Early M Summaron 3.5 ??

[rtucker]

I just picked up an M3 system, with the traditional set of lenses at the time. It included a M3 made in 1954, a 50mm f1.5, 90mm f4, and this 3.5 cm f3.5 Summaron. The questions I have are about this Summaron: The serial number is from 1953, before the M system was released. The lens, when mounted on other M cameras, does not bring up the 35mm frame lines. Instead it shows the 50mm frame lines. Also looking closely at the serial number, it looks to have had an additional #1 engraved at the beginning. Is this a pre-production lens or prototype? Any thoughts? I'd like to have a better idea about what I have.

 

[Robert Lai]

The lens was introduced in 1945 for the screwmounts. You may have a screwmount lens with an M adapter semi-permanently mounted on it.
No need for 35mm frame lines, because the M3 didn't have them.
Those showed up with the M2. There should be a 35mm viewfinder in the kit somewhere.

 

[analoged]

Thats a native M mount for M3, doesn't bring up 35mm frame lines unless you modify. There was an M2 version released later.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have this lens too, serial 1179135. There are many M3 versions of the Summaron 35mm f/3.5. They bring up the 50mm in the viewfinder, also when mounted on an M2. A superb lens, if free from haze. They are for a professional repairman easy to clean.

The LTM versions are more universal, they can be used on all Leicas.


Erik.