Lilserenity
Well-known
Hiya,
On the feedbacki n my previous thread (Low contrast Leica lenses) I have purchased a Summar 5cm f/2 for £90.
Natty little thing and totally liking the collapsible feature on my M2.
Couple of small issues.
1. The aperture ring, it's very stiff. So stiff in fact that turning it will unscrew the lens from its expanded state, e.g. if it's on f/2 turning it will screw the lens barrel anti-clockwise until its far enough around to collapse the lens.
There is a small screw on the aperture ring, does this adjust the ring's stiffness?
2. I have Voigtlander-Cosina 35/135mm LTM adapter, and have screwed the Summar on to this for now.
However at the top of the lens where there is a little arrow head, that is not exactly at the top, it's as if the lens is screwed on more if that makes sense, whereas say on my ultron the black dot lines up with the top of the camera.
This is annoying from the point of view that the distance scale is not visible fully from the top.
Is this normal?
I have seen some photos of Elmars at least on Leica M's where the distance scale is properly lined up at the top.
Otherwise looking forward to shooting with it once I have freed up the aperture ring.
Vicky
On the feedbacki n my previous thread (Low contrast Leica lenses) I have purchased a Summar 5cm f/2 for £90.
Natty little thing and totally liking the collapsible feature on my M2.
Couple of small issues.
1. The aperture ring, it's very stiff. So stiff in fact that turning it will unscrew the lens from its expanded state, e.g. if it's on f/2 turning it will screw the lens barrel anti-clockwise until its far enough around to collapse the lens.
There is a small screw on the aperture ring, does this adjust the ring's stiffness?
2. I have Voigtlander-Cosina 35/135mm LTM adapter, and have screwed the Summar on to this for now.
However at the top of the lens where there is a little arrow head, that is not exactly at the top, it's as if the lens is screwed on more if that makes sense, whereas say on my ultron the black dot lines up with the top of the camera.
This is annoying from the point of view that the distance scale is not visible fully from the top.
Is this normal?
I have seen some photos of Elmars at least on Leica M's where the distance scale is properly lined up at the top.
Otherwise looking forward to shooting with it once I have freed up the aperture ring.
Vicky
Al Kaplan
Veteran
Screw mount Leica lenses have the distance scale offset like that. Even LTM optics from other makers usually do. If you were using the Vidom or Imarect viewfinder on the camera you'd discover that the finder blocks you from looking straight down on the lens. You'll have the same situation arise with any brand of thread mount adapter.
Lilserenity
Well-known
Hi Al,
Many thanks for the super speedy reply on that front. If anything it kind of makes sense that it's lop-sided as otherwise the focussing tab would be right around the top too which would be silly.
So long as this is normal, I shan't worry!
Vicky
Many thanks for the super speedy reply on that front. If anything it kind of makes sense that it's lop-sided as otherwise the focussing tab would be right around the top too which would be silly.
So long as this is normal, I shan't worry!
Vicky
Blank288
Established
The aperture ring, it's very stiff. (...) There is a small screw on the aperture ring, does this adjust the ring's stiffness?
I don't know Summar lenses, but usually stiffness is due to gummed-up grease or dirt, a broken click-stop ball or spring, or a dent in the ring. Mostly a not too expensive CLA will cure these kind of problems. Screws in aperture rings usually fix them; I have CLA'd quite some lenses, but I don't remember any example of adjustment screws.
Hope this helps.
I don't know Summar lenses, but usually stiffness is due to gummed-up grease or dirt, a broken click-stop ball or spring, or a dent in the ring. Mostly a not too expensive CLA will cure these kind of problems. Screws in aperture rings usually fix them; I have CLA'd quite some lenses, but I don't remember any example of adjustment screws.
Hope this helps.
Lilserenity
Well-known
I have used the lens and shot half a roll of Tri X, it's gone well. I really like how much 'turn' there is in the focussing, looks like you can be very accurate even wide open (which I know and don't want to be pin sharp wide open. I know, how weird!)
That said the aperture ring is too stiff, so aside from me making a hash of the lens, I'm going to send it to Malcolm Taylor to look at and give a proper service to it, it's in good condition so it would be a shame to let a good example slide.
One last question, these collapsible lenses, apart from the aperture ring being very stiff, this causes the lens to turn and collapse, is there any 'lock' when these lenses are fully extended? Or is it just a turn to collapse?
I guess I am so used to lenses that are always extended and never collapse when you don't want them to!
Vicky
That said the aperture ring is too stiff, so aside from me making a hash of the lens, I'm going to send it to Malcolm Taylor to look at and give a proper service to it, it's in good condition so it would be a shame to let a good example slide.
One last question, these collapsible lenses, apart from the aperture ring being very stiff, this causes the lens to turn and collapse, is there any 'lock' when these lenses are fully extended? Or is it just a turn to collapse?
