AnthonyM
Established
I am going to buy a Summar. Does this lens take a screw in 39mm filter? Did it come in earlier versions with a different thread or filter size?
Leica LTM Summar filter size
- Thread starter AnthonyM
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Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Niko
Established
AnthonyM said:
Mine has 34mm thread (made in 1937), i don´t know of different versions...
Niko
photodog
Well-known
The Summar takes A36 filters which were the Leica standard in the 1930s. They are slip on with a clamping screw.
bob cole
Well-known
Summar filter size
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Here's what Ghester Sartorious's "Identifying Leica Lenses," says:
[Leica A-36 clamp-on]...
AnthonyM said:
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Here's what Ghester Sartorious's "Identifying Leica Lenses," says:
[Leica A-36 clamp-on]...
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AnthonyM
Established
Just noticed some of the Summars have 39mm threads and take 39mm filters. I wonder if thiey were converted to take 39mm. I have a 39mm to 52 step up ring which means I can use all my old filters on this lens.
AnthonyM
Established
Thanks again Photodog, Niko, and Mr. Cole for your informative replies. I see that the first model Summar was nickel plated. Is that better than chrome or does it command a higher price ? I love a nickel finish. I have an old Colt Single action in nickel. That finish held up over 100 years. I wonder if the Leica lens in nickel is more durable than chrome.
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bob cole
Well-known
Summar filter size
You're always welcome, Anthony...As far as I'm concerned, the nickel finish is no better or worse than the chrome...But the nickel finish is regarded as more valuable because it's much rarer than chrome...I personally can't always tell which items I have are actually nickel, even when the finish is dull...
As for the step-up filter rings, they are available in 39mm to 46mm, 39mm to 49mm and 39mm to 52mm, with the last two easiest to find on Ebay...The first is available from B&H or Adorama...
A photographer-friend at The New York Times told me many years ago, to save money and get a 39mm to 49mm step-up and then get 49mm screw-in filters because they were very reasonable while the leica 39mm ones are expensive... A 49mm black-metal hood is also reasonably priced and the leica one, of course, is not...
The 52mm filters, of course, are not only good on the Leica [with the step-up] but also good on Nikon SLR lenses [without the step-up]...
------------------------AnthonyM said:
You're always welcome, Anthony...As far as I'm concerned, the nickel finish is no better or worse than the chrome...But the nickel finish is regarded as more valuable because it's much rarer than chrome...I personally can't always tell which items I have are actually nickel, even when the finish is dull...
As for the step-up filter rings, they are available in 39mm to 46mm, 39mm to 49mm and 39mm to 52mm, with the last two easiest to find on Ebay...The first is available from B&H or Adorama...
A photographer-friend at The New York Times told me many years ago, to save money and get a 39mm to 49mm step-up and then get 49mm screw-in filters because they were very reasonable while the leica 39mm ones are expensive... A 49mm black-metal hood is also reasonably priced and the leica one, of course, is not...
The 52mm filters, of course, are not only good on the Leica [with the step-up] but also good on Nikon SLR lenses [without the step-up]...
Luddite Frank
Well-known
All the bright-plated metal parts on early Leicas (pre-1934 or so) were nickel-plated; same goes for other cameras, phonographs, automobiles, etc.
Guys who have the early black-lacquered Leicas generally like to find the nickel-plated versions of Leitz lenses to go with them; also, most nickeled lenses were made before WW- II, and were not coated; occasionally you'l lrun across one that was sent back to Leitz for coating, but these are somewhat rare.
Chromium plating really didn't begin to come out on cars until about 1930 in the US, and gradually replaced nickeled trim. (Although the interior handles of my 1941 De Soto were still nickel-plated...)
Nickel has a warm, yellowish tone to it, while (bright) chrome has a colder, bluish look.
I have several Summars, ranging from 1934 thru 1936; one is nickel ( I think), the others are chromed. Summars seem to have had thin chrome on the collapsible neck of the barrel; two of my lenses are worn down to the brass on the barrels.
As for filters, I'm not aware of the Summar having more than one size filter-mount; it was replaced by the Summitar in 1940, which looks similar, but has a larger front-element, and therefore a larger filter mount (but not as large as the E-39 of the Summicron).
All of my Summars have a 34mm filter thread, as do my thread-mount Elmar 90 & 135, and Hektor 135 lenses.
All of these lenses were originally intended to use the "A-36 slip-on/push-on/clamp-on" filters & hoods.
The first Leica lenses to not be compatible with the A-36 filter slip-on were the Xenon /Summarit f:1.5 lenses; I believe these were the first Lenses to be supplied with thread-in filters by Leitz.
Some sort of adapter is probably the most economical route, so that you can use commonly available filters; Leitz made an A-36 to E-39 adapter - this would be my choice: it allows you to mount later hoods and stuff on the early lenses.
