Leica LTM Leica 35/3.5 summaron vs. Canon 35/2.8

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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loneranger

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I am looking for a high resolution low contrast lens, which one of the above would you recommend? Also, if you have both lenses, how are they similar or different?
Thanks
 
There was a thread on these two lenses several years ago. It didn't generate much discussion then. I've not owned a Summaron, but it is a highly reputed lens if you're after a vintage look. The Canon (which I do own) is probably equal to the Summaron, but gets much less attention. It's a high resolution/low contrast lens, and quite tiny in the original chrome version. For color photos, it gives a slightly desaturated look. It's a terrific little lens that will probably cost less than a Summaron in like condition.
 
I have a Summaron 3.5 and just picked up a Canon 35mm 2.8.

The Summaron was great but every time I took it out I was really paranoid about the front element. The lens cap came off in a bag a few times and there are no threads for a filter (I have no experience with a clamp on adapter to be fair). The Canon is almost as small, faster and has threads so I figured I would give it a try.

I'll try to shoot a few black and white comparison shots this roll. I should note that while haze and scratch free, the Summaron does have some debris between the elements. It is definitely sharp though - it doesn't seem to impact the photos I've taken with it.
 
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I have both and consider them equivalent: sharp, moderate contrast. The Canon is smaller(!) than the goggled Summaron.
yours
FPJ
 
I had a V1 35mm F2.8 Summaron M-mount until recently, really liked it alot.

Now I am looking for a clean late 35mm F2.8 Black Canon, I'm hoping it's similar.

I suspect it is very similar.
 
So it seems like a draw between the two in terms of sharpness/contrast, in which case the canon would have a slight edge because it is slighly faster and has a filter thread.
Can anyone comment on the canon wide open, I know the corners must be bad, but is the center still sharp wide open?
thanks for your input
 
I don't have any examples uploaded that I can easily show you, but the Canon 35 is not that bad wide open. On a good sample, you'll find it sharp in the center, but not all that soft in the corners.
 
I do not have the Canon but do have the Summaron. In fact I have two - the late LTM one and the optically identical early one designed for the M3 (without goggles - you needed a separate finder).

I like it but be aware that a common problem with these is their tendancy to develop a film on interior elements and this produces flare and even lower contrast. If you buy one budget for a CLA unless you can be absolutely certain it has already had one.
 
peterm1 said:
be aware that a common problem with these is their tendancy to develop a film on interior elements and this produces flare and even lower contrast. If you buy one budget for a CLA unless you can be absolutely certain it has already had one.
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The cleaning of the elements can be carried out in a few minutes. Once I was permitted to look when my repairman (mr. Scherpenborg from Nijmegen) did the job. It certainly did not take longer than 15 minutes.

Erik.
 
Erik van Straten said:
The cleaning of the elements can be carried out in a few minutes. Once I was permitted to look when my repairman (mr. Scherpenborg from Nijmegen) did the job. It certainly did not take longer than 15 minutes.

Erik.
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my brother lives in nijmegen, is mr scherpenberg expensive? otherwise I'd ask him to clean my M2 finders when I manage to visit some time.
 
Over they years very small amounts of lubricant seem to migrate or evaporate from the aperture mechanism and settle as a misty deposit on the faces of elements adjacent to that mechanism. WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS this is easy to rectify but the Summaron is quite small and it is also possible that a retaining ring may have become seized. Beware.

One lens that is particularly prone to this problem is the red scale Elmar...I know not why.

Michael
 
SimonSawSunlight said:
Is mr scherpenberg expensive? otherwise I'd ask him to clean my M2 finders when I manage to visit some time.
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Scherpenborg. Just call him and ask. He speaks German and English. He is not expensive and very good, he has over 50 years of experience. He has lots of spare parts etc.

You can drop me a pm and I can put you in contact with him.

Erik.
 
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Interesting thread - I have a LTM Summaron (f3.5) and just bought a Canon f2.8, so will be able to see the differences first hand soon.

So far, the Summaron has proved to be a great lens - small, sharp and with good coverage across the whole neg. I had a f1.5 Canon for a while, but really ddn't like the corner effects, so swapped it for a Summicron vIV - seemed a good deal at the time.

Aprops of nothing - I once met the original Lone Ranger when I was a kid. First time I had ever seen a California suntan, as a product of the grim UK climate, i could hardly believe that people came in that shade of orange... ;)
 
john neal said:
Aprops of nothing - I once met the original Lone Ranger when I was a kid. First time I had ever seen a California suntan, as a product of the grim UK climate, i could hardly believe that people came in that shade of orange... ;)
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Dude, I am the original lone ranger on this forum!
 
The coating on the inside of the Summaron is fragile, which I learned the hard way, so it must be cleaned with grest care. Make sure the coatings are good on any lens you buy, don't get one unless the seller will let you return the lens if there are any problems.
 
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