Color Comparison and the Collapsible Summicron: Wishy Washy and Why

Sonnar Brian

Sonnar Brian

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Recently, "A Highly Respected RFF Member" (Okay, it was Tom A) stated that the colors from the collapsible Summicron appeared "Wishy Washy" to him.

My Favorite Summicron. Called a Charlie Brown Lens. Good Grief.

Could it be true?

As I happen to have Several Collapsible Summicrons running from the later 13x range lenses, a Mid-range lens with severe coating damage, to two Thorium lenses, I took a look. Also have a Type 1 Rigid and a Type 2 Rigid for comparison. And Sonnars, Simlars, Serenars, Nikkors, etc....

First up, Preppy Colors Pink and Green.

Late Summicron, near perfect glass, at F2

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Wishy Washy? Not in my Opinion. Very accurate rendition of the Actual Colors of that day.

Another at F2
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At F4:
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Also at F2:
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The Bokeh Tree Monster is not Wishy Washy.
 
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Next up: The Type 1 Rigid Summicron, the best Summicron ever created in the course of known history.

And this one is near-perfect.

At F2:
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A bit higher contrast, and a little sharper.
 
Next up: a Mid-range Collapsible Summicron that cost $71, used to look like this:

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From the Ebay auction that I won, from a VERY honest seller that hid Nothing.

I used a 3M polishing sheet made for Fiber Optic Connectors to take off the damaged coating and then used an Eye-Glass Repair kit on it. As Seen On TV.

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At F2:
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At F4:
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Soft? yes. Wishy Washy? At F2, good portrait lens. At F4- Not Bad!
 
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Haze will make any lens give Wishy Washy Colors. But Haze comes out with a good CLA. Etched Glass will cause Wishy Washy Colors. But that tends to happen to Canon lenses more than Leitz lenses.

So it must be.... The Effects of RADIATION!

104x Thorium Summicron AFTER Bleaching out RADIATION Damage in bright sun.

At F2:
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At F4:
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After hitting with more Ultraviolet Light (Just like on Star Trek when Spock goes Blind from the Parasites attacking the Planet)
At F2:
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At F4:
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Yes, I admit it! Wishy Washy Colors from the early Thorium lenses.
But being damaged by radiation means never having to use a light yellow filter for Black and White.

Note that the use of Thorium in Summicrons ended at about SN 105xxxx. The later Summicrons are optically better, and do not yellow from radiation. The early ones are collectible, and great with B&W. The front element and some of the inner elements are radioactive, primarily Alpha emmisions. Keep a filter over it, and do not ingest it.
 
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And just a Comparison Shot, Summar at F4.

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And a Wartime Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar "T" in LTM. At F4.

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Nobody would dream of calling Sonnar Colors Wishy Washy.
 
sanmich said:
I see you took it personally, Brian...🙂

Who is wasting a 'cron on color film anyway? 😉 😀
Click to expand...

Actually, all of those old pictures from the 1950's were shot using color film. When I was young, the entire world was Black and White. Just ask Nikki.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Recently, "A Highly Respected RFF Member" (Okay, it was Tom A) stated that the colors from the collapsible Summicron appeared "Wishy Washy" to him.

My Favorite Summicron. Called a Charlie Brown Lens. Good Grief.

Could it be true?
Click to expand...

Nothing "Wishy Washy" there. I've two of these lenses that have been with Malcolm Taylor waiting for an extra clean element to turn up. When they come back I'll post some photos and wait for Tom A. to explain his "Wishy Washy" comment! 🙄

Gotta love a collapsible lens
 
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