Adorama and the Summar

[B-9]

Hello everyone! Here's my story.

Last week I ordered a "X" Grade Leica Summitar 50mm f2 lens.
I was hoping to clean it up and have a top notch standard for my Canon IVSB.

I got the package today, and no sooner did I start messing with it and being estatic that it wasnt as bad as I had thought... I tried to mount my recently purchased Tiffen Series #6 filter holder on.. Woa didnt fit. Looked closer to the lettering on the front. Its a Summar, not a Summitar.

Im sure I would have noticed this sooner if I wasnt so excited about it.
Since there are obvious differences in the lenses construction.

Ive contacted customer support, but my question is..
Is the Summar worth getting a different filter adapter over the Summitar?

Im thinking maybe I got the short end of this deal, as the Summitar is a newer lens and it is after all what I ordered.

Im new to LTM and RF's in general, any input would be great.
Have anyone else had a similiar problem with Adorama?

-Devin

 

[former member]

The Summar usually goes for about 30% less than a comparable Summitar. I would return the lens, or ask for a 50% refund.

Filters are easier to find for the Summar. 34mm screw-in. I use a step-up ring for the UV/IR filter. It is a nice lens, hard to find with a good front element. I paid $150 for an early one in very, very nice condition. The Summitar is much sharper, and does not vignette as much. The Summar was designed before Color slide film was popular, the Summitar was brought out as it became more popular.

 

[dogberryjr]

Ask for partial refund and put that towards the purchase of a Summitar! 50s are like chips—you can't stop at one.

 

[B-9]

Thanks for the Input Brian!

I hear good things about the Summar, but for different reasons than ide like. I guess its the "Dreamy" quality a well used Summar gives that is somewhat desirable.

Ive been sorting through photo's taken with the Summar and comparing them to photo's taken with a Summitar, and I do believ ide rather have the Summitar.

Im going to see what they say, a 50% refund would make this lens worth keeping.

As for the lenses condition, its in pretty good shape, just some rust looking residue in a few places that appear can be cleaned easily.
The front element has the typical light scratch's consistant with ages of cleaning. A few tiny specs of dust here and there. But the focus is smooth and the aperture blades are dry, alligned, and still look new with all the black paint still attached. Appears to have some seperation, or flaking of the black paint that surrounds each individual element, but I guess this is normal.

 

[former member]

Separation is visible looking straight into the lens. I suspect you are seeing the paint that is on the edges of the glass, between the glass and fixture, coming loose. If it gets into the lens, easy to clean. The Summar unscrews before the aperture. Just be careful if opening it, the aperture blades can come out of these lenses fairly easily. Of course, do this ONLY once you et things sorted out with regard to return or partial refund.

 

[xayraa33]

Summars are nice lens with a unique signature .
Finding a clean one is the real challange and if you got a clean Summar lens, I would hold on to it.
There is a screw in 34mm filter on my Summar right now.

 

[scottwallick]

I once ordered a used Summicron 50 from Adorama. The online listing had the picture of the current version (what I wanted), and the specs detailed the slide-out hood, 6-bit coding, etc. The day after placing the order, I called to check on the shipping. Luckily when I did so, the guy mentioned it was a v.2 Summicron. Oops! Not what I was looking for. I got 100% refunded and thankfully avoiding having to return it. Be careful.

 

[B-9]

I was just on Adorama's ebay page and they are selling a Summar that looks very similiar if not identical to the one I currently have, im starting to think maybe this was a mix up. As some of the markings I can see if their photo match with those on the lens I have.

I also looked on their site into their used dept. It appears they are selling a used Summitar for 195$? kinda weird as it was posted around the time my package was shipped. Ive yet to get a reply from them.

Im going to assume this is just a coincidence 😛

 

[rogerzilla]

Summar filters are usually A36, which is a unique Leitz clamp-on. A SOOGZ adapter is worth getting as you can then use standard 39mm filters.

The SOOMP lens hood is also essential to control the flare - a bit.

If the lens is unscratched, I would get a partial refund, send it for a CLA and then enjoy it. for about 50% of subjects requiring a 50mm lens, a Summar is the lens I'd want - portraits, flowers, overcast days all bring out its best, which is high sharpness (below about f/4), low contrast and real "glow" from any highlights. On sunny days and against the light, you're better off with a Summicron.

