How rare is a Summaron 35/3.5?

[pizzahut88]

I think I am a newbie . . .
yesterday I officially got my first Leica lens,
althought I have a bunch of Voigtlanders,

I bought a Summaron 35mm F3.5.
It is perfect and in total mint condition.
How rare is that?

Any users of this lens here?
How do you rate this lens?

Please don't reply telling me to do search,
I've read some reviews elsewhere already,
but would like to start a discussion with some current owners.
a chit chat . . .


Here are some close up pics of the lens:
http://manfred-lai.blogspot.com/2007/01/leica-summaron-35mm-f35.html

I can't wait to post my first off this lens.

Manfred

 

[jaapv]

It is a nice lens, the 2.8 version is a bit better and the succeeding 3.5 lenses better still. See it as the beginning of an evolution. They are a considerable number in good condition about, it is not a rare lens.

 

[payasam]

Used a screw version, with M adapter, with an M3 from 1985 to 2002. Had the Leitz 35mm finder. Also had the hood made for this lens, which is generally important with Leitz lenses of that vintage. Now have an identical but newer one for a IIIc, though the hood is a larger generic one adapted for use. Without going overboard, I'd say there's something to the reputation of this lens for producing "three dimensional" images. It isn't a fast lens but is quite adequate for daylight work. You cannot use a rectangular hood with it because the whole barrel rotates when focussing. For the same reason, the focussed distance and depth of field scale need some twisting and turning to find. "It's so cute," a little lady friend once said of it. With its own hood and even with an accessory finder, perhaps hard to beat for street shooting.

 

[jaapv]

Heavystar has a very nice screw-in copy of the original hood.

 

[FPjohn]

Sharp

Sharp

Hello: My M3 Summaron f3.5 gives sharp moderate contrast images. The LTM version was made from 1946 to 1960 in 80019 copies.
yours
Frank

 

[jvr]

Hi,

I have the 35/3.5 Summaron in M-Mount that was sold with the M3 (but no eyes). Mine does not have the mounting flange yours has, so I don't know if there are optical differences. AFAIK (but I'm no collector) this is a fairly common lens.

Mechanically is great and feels very dense: everyone that grabs it comments on that. With the hood, operating the aperture ring can be tricky. But, although it mounts like butter on my M3, fitting was much tighter on my (now sold) M6 TTL. Maybe tolerances changed? The 50/2 Col. Summicron and the 90/4 Elmar (from the same year) never showed any problem.

A lot of my B&W pictures were made using this lens on a M3, so I know it quite well 🙂. I really like the rendering it gives on TMAX 400 + XTOL or even better Tri-X+TMAX (or D76). Never used it on slides, much preferring the 35 Summicron ASPH (although on B&W and stopped down, I preferred the Summaron!).

It can flare a bit, especilly wide-open, so using a lens hood is a good idea. I use a Leica clip-on hood with good results. Sharpness is acceptable wide-open (although far from 35 'Cron standards) but improves with stopping-down. From f8 down is very good. It delivers a very beutiful tone range in B&W, that gives it a certain "3D" feel that others mentioned.

On my Epson RD-1s it was a mixed blessing. Although the Summaron defends itself quite well, digital shows no mercy for any remaining aberration or focus error. The CV 35/2.4 PII was visibly better, the 35/1.2 Nokton and the 35 Summicron ASPH just killed it.

Mine was off focus and showing a bit of haze. I had it CLA'd and re-collimated. Performance improved a lot on the Epson, I haven't tried it yet on the M3.

All in all, a very nice lens that provided very good pictures for years and still delivering.

I'll try to dig out a few pics and post them.

 

[jaapv]

Not such a bad little lens at all. I just shot this in my hallway, wide open, 1/4 th at ISO 160, horrible mixed light, and it coped.Its size helps those long exposure shots.

 

[payasam]

Thanks, Jaap, for the Heavystar tip. There's a tiny bit of shake visible in the picture, by the way. Dangerous sort of subject for slow speeds.

 

[richard_l]

I use the LTM version with adapter on an M2. It's a wonderful little lens. There are a few color photos at http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5435

Richard

 

[jaapv]

Thanks, Jaap, for the Heavystar tip. There's a tiny bit of shake visible in the picture, by the way. Dangerous sort of subject for slow speeds.

I know, it was just a quick snap of the first thing I saw. I'll do a tripod one.