I guess I am so used to lenses that are always extended and never collapse when you don't want them to!
Vicky
peterm1
Veteran
I thnk your summar needs servicing. I had a similar issue with an old 50mm f3.5 prewar Elmar I bought in which the aperture ring was nearly rigid. I think it was just old lube in a lens that had not been used for a while. I sent it to a service man who specialises in Leicas etc and it was fixed in a jiffy. It was not expensive.
The summar is capable of giving a nice look to photos. I have not owned one but have seen lots of images shot with them and like the effect. I do however own the Summitar and that has some similarities without some of the summar's defects. But it is a lens I have craved in my time - unfortunately they seem to have become a bit more expensive in recent years as many other people have realised their worth as a shooting lens. I believe the glass is very soft however so please do not go mad with cleaning or you may end up with a lens that is a mess.
The summar is capable of giving a nice look to photos. I have not owned one but have seen lots of images shot with them and like the effect. I do however own the Summitar and that has some similarities without some of the summar's defects. But it is a lens I have craved in my time - unfortunately they seem to have become a bit more expensive in recent years as many other people have realised their worth as a shooting lens. I believe the glass is very soft however so please do not go mad with cleaning or you may end up with a lens that is a mess.
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A good CLA will take care of it.
I've done these things myself, and have corrected similar problems on a Summitar by swabbing around the aperture ring qith a Q-Tip and 99% Isopropyl alchohol. It gets rid of the dirt and grime. This is not always the culprit, sometimes it is oil on the blades or a small mechanical problem.
But, it's always worked on my lenses.
I've done these things myself, and have corrected similar problems on a Summitar by swabbing around the aperture ring qith a Q-Tip and 99% Isopropyl alchohol. It gets rid of the dirt and grime. This is not always the culprit, sometimes it is oil on the blades or a small mechanical problem.
But, it's always worked on my lenses.
Lilserenity
Well-known
I think whilst I could probably do it myself, I'm not going to risk it. A full service (which is more than just the lubrication) is estimated at around £50 and for a good example, I'm happy to pay that. When in Rome and life being too short and all that 
The focussing on it is fine, nice and fluid, and damped, but the aperture ring, too stiff to be truly usable.
Vicky
The focussing on it is fine, nice and fluid, and damped, but the aperture ring, too stiff to be truly usable.
Vicky
Lilserenity
Well-known
I just wanted to post that I got the Summar back from Malcolm Taylor last week sometime (I was away on holiday) and he did a fantastic job on this lens, it feels and looks very much like new give or take the lettering on the front of the lens is a bit dulled and the barrel itself has tell tale marks from collapsing but otherwise a very very good job. All the glass was cleaned up, basically completely overhauled. The lens now actually locks when opened up into position, the aperture ring is smooth as silk, the focussing is better (but that was pretty good) and I also found out at some point its been coated!
His contact details are: http://www.yell.com/listings/DoFind...aylor-Leica-Specialist/Photographic-Equipment
Can't recommend him enough, lovely chap!
Vicky
His contact details are: http://www.yell.com/listings/DoFind...aylor-Leica-Specialist/Photographic-Equipment
Can't recommend him enough, lovely chap!
Vicky
Al Kaplan
Veteran
Now you have to go out and use it! It's amazing how tastes in optics go through phases. Forty years ago dealers couldn't GIVE away a Summar and now they give photos that prized vintage look.
Lilserenity
Well-known
It's amazing isn't it how things go in cycles. Shame I've only been knocking around for about 26 of those 40 years!
Anyway reading what I said back makes me sound like I'm about to place it in some glass show cabinet. Hahaha. I don't and never will own such a thing.
This things gonna get used, starting tonight down the pub
Should provide some interesting results!
Vicky
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Drink a pint for me, Vicky, please: if Guiness is not to be had, bitter ("real ale") will do perfectly. Unless women are still given only half pints.
Pub pictures are likely to be wide open or close to that. With any lens, and particularly with an old one by Leitz, you'd do well to use a hood.
Pub pictures are likely to be wide open or close to that. With any lens, and particularly with an old one by Leitz, you'd do well to use a hood.
Lilserenity
Well-known
Some example pics from that night down the pub
Some example pics from that night down the pub
Nah we can drink whole pints but I can't quite drink as many as the rest of my buddies, 3's enough for me in one night and even then I'm coming back home and popping the lid on the record deck and jamming to some music with the headphones on. Until I realise it's 3am and I've got 4 hours max of sleep before work! Ahh well.
Anyway I thought I'd re-visit with some pics that I took the other week:
All taken with Neopan 1600, shot all on the Summar pretty much wide open at f/2, developed in Xtol at 21C for 5mins.
