Summar is telescoping too loosely?

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Not a huge problem, but I was wondering if anybody experienced the same thing. Basically when my Summar goes into collapsible mode, it pulls out a little bit too easily. Gravity is enough for it to extend itself if I tilt the camera forwards.


Any idea if this is fixable? Again, doesn't seem to be a huge issue; there are no issues when I keep it locked. But it would be nice to fix it if I easily can.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

There is a felt ring acting as a seal between the mount and the lens barrel as I recall. Sounds like it is worn out. It can certainly be fixed, but I have no idea where to start on the tear-down on the Summar to get the barrel out of the mount.

 

[Dralowid]

Theoretically easy.

The bayonet ring on the barrel has a locking screw, with this removed the ring should unscrew allowing you to pull the barrel out and attend to the felt on the inside of the mount.

The felt can be replaced or possibly just roughened up with a sharp point. (This lasts longer than you might think).

Just remember that it has all been sitting together for a very long time so it might not turn out to be as easy to dismantle as it sounds.

Also...it must all go back exactly in the same place or you run the risk of losing focus.

I did this years ago but then a a Summar was virtually worthless...

 

[Erik van Straten]

Summars aren't worthless anymore ... as their glass is good.

glatine silver print (summar) leica III

Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

Summars aren't worthless anymore ... as their glass is good.

glatine silver print (summar) leica III

Erik.

I know, and I still have a selection including a 'black rim' version and a coated one.

One day I will sell them and retire to paradise...sorry...I have already retired but not to paradise!

Michael

 

[Erik van Straten]

I know, and I still have a selection including a 'black rim' version and a coated one.

One day I will sell them and retire to paradise...sorry...I have already retired but not to paradise!

Michael

Is the coated one chrome or nickel? Is the coating soft (pink) or hard (blue)?

There is no paradise for us mortals, but a fine Summar looks like it.

gelatine silver print (summar) leica III

Erik.

 

[Miles.]

Common issue and easily addressed by a repair tech. I wouldn't attempt it myself but as others have mentioned, It's certainly DIY-doable.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll just leave it as it is and mention it whenever it gets a CLA.

 

[Dralowid]

Erik,

You should know by now that chrome is the work of the devil himself and its introduction marked a decline in Leitz standards from which it has never recovered (runs for his foxhole).

If by blue you mean that type of coating where the blue is light and quite obvious, I had a poor one that is long gone.

Not sure what you mean by hard/soft? Resistance to wear?

I have two coated Summars (obviously nickel!). One is is a black rim version. The coating on the front element is now quite thin but seen from the rear the glass is a pinky purple colour. There is just the first hint of fungus tracery visible on the edge of the rear element, not sure what, if anything, to do about that.

The other has better coating on the front element and is the same colour. It is clear.

I have not confused this with the 'oily/iridescent' effect that you can sometimes see on older Zeiss lenses indeed I have never seen this on a lens from Leitz.

Michael

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I have some uncoated Leitz lenses with that natural blooming/oxidation on them.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Erik,

You should know by now that chrome is the work of the devil himself and its introduction marked a decline in Leitz standards from which it has never recovered (runs for his foxhole).

If by blue you mean that type of coating where the blue is light and quite obvious, I had a poor one that is long gone.

Not sure what you mean by hard/soft? Resistance to wear?

I have two coated Summars (obviously nickel!). One is is a black rim version. The coating on the front element is now quite thin but seen from the rear the glass is a pinky purple colour. There is just the first hint of fungus tracery visible on the edge of the rear element, not sure what, if anything, to do about that.

The other has better coating on the front element and is the same colour. It is clear.

I have not confused this with the 'oily/iridescent' effect that you can sometimes see on older Zeiss lenses indeed I have never seen this on a lens from Leitz.

Michael

I once had a Summar with an immaculate pink coating on the front lens. The other elements were perfectly coated too. You can understand how happy I was. The pictures I made with it were wonderful. One evening I decided to clean the lens from some dust on the front lens. I used clean, new cotton swabs. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what happened: the coating was as soft as syrup! I coul smear it all over the surface of the lens. Gone was my immaculate coated Summar.

Later I found some solution: I replaced the front lens with the front lens from another coated Summar. The front lens of a Summar can be unscrewed from the tube like a filter when the set screw is removed. The coating of that element was much harder, and, although not perfect, the result was a very usable lens.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have some uncoated Leitz lenses with that natural blooming/oxidation on them.

I have such lenses too: a Hektor 50mm and several very early Elmars.

Erik.

 

[Muggins]

I've got a Welta Perle with a Meyer-Goerlitz Trioplan that has a natural yellow coating.

 

[Dralowid]

I don't know the process for coating lenses or what the coating consists of but I can imagine that coating or re-coating an older lens is far from straightforward...and the result may be much more delicate.