 

[B-9]

I did look into the SOOGZ adapter but I have yet to find one for under 50$ that being more than I paid for this lens shipped to me 😛

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I love my Summar--I happened to get a nearly perfect one, and paid a fair amount for it, $300. What'd you pay for this one? Is the front element in good shape?

I have a 34mm UV/IR attached to it, and sometimes use an amber A36 clamp-on filter for shooting B&W jpegs on the M8. I also found a 34mm metal screw-in hood on eBay that is much smaller and lighter than the FIKUS.

 

[Graham Line]

If you run into reluctance or confusion at Adorama -- you probably will not -- the person there to talk to is Helen Oster, who has a good track record of straightening out situations.

 

[B-9]

I paid 45$ shipped for my copy, and the front cell has the typical light scratching expected with its age. I can see some light haze that im almost sure wont affect the image. Ive seen and used worst in LF lenses.

Overall, im going to say its a bargain lens. If has some pretty excessive cosmetic wear, mostly on the barrel due to moving the barrel in and out.
Other than that the rust like residue seems like it woukld clean right off with some wirewool or even a cloth with some light alcohol. Im avoiding the urge to clean this lens up before I get something from Adorama.

If I could get a 50% refund this lens will have cost me 20$ +5$ for shipping.
And im almost positive you cant even get a Russian "Elmar" for that.

My biggest feeling of dissapointment is having bought a set of Tiffen Photar filters w/ Series #6 holder. Without having a Summitar these are virtually useless to me. Every peny really does count when trying to set up a LTM RF kit. I even spent last night making a nice filter case :[

Here's some quick photo's of the lens and a closeup of the Order saying Summitar. Apologies for the low quality photo's.


Summar 5cm f2 by B-9, on Flickr


Summar 5cm f2 by B-9, on Flickr


Summar 5cm f2 by B-9, on Flickr


Summar 5cm f2 by B-9, on Flickr


Summar 5cm f2 by B-9, on Flickr


Summar 5cm f2 by B-9, on Flickr

 

[healyzh]

I get the feeling that Adorama is 'challenged' when it comes to correctly identifying the items they're selling. A couple years ago I bought a very nice Chrome Nikon FM2 from them. It was supposed to be the newer version, but it was the older one with honeycomb shutters. While I didn't get what I paid for, I was quite honesty happier with what I did get, as it matched the black FM2 I bought used in '86. Of course my wife *immediately* claimed the chrome one as soon as she saw it (I let her choose between it and a F3HP I bought at the same time so its my fault).

I wish they would include serial numbers so those of us that know to, could look up the date of manufacture, etc...

 

[healyzh]

BTW, if that Summar has glass that's fairly clean, I'd personally be jumping for joy! But then I want a Summar eventually. I'm in the "you can't have enough different 50mm lenses" crowd. 😀

 

[B-9]

Its not the cleanest lens ive had, but other than the light cleaning marks/scratchs its more or less clean. The barrel shows most of wear for sure. Although the pictures above do show just how great this lens could clean up.

I havnt heard from Adorama yet. If I dont get an email tonight ill be calling customer support tomorow. If anything ide like to get the Summitar I ordered or atleast a 50% refund if they dont have one to give me.

Ill be sure to let everyone know the outcome.
Until then feel free to keep posting!

 

[former member]

Although I am thoroughly in the "50mm Camp", I am here to tell you that once you get over 100 of them, might be time to slow down.

 

[healyzh]

Although I am thoroughly in the "50mm Camp", I am here to tell you that once you get over 100 of them, might be time to slow down.

Yes, but how many of those 100+ 50mm lenses are duplicates? That's the true measure of just how much you need to slow down! 😉

 

[umcelinho]

I once bought a 90mm Elmar-M from Adorama for a good price... only to find out it was an old version of the lens! The page even had the photo of an Elmar-M! I returned it for full refund.

 

[BillBingham2]

As mentioned above Helen O is the BEST person to talk to. Ask for her and she will do all she can to make it right.

Present it as a win for everyone. See what the going price is for a Summar (there and elsewhere), get cost of shipping back and a lens to you (which you have) and present you case with facts.

Helen is worth waiting for, at least IMHO.

B2 (;->