Summar 5cm/2. $$$ question

[kestas]

Hello
I'm thinking about buying one of these pre-war Summars. How much should I pay for it? What a "normal" highest price for Summar in good condition?
And another question. Is it possible to clean cloudy Leitz lens at home? I have some practice in camera and lens repair, but of cource I'm only an amateur 🙂

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

That really depends. I got mine for about $70, but needed a CLA, bringing it up to a little over $100. The prices range wildly. $120 in very good condition should be a good deal, considering the alternative (having to pay for a CLA).

They're usually uncoated, but a few are coated. Which one is better depends on your taste.

 

[Grober]

I've had a 50mm Summar for over 35 years. In my "dark middle period" (AKA: without any Leica cameras) this old lens actually knocked about in my kit, sometimes without any lens cap in place. I just could never part with my one remaining link to Leica.

Twelve years ago, when "I came to myself" and bought back into Leica with a new M6, I got a bayonet mount adapter for the Summar and started using it. The cloudy nature of the lens rendered lovely soft images. One shot was selected by a couple for the lead photo in their wedding announcement.

Buy the Summar and don't even think of getting it cleaned. Use it and love it for the soft images it'll probably deliver.

Price? I donno ... buy one cheap from a pawn shop or other seller who doesn't know what the brand means.

My Summar will register the first images onto my spiffy new M8, whenever that body finally appears. Seems a fitting tribute.

 

[jkelly]

I paid about $60 for mine. They all have cleaning marks, but if you are lucky like I was, the glass will be clear and, apart from flare now and then, it will work fine without a CLA.

 

[ffttklackdedeng]

Mine was 160 Euro plus CLA later on, so around 200 Euro. But it has almost no cleaning marks - which was a bit tough to find.

 

[JimG]

I payed $25 for mine at a camera show in Hayward CA this year. It took several weeks of careful hand polishing to get rid of the haze. Works great now and has no cleaning marks that I can see.

 

[kestas]

Ok. Thank you all guys for your replies. I see the price range is really wide. from 25$ to 200 euros!! 😱
About cleanig. Yes I agree, these old foggy, often scratched lenses produces very sort romantic images. This is one of reasons why I want to buy Summar. Of cource I prefer uncoated version. I have enough multicoated sharp lenses 🙂And I'll clean it only if it will be more a problem but not a part of famous Summar look

 

[danielnorton]

I paid $100 for mine off evil bay. I got it t produce soft images so didn't bother with a CLA..