Someone here at RF forum actually found 34mm screw-in filters, from Schneider; there were special-order, and not cheap.
I think that adapting to E-39 ( then maybe adapting again to 49mm) is most economical...
Luddite Frank
Guys who have the early black-lacquered Leicas generally like to find the nickel-plated versions of Leitz lenses to go with them; also, most nickeled lenses were made before WW- II, and were not coated; occasionally you'l lrun across one that was sent back to Leitz for coating, but these are somewhat rare.
Chromium plating really didn't begin to come out on cars until about 1930 in the US, and gradually replaced nickeled trim. (Although the interior handles of my 1941 De Soto were still nickel-plated...)
Nickel has a warm, yellowish tone to it, while (bright) chrome has a colder, bluish look.
I have several Summars, ranging from 1934 thru 1936; one is nickel ( I think), the others are chromed. Summars seem to have had thin chrome on the collapsible neck of the barrel; two of my lenses are worn down to the brass on the barrels.
As for filters, I'm not aware of the Summar having more than one size filter-mount; it was replaced by the Summitar in 1940, which looks similar, but has a larger front-element, and therefore a larger filter mount (but not as large as the E-39 of the Summicron).
All of my Summars have a 34mm filter thread, as do my thread-mount Elmar 90 & 135, and Hektor 135 lenses.
All of these lenses were originally intended to use the "A-36 slip-on/push-on/clamp-on" filters & hoods.
The first Leica lenses to not be compatible with the A-36 filter slip-on were the Xenon /Summarit f:1.5 lenses; I believe these were the first Lenses to be supplied with thread-in filters by Leitz.
Some sort of adapter is probably the most economical route, so that you can use commonly available filters; Leitz made an A-36 to E-39 adapter - this would be my choice: it allows you to mount later hoods and stuff on the early lenses.
Someone here at RF forum actually found 34mm screw-in filters, from Schneider; there were special-order, and not cheap.
I think that adapting to E-39 ( then maybe adapting again to 49mm) is most economical...
Luddite Frank
John Shriver
Well-known
At least any collapsible Summar takes 34mm threaded filters. Not sure about the very rare early rigid Summar. They also accept the A36 clamp-on filters, as noted.
Luddite Frank
Well-known
I just checked the mount-size on a couple of Summitar filters I got "by mistake":
Based on my measurements with an inexpensive General poly-carbonate vernier caliper, the Summitar filter thread appears to be 36 mm.
Unfortunately, this caliper's dial read-out is only in 1/100's of an inch or 64ths; the mm's are "on the stick"... (no metric on the dial-scale)
So, I measured it to about 1.425" or 1 - 27+/64"... x 25.4 mm /inch = 36.195 mm
LF
Based on my measurements with an inexpensive General poly-carbonate vernier caliper, the Summitar filter thread appears to be 36 mm.
Unfortunately, this caliper's dial read-out is only in 1/100's of an inch or 64ths; the mm's are "on the stick"... (no metric on the dial-scale)
So, I measured it to about 1.425" or 1 - 27+/64"... x 25.4 mm /inch = 36.195 mm
LF
Dralowid
Michael
There are black Leitz screw in filters for the Summar that fit both the normal lens and the so called 'black rim' Summar that is a little less common.
Can't vouch for their size
Michael
Can't vouch for their size
Michael
AnthonyM
Established
I bought a 34 to 37mm step up ring for my Summar today. However, it does not screw into the lens. It is a hair tight, leading me to beleive the threads on the lens are 34.5mm. Somewhere I read that someone had S.K. Grimes make a step up ring size 34.5mm to 39mm. Makes sense now.
MikeL
Go Fish
AnthonyM said:
Hi Anthony,
I have a 34mm to 37mm step up on my Summar with a filter on it. Could the rim of yours be a little out of round or have a dent?
Edit: I just check on my other Summar and the 34mm fits on it as well. It looks like some Summars work with a 34mm thread.
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rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
Would this be useful:SOOTF(?) filter adapter[ebay link]?
I don't know anything about the seller but thought of this thread when I came across the auction.
Rob
I don't know anything about the seller but thought of this thread when I came across the auction.
Rob
david werbeloff
Member
Hello, Anthony: I remember that when I first put my 34mm filter on to the Summar, the thread was very tight. After working it gently a few times backwards and forwards, it screwed all the way on to the lens. I think the lens had never had a filter screwed into those threads before and they were filled with 70 years of grime. This may be the case with your lens, or, as has been suggested, the lens mount has been been damaged and the filter threads are out of round.
Best,
David
Best,
David
AnthonyM
Established
Thanks for the response gents. I got the step up ring to screw in about 2 turns. I do not want to force it, but two turns seems to hold my rubber lens hood on just fine.