dreamsandart
Well-known
Bauhaus and the Leitz ‘Barn Doors’
In the 1920s the new thought Bauhaus German School of Design was very influential in art and industrial design. The Leica Camera under development at this time and in its future variations has been linked to this design philosophy in a basic idea of simplicity, essentials, and the all-important catchphrase, ‘form follows function.’
Out for a Jo-walk (my dog Jojo) this morning was thinking about this because yesterday I took delivery of a SOOPD lens hood [for a Summitar 5cm lens], or as they are affectionally called the ‘Barn Doors.’ The connection of Bauhaus design with Leica cameras [and Lenses] is one thing but goes to the next level with this lens accessory.
If the main function of a lens hood is to protect the glass from stray light to reduce direct flair and increase contrast (from vailed flare, and more important with the uncoated pre-war lenses), the SOOPD is maybe one of the best Hoods ever designed. But, it is huge, and so has the big Barn Door nickname. It’s not a simple design, but all the elements of functionality are there.
I bought a Summitar 5cm a short while back. The serial number showed it to be a very early pre-official announcement release from 1938 and should have been un-coated, but with the Leitz blue-purple multi-coatings it had some time in its history had been sent back to the Wetzlar factory. It’s actually surprisingly very good for flare control without a hood, but I generally never go hood-less, and wouldn’t it be even better with the SOOPD? This Summitar has the plain front rim without any grove, conical filter threads, so without the SNHOO adapter for 39mm filters or a screw-in hood, this was the original option. Thought it would be interesting and worth a try.
Function design; Rectangular design and depth, are the two main function factors that give optimal stray light protection. No roundness to it not part of the 35mm film format. There is even a slight downward angle to the hood so the camera in a landscape has a touch more flare protection (sun above). Collapsed down it makes a flat functional to carry lens cap, fold out the sides, and the top and bottom panels auto-spring open, and it can be quickly removed with a tightening set screw. They tried, and has a cut-out from the back to limit any view blockage, but still pretty significant through the camera finder, the 1:1 external finder is the way to go. It’s so well thought out that the tightening screw has an extension to it so it sits on a surface flat level with the camera when put down. The black flat and thick crinkle paint with the old-style logo engravings and overall design are very fetching and just seem in some odd way to be an extension of the classic Leica LTM camera look.
So overall it’s not simple or compact as the Summar, Elmar, or Hektor hoods, but adds some functionality to the design, maybe Bauhaus+. Never had a barn, but now have the Barn Doors ;-)
Any other Leica - Bauhaus thoughts?
Leica IIIb Summitar SOOPD
In the 1920s the new thought Bauhaus German School of Design was very influential in art and industrial design. The Leica Camera under development at this time and in its future variations has been linked to this design philosophy in a basic idea of simplicity, essentials, and the all-important catchphrase, ‘form follows function.’
Out for a Jo-walk (my dog Jojo) this morning was thinking about this because yesterday I took delivery of a SOOPD lens hood [for a Summitar 5cm lens], or as they are affectionally called the ‘Barn Doors.’ The connection of Bauhaus design with Leica cameras [and Lenses] is one thing but goes to the next level with this lens accessory.
If the main function of a lens hood is to protect the glass from stray light to reduce direct flair and increase contrast (from vailed flare, and more important with the uncoated pre-war lenses), the SOOPD is maybe one of the best Hoods ever designed. But, it is huge, and so has the big Barn Door nickname. It’s not a simple design, but all the elements of functionality are there.
I bought a Summitar 5cm a short while back. The serial number showed it to be a very early pre-official announcement release from 1938 and should have been un-coated, but with the Leitz blue-purple multi-coatings it had some time in its history had been sent back to the Wetzlar factory. It’s actually surprisingly very good for flare control without a hood, but I generally never go hood-less, and wouldn’t it be even better with the SOOPD? This Summitar has the plain front rim without any grove, conical filter threads, so without the SNHOO adapter for 39mm filters or a screw-in hood, this was the original option. Thought it would be interesting and worth a try.
Function design; Rectangular design and depth, are the two main function factors that give optimal stray light protection. No roundness to it not part of the 35mm film format. There is even a slight downward angle to the hood so the camera in a landscape has a touch more flare protection (sun above). Collapsed down it makes a flat functional to carry lens cap, fold out the sides, and the top and bottom panels auto-spring open, and it can be quickly removed with a tightening set screw. They tried, and has a cut-out from the back to limit any view blockage, but still pretty significant through the camera finder, the 1:1 external finder is the way to go. It’s so well thought out that the tightening screw has an extension to it so it sits on a surface flat level with the camera when put down. The black flat and thick crinkle paint with the old-style logo engravings and overall design are very fetching and just seem in some odd way to be an extension of the classic Leica LTM camera look.
So overall it’s not simple or compact as the Summar, Elmar, or Hektor hoods, but adds some functionality to the design, maybe Bauhaus+. Never had a barn, but now have the Barn Doors ;-)
Any other Leica - Bauhaus thoughts?
Leica IIIb Summitar SOOPD