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
Attachments
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Are you sure its a SOOPA? I cannot find any reference to that Leitz Catalog name.
Mine is a SOOPD
Then there's SOOFM for Summitar/Summicron...
Leica IIIf RD w/5cm f/2 Summitar by rdc154, on Flickr
Mine is a SOOPD
Then there's SOOFM for Summitar/Summicron...Leica IIIf RD w/5cm f/2 Summitar by rdc154, on Flickr
Joerg
Dilettant
The beauty of the design shine through when the lens is collapsed and the collapsed hood maintains a slim camera that is easy to pocket.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
My favourite thing about these is not only that they double as a (admittedly large) lens cap, but they're much easier to stash in a bag or pocket than a regular lens hood when not in use.
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
See my post for a link to Leitz Price List with code words:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/node/27831?p=4782242#post4782242
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/node/27831?p=4782242#post4782242
dreamsandart
Well-known
You’re right Ray, must have been going on memory and not check, I’ll edit the post, thanks
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Not a problem. And, you have a SBOOI 5cm bright-line finder on your camera as well which makes for a nice shooting experience.
dreamsandart
Well-known
I read that the Leitz engraves on top we’re on the earlier hoods and they switch to the side later (the reason I got this top engraved hood for my early Summitar). With the engraving on the side it shows when collapsed, better for advertising the brand ;-?)
dreamsandart
Well-known
The external 5cm finder isn’t perfect, there’s a bit of blockage across the bottom of the frame, but since it’s available and has such a nice clear and large view it’s a trade off I’ll take. BTW, just got a note from the archive section in Wetzlar about my also new to me wartime production IIIb, a happy 82 birthday just a few days ago. Probably an export camera as it has the ¼” US tripod thread and is such good condition didn’t see military use or stay in Germany.
Glenn2
Well-known
I’ve got one of the barn door Leitz hoods, but mine is marked Summicron. I never use it as my lens came with the normal hood. Just out of curiosity what are the things going for these days. Likely some insane amount, fortunately most of my Leica gear was acquired over half a century ago, and kept.
Glenn
Glenn
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
I’ve got one of the barn door Leitz hoods, but mine is marked Summicron. I never use it as my lens came with the normal hood. Just out of curiosity what are the things going for these days. Likely some insane amount, fortunately most of my Leica gear was acquired over half a century ago, and kept.
Glenn
Prices are bit all over the place but most are over $100 USD with some sub-$100. Kinda' crazy.
rodt16s
Well-known
Mine has Leitz Summitar on the side, I also seem to remember there were different types of location grooves on the lens through the production run
JeffS7444
Well-known
Maybe a case of parallel evolution? There are some decorative elements to the Leica III, but overall, I think it's form is already mostly dictated by it's function, and that's true of most other cameras.
The closest things I'm aware of to actual Bauhaus (Ulm School, to be more precise) cameras are some of the Nizo super-8 movie cameras, but these are much newer designs.