The pictures are pretty sharp all full scan size and would make decent 10x8s in most cases. I was surprised actually. No hood (not got one -- yet) and not that accurately framed as I only have a 35mm LTM->M adapter at the moment:
Some example pics from that night down the pub
Nah we can drink whole pints but I can't quite drink as many as the rest of my buddies, 3's enough for me in one night and even then I'm coming back home and popping the lid on the record deck and jamming to some music with the headphones on. Until I realise it's 3am and I've got 4 hours max of sleep before work! Ahh well.
Anyway I thought I'd re-visit with some pics that I took the other week:
All taken with Neopan 1600, shot all on the Summar pretty much wide open at f/2, developed in Xtol at 21C for 5mins.
The pictures are pretty sharp all full scan size and would make decent 10x8s in most cases. I was surprised actually. No hood (not got one -- yet) and not that accurately framed as I only have a 35mm LTM->M adapter at the moment:
MCTuomey
Veteran
looking at these pics i think you have a keeper, Vicky.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Women who soup their own Summar shots, you gotta love 'em!
Inspiring story, I'm gonna give my Summar some love tomorrow. I got this nice Rollei 25 pan film that's been lying around too long, hoping for a truly classic look.
Inspiring story, I'm gonna give my Summar some love tomorrow. I got this nice Rollei 25 pan film that's been lying around too long, hoping for a truly classic look.
Lilserenity
Well-known
Heh thanks I do try The Summar I have turned out to be coated according to Malcolm Taylor who thoroughly sorted it out for me, which perhaps helps keep the effect of flare down a little.
This weekend I shall be shooting with it loaded with some Kodachrome 64. That could be an interesting combination.
The Summar I have turned out to be coated according to Malcolm Taylor who thoroughly sorted it out for me, which perhaps helps keep the effect of flare down a little.This weekend I shall be shooting with it loaded with some Kodachrome 64. That could be an interesting combination.
They look great. That is a really good example of the Summar, and I suspect the coating really increased the contrast. I'm going to load some B&W in the Leica IIIa after seeing these. The Summar lives on it.
Al Kaplan
Veteran
K-64 is a contrasty slide film, too contrasty in my opinion for the latest generation of optics. Lens coating was originally developed as a way of duplicaing natural "bloom". Optical glass of the era would get a coating from exposure to the atmosphere. At first photographers looked at that in about the same category as corrosion on brass...YUCK! Their precious lenses were getting screwed up! Then somebody discovered that lenses with "bloom" had less flare and more contrast. Applying a coating of magnesium flouride in a vacuum proved to be a pretty good substitute for natural bloom and saved about twenty years.
I guess what I'm really saying is that it would be very difficult to find a truely "uncoated" lens from the 1930's. Keep up the good work with that Summar. I really like those shots.
I guess what I'm really saying is that it would be very difficult to find a truely "uncoated" lens from the 1930's. Keep up the good work with that Summar. I really like those shots.
Lilserenity
Well-known
It is indeed quite a punchy film in that respect but in this case it's kind of desired on the work I've been doing. I'm not as emotionally hooked on K64 as some but I really do really like the stuff and I'm still wondering what I'll do when it goes Probably shoot something like E100G or Provia 100F but it won't be the same!
Anyway on the Summar front, I was off this weekend doing my big photographic project that I started way back in 2004 (with a 5 year hiatus) - I'm a bit worried it may become my very own Pittsburgh project... Anyway, I got talking to someone who spotted what I was using (at the time the Summar on the M2) -- unusually, he used a IIIf on 'special occassions' with a Summar! What are the chances of that!
We swapped e-mail addresses so I can drop him a couple of small scans when I get this batch back, but it was something of a chance encounter!
I sent three rolls of K64 off on Monday so I should have them back in a couple of weeks.
Anyway I'm diverging but I really enjoyed shooting that Summar this weekend, makes for a lovely small package to carry around, especially now I have a lens cap for it, I can pop it in the handbag and that's it. That's what I love about the Leica
Probably shoot something like E100G or Provia 100F but it won't be the same!Anyway on the Summar front, I was off this weekend doing my big photographic project that I started way back in 2004 (with a 5 year hiatus) - I'm a bit worried it may become my very own Pittsburgh project... Anyway, I got talking to someone who spotted what I was using (at the time the Summar on the M2) -- unusually, he used a IIIf on 'special occassions' with a Summar! What are the chances of that!
We swapped e-mail addresses so I can drop him a couple of small scans when I get this batch back, but it was something of a chance encounter!
I sent three rolls of K64 off on Monday so I should have them back in a couple of weeks.
Anyway I'm diverging but I really enjoyed shooting that Summar this weekend, makes for a lovely small package to carry around, especially now I have a lens cap for it, I can pop it in the handbag and that's it. That's what I love about the Leica
mauro scacco
Established
Fine images with a fine undervaluated lens
Ciao Mauro
Ciao Mauro