My new collapsible Summicron

[payasam]

First, can someone date my collapsible Summicron, serial number 1218627?

Second, does the attached photo seem reasonable for this lens at f/4 (1/30 sec., Fujicolor 400)?

I'm struggling to get to know this lens and an M2, both bought recently from Youxin Ye. At this time, accuracy of focus at close distances is somewhat doubtful, specially with fast lenses wide open.

 

[former member]

You need to shoot some wide-open to test the focus, and probably post some center-shot highlights. My Collapsible Summicron's are all accurate wide-open at F2. At F4, they are superb.

I'm planning on testing my F2 lenses, or at least some of them, today. Wish it was spring. Better for testing.

 

[payasam]

Thanks, Brian. I have taken several frames at f/2; but there are many imponderables and I have still to come to conclusions.

 

[dannynono]

If your still getting to know the camera and lens combo, you may want to shoot any focus test shots with the camera mounted on a tripod. otherwise, it may be hard to differentiate between lens issues and user issues.

 

[Photon42]

Hi paysam,

summilux.net has got a 'dating service'

rgds
Ivo

 

[ferider]

First, can someone date my collapsible Summicron, serial number 1218627?

1954, Mukul. Congrats on the combo.

Regarding the picture, your camera might be off. Summicrons being off is much rarer. Best to compare lens focus scale on the camera focused at close distance with a tape measure. Could be camera shake, too, though.

Roland.

 

[45-Otto]

Leica lens date list I have dates this lens as produced in 1954.

 

[former member]

It's easy to knock a Summicron's focus off when re-assembling it after a cleaning. The elements are a very tight fit into the metal. I've had to use much more force with the Coll. Summicron and Type I Rigid Summicron than with other lenses. I've re-assembled a lens and had it's focus off: the second group had to be PUSHED back into place. After that, no problems. It finally "clicked" into place. Fraction of a millimeter. The first test roll revealed a problem with anything not at 4ft. At 4ft, I got a beautiful portrait, however.

 

[payasam]

Harland, thanks. The crucial test shots were with the camera resting on a table-top.

Ivo, Roland, Otto, thank you all. Roland, I was about to do the tape measure thing but thought I'd check e-mail first.

Brian, I do not know if this lens has been dismantled. Certainly I don't intend to take it apart and put it together again.

If I identify focus errors, I can compensate when using the lens. Had an M3 for 17 years whose R/F was off, and I habitually mis-focussed to get focus right.

 

[payasam]

It is now confirmed that both the Summicron and the M2 are OK for focus. I used the Summicron and an Industar 61 L/D at full aperture and closest focus. Here is a crop, not sharpened, of the Summicron photo. Focus was on "JESSOP", with the blue carton closer to the camera and the green one farther from it. Camera was steady on table top. Other Summicron pictures on the roll are consistent with this conclusion. The Industar at f/2.8 is easily more contrasty than the Summicron at f/4, incidentally.

 

[Solinar]

The Industar at f/2.8 is easily more contrasty than the Summicron at f/4, incidentally.

The Industar is great to shoot winter scenes with at the Finnish border, especially at this time of year. While I like the look of Ingmar Bergman's B/W "The_Seventh_Sea"l, portraits of people deserve a Summicron.

 

[payasam]

Vic, thank you.

 

[former member]

Is this the $60 Summicron that you posted about on the other trhead?

The I-61L/D does have more contrast than the Collapsible Summicron, and more than the First Rigid. The Leica lenses of the 50s are more "Kodachrome" colors.

ANYWAY! My "close to perfect" Sumicron, wide-open:

From this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53444

I'll have a "direct compare" between this lens and the Coll. Summicron that i recoated myself next week. The latter lens does better than I tought it ever would.

 

[sanmich]

... the Coll. Summicron that i recoated myself next week.

Hi Brian

You recoat lenses by yourself??? 😱

please tell us more!

Michael

 

[payasam]

Yes, Brian, the same. If the weather in Delhi improves, I shall do some outdoor shots and maybe post a couple.

 

[former member]

My "famous cheeze-wiz As Seen On TV Summicron repair"- See this thread for pictures of the lens and sample photographs with it.


http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50450&highlight=repair+eyeglass

 

[payasam]

Thanks, Brian.
Roland, I did a tape measure test. At 3.5, 4 and 4.5 feet, the Summicron's distance scale showed a distance slightly less than the measured distance. At 4.5 feet, for example, the scale showed just over 4 feet. My Industar 61 L/D, by contrast, was bang on at 1.1 m and 1.5 m.
Hopelessly confused old man now.

 

[former member]

If you have a tripod, set the camera up on it and try some test pictures. I use a fence post, so i can see how far off the focus might be. Try test close-up and at infinity. It is the difference between the "shim" or RF cam being off (optics to film plane off), or a lens element being out of position (wrong focal-length).

 

[payasam]

at f/2 and at f/5.6

at f/2 and at f/5.6

If I were to do the tripod thing, Brian, I would have the lens axis at an oblique angle to the fence (or railings or whatever). I assume that is what you mean.

Here are two pictures taken with the lens at the same time, one at f/2 and the other at f/5.6. Both prints scanned in the same pass, nothing done other than cropping and -- to take care of the different colour casts the lab had managed -- desaturating.

 

[payasam]

Thanks again, Vic.