Leica LTM Leica 50mm Collapsible Lenses: Elmar 3.5 vs. Elmar 2.8 vs. Summitar 2.0

[DMA1965]

The coated Summitar is one of the sharpest lenses Leica has ever made. It has that classic Leica look and superb micro contrast.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The 1937 Elmar 50/3.5 that came with my Barnack had only modest internal haze resulting in very low contrast by today's standards although resolution was acceptably good when stopped down a little to f/6.3.

I've cleaned some nickel Elmar 50mm lenses - from Leica IA cameras and interchangable ones - but I've never seen this "etching".

I've seen however a lot of Elmar 50mm lenses with ruined front lenses from mindless cleaning.

The Elmar 35mm is more difficult to get apart, but these suffer even more from haze, maybe because they are so small. However, I've cleaned two of them with fantastic results. No etching whatsoever. A clean Elmar 35mm is a superb lens.

Erik.

 

[David Hughes]

To me "haze" suggests some clown with a spray can of WD40 thinking that is how you prepare a lens or camera body for ebay. Add a hot day and a bit of evaporation and then condensation on to the cooler glass surface and there it is...

The other problem is that neither KMZ nor FED ever advertised their lenses as Leica replacement lenses but a lot of sellers do and so the story spreads and so do people's expectations.

What it boils down to is some perfectly good cameras ruined and some repairers banging their heads on the wall.


Regards, David

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I need to get into my 35mm Elmar and 28mm Hektor one of these days 🙁

 

[Erik van Straten]

I need to get into my 35mm Elmar and 28mm Hektor one of these days 🙁

Get the manual from Nobbysparrow!


Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Elmar nickel 35mm

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Get the manual from Nobbysparrow!


Erik.

I have it, but I can't find it. 🙁

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have it, but I can't find it. 🙁

Order a new one, not too expensive, or I can make a copy for you of the relevant pages.


Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Collapsible Summicron.

Erik.

 

[Brianmc86]

I just need an LTM Summicron and Leicavit and my IIIf will be complete

 

[Erik van Straten]

I just need an LTM Summicron and Leicavit and my IIIf will be complete

It is difficult to find a clean collapsible Summicron. The front lens of these lenses is very soft. Usually they are badly scratched.

The rigid Summicron is also available in screw mount, but is very hard to find and because of rarity very expensive.

Erik.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Order a new one, not too expensive, or I can make a copy for you of the relevant pages.


Erik.

Actually, I forgot I had already cleaned the 35mm Elmar. Used a rubber ring tool set to unscrew the elements.
The 28mm Hektor is proving uncooperative, though.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The 28mm Hektor is proving uncooperative, though.

The Hektor 28mm is in the book. I can copy the pages if you want.

Erik.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I'll have a look for my own copy of Nobby's booklet first. 😉

 

[Astyanaz]

Might be.

But 70 years on, finding glass that isn't permanently etched by the haze or scratches is becoming a quixotic quest.

With all the fancy wide-angle LTM lenses that are being produced at reasonable prices, it would seem that someone could make an inexpensive 50mm f3.5 reproduction with good glass. They can make 12 through 25mm lenses for as cheap or cheaper than the original 50mms seem to go for.

 

[splitimageview]

APO-LANTHAR 50mm F3.5 (Type I) - 株式会社コシナ

cosina - description

www.cosina.co.jp

APO-LANTHAR 50mm F3.5 (Type II) - 株式会社コシナ

cosina - description

www.cosina.co.jp