Is the 40mm Summicron-C flare-prone?

[Biggles]

Uh, somewhat.

Recently spent a few hours reading about Leica Summicrae and their idiosyncracies; here, on Mr. Gandy's site, and on photo.net. Came across more than one reference to the CL's 40mm Summicron having lousy coating and a tendency to flare, but no one was showing any pictures as evidence. Thought I'd post this picture I took, for a laugh.

Taken around 0930hrs, as I recall. Sun was right atop the statue. Hadn't planned to shoot into the sun, but the "random girl" there decided to strike a pose, and the camera came up of its own volition. Clack. A smell of burning shutter curtains...

Frankly, I'm surprised I got as much usable image as I did. Yes, I was using the folding rubber 12518 hood.

I get my left retina back next Tuesday.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I haven't noticed that my summicron-c flares any more than my more modern lenses (with their attendant modern coating).

For what it is worth, few lenses would have survived the test shot you've shown without flare ;-) Given the location of the sun, I think the cron-c performed rather well.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

It doesn't look like you lost contrast, so I agree with Tom, it looks like it performed rather well. You're seeing the sun in your frame, but I don't think you're seeing the nasty effects of flare such as contrast and detail loss.

I think you got a winner.

 

[JoeFriday]

I rarely shoot into the sun, but I don't have any images from my 40 that show flare.. I do, however, hate that rubber hood with a passion.. and it seems I lost my lens cap just yesterday.. I think I'll be modifying a 35 'cron hood to fit

 

[Biggles]

You're seeing the sun in your frame, but I don't think you're seeing the nasty effects of flare such as contrast and detail loss.

I think you got a winner.

It's truly a crisp, fun lens to shoot with, yes, but similar pictures taken with my single- and multi-coated Zuiko OM SLR lenses over the years only have the iris echo in them. I've never seen anything like those crazy photon torpedo streaks before.

That said, I'm not disappointed with the lens at all. As friggy as it is to use, I love its size and the pictures it takes. The rubber hood helps guide my fingers to find the right ring in a hurry, too. Without the hood, though, I'm sodded.

I'm convinced I have the perfect pocket rig.

 

[yossarian]

Biggles, I agree that the 'cron acquitted itself well. I've gotten those "photon torpedoes" with a majority of the better lenses I've owned, even those with solid multi-coating. The cheaper lenses have tended to produce only the veiling glare which your image has in mild amount considering that murderous angle.
I actually don't mind those streaks, but I have zero tolerance for the broad-area
glare you generally see with non-MC lenses.
I should add that even lenses renowned for their lack of flare (eg--Pentax 40 "pancake") produce the "pt's". My all-time favorite lens for wild, over the top flare is the Zuiko 40/2. I'm talking "Close Encounters" territory, but really gorgeous.

 

[Biggles]

(Puts down four-pound, bronze-headed ball-peen hammer he's been beating his errant Summicron with; reads thread...)

Oh.

Ahem. Yes. Guess I'll keep it, then.

(Reaches for dustpan. Mutters about shooting more attentively at the sun with his SLR. Gonna melt that curtain.)

Always a pleasure to read your posts, mister yossarian. Meant most sincerely. Please do show us a scan or two from that Zuiko's repertoire, if you have the time and the technology.

 

[Frank Granovski]

I never got any flaring with my 40mm, but then I use a hood and I don't let the sun reflect off the lens/filter. It's a damn good lens.

 

[yossarian]

Biggles, much as I would like to oblige, I am shy one scanner and devoid of the expertise required to fully exploit this delightful "techmology" (courtesy Ali G).
I am very much a geek of some sort, but assuredly not the computer kind, so
my humble apologies for the disappointment. I'm sorry I let that lens go, because
no other optic ever produced such a riot of rays, rings, glows and what-not. If Olympus had bothered to blacken the edges of the lens elements it wouldn't have been near as much fun.

yossarian

 

[Biggles]

Rogercopyall. Out.

 

[raid]

I will include the 40mm/2 Summicron in my next test of LTM/M normal lenses. I have not seen any flare in photos taken by it so far. Maybe a test of several lenses gives a better idea on how this lens performs relative to other lenses.

 

[Palaeoboy]

People often recommend the multicoated CLE Rokkor to be more flare resistant. I have never found this to be the case, their flare is identical. By and large they flare the same as other Leica lenses of that period. The MC Nokton does flare less than the 2 Rokkors and the Summicron. So if you want the most flare resistant 40mm then thats the one to go for.