" after Leitz lenses.
https://youtu.be/GBXQv38bGnM

 

[oldwino]

Just send it to Youxin Ye. He is quick and competent with lenses. His prices are fair. And, he would let you know right away if it's not cleanable. My bet is that it IS cleanable, and you've got yourself a very nice (and collectable!) lens.

 

[splitimageview]

Have you tried to use the lens with that amount of haze? I don't have another lens to use with it. At least the body is nice and seems to work perfectly fine.

That amount of haze will reduce contrast quite a bit.

But you're in the lens for essentially nothing, can't hurt to spend a bit to clean it up. It may not clean up completely, but it should be much better.

I'd send it to DAG, I've sent him quite a few lenses that are in similar condition, he's turned them quickly; email him first and ask for price and turnaround. Send him the photos.

This lens doesn't have matching framelines anyway. So, no reason to keep it.

The M2 version of this lens is much more desirable than the goggled version. Assuming @xasthur wants to use it, instead of flipping it for big bucks, get a 35mm viewfinder, or use the entire viewfinder to estimate, I did this for years with an M3.