Summaron 3.5cm collapsable f3.5 lens

[Nick De Marco]

Seen a very nice one of these and interested in it to use as a 35mm on old screw cameras.

Anyone know this lens and it's strengths/weaknesses? I realise it won't be anything like as sharp or lovely as my Summicron 35m f2. for example, and that it is not a fast lens. But apart from the obvious, what is your experience with this lens?

Also, how do you use it with a old screw that does not have frame lines? Is a slide on 35mm viewfinder the only way to go? I like to keep the hot shoe free for a meter..

Thanks anyone with knowledge of this lens
Nick

 

[Pickett Wilson]

The 35 summaron is tiny already, but I didn't know there was a collapsible version?

 

[NathanJD]

I have one of these Nick! and i also made the mistake of thinking this is a collapsible lens - it actually is that small!!

I have one of these as my main 35mm that i use on my M2. i haven't used it too much as it needs a thorough CLA although before buying one i had a good look at the pictures they produce and i was really impressed. i understand that it has quite a similar look to early 35mm Summicrons and softens and darkens towards the edges as a lot of lenses of this age do.

Here's an exaple from my copy but as i say - it's very hazy inside:

 

[Nick De Marco]

You are both right, it just looks collapsable in the pics it is so small.
Love that photo and the misty feel Nathan. I hope I will be able to use mine (if I buy it) as well

 

[Erik van Straten]

The Summaron 35mm f/3.5 is a fine lens, but it is often found with a haze inside the lens elements. This can however be removed by a competent repairman.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Summaron 35mm f/3.5

 

[Sonny Boy Havidson]

This is the main lens on my Leica III F (M39 version). The f stop clics can be anoying: it is quite difficult to change the aperture without having to refocus ; but the lens is sharp, no too prone to flare and its coating gives a good color rendition.

 

[peterm1]

I have this in two versions - the screw mount version and the early version for M3 cameras (no goggles.)The earlier one is smaller. I understand the optical formula to be identical. It is a fine little lens that I like a lot. One potential problem if you plan to use it on any later M camera instead of an LTM. I find that with mine the infinity lock lever tends to bind on the cameras frame selector lever. (This is not an issue with the early M3 as it does not have one.) I have not heard others complain about this so it may not be universal - its only the matter of a couple of thousanths of an inch so if could be a minor variation. I use my LTM version on a pretty little 111a that I have with a tiny silver Canon 35mm viewfinder that can be bought reasonably cheaply on eBay. Its ideal for an LTM camera as the size is just right not to look grotesque as say a VIOOM would. In general a pretty little lens that shoots darn nice pics.

Here is the later M version mounted on my M 3(with a vari-finder) looking cute as all get out.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have this in two versions - the screw mount version and the early version for M3 cameras (no goggles.)The earlier one is smaller. I understand the optical formula to be identical. It is a fine little lens that I like a lot. One potential problem if you plan to use it on any later M camera instead of an LTM. I find that with mine the infinity lock lever tends to bind on the cameras frame selector lever. (This is not an issue with the early M3 as it does not have one.) I have not heard others complain about this so it may not be universal - its only the matter of a couple of thousanths of an inch so if could be a minor variation. I use my LTM version on a pretty little 111a that I have with a tiny silver Canon 35mm viewfinder that can be bought reasonably cheaply on eBay. Its ideal for an LTM camera as the size is just right not to look grotesque as say a VIOOM would. In general a pretty little lens that shoots darn nice pics.

Here is the later M version mounted on my M 3(with a vari-finder) looking cute as all get out.

Your M-version was made for the early M3 that has no frame selector lever. There also is a later version without goggles that is made for the M2 that does not have the problem you mention. That version is however quite rare.

Erik.

 

[vrgard]

Your M-version was made for the early M3 that has no frame selector lever. There also is a later version without goggles that is made for the M2 that does not have the problem you mention. That version is however quite rare.

Erik.

Erik, can you elaborate on this rare lens a bit? I have an M-mount 35 f3.5 Summaron. It has no goggles (clearly never did) and brings up the proper 35mm framelines on M cameras that have them. And the infinity lock easily clears the frameline selector on my M3. Is this the "quite rare" lens you were referring to? Any info you can provide would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Randy

 

[peterm1]

Erik, can you elaborate on this rare lens a bit? I have an M-mount 35 f3.5 Summaron. It has no goggles (clearly never did) and brings up the proper 35mm framelines on M cameras that have them. And the infinity lock easily clears the frameline selector on my M3. Is this the "quite rare" lens you were referring to? Any info you can provide would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Randy

Yes I recall now that there is a verison with no goggles that was designed for the M2. I had momentarily forgotten. The main difference is that as the M3 had no frame for 35mm lenses the lens version I have does not bring up the 35mm framelines on later cameras that are equipped for 35mm lenses.

This is unlike the later version of this lens alluded to, that will bring up the 35mm framelines on the M2 and on any later camera that has them as well. Of course mine could be modified to do so but as I do not mind using an external finder I am not motivated to do so.

 

[retnull]

Just yesterday, I pulled out the Summaron 3.5 for testing on Panasonic G1. Two test shots:

 

[Dfin]

Just to complicate things further, I have a 35mm summaron with goggles, that will not bring up the 35mm frame lines on my M4-p.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Erik, can you elaborate on this rare lens a bit? I have an M-mount 35 f3.5 Summaron. It has no goggles (clearly never did) and brings up the proper 35mm framelines on M cameras that have them. And the infinity lock easily clears the frameline selector on my M3. Is this the "quite rare" lens you were referring to? Any info you can provide would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Randy

Randy, what's the serial number of your lens? If your lens is #14***** or higher it is most probably the quite rare version. It is in my view also the most desirable version, for it has evenly spaced f-stops and a very easy to reach f-stop ring.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Just to complicate things further, I have a 35mm summaron with goggles, that will not bring up the 35mm frame lines on my M4-p.

That is normal, because the goggles enlarge the viewing-angle of the viewfinder so the 50mm frames indicate the field of view of a 35mm lens.

Erik.

 

[bennyng]

Also, how do you use it with a old screw that does not have frame lines? Is a slide on 35mm viewfinder the only way to go? I like to keep the hot shoe free for a meter..

Hi Nick,

You can use a Voigtlander double hot shoe adapter which allows you to put both the meter and the 35mm viewfinder side by side. It comes in 3 varying height and can be a bit difficult to find these days.

Cheers,

 

[vrgard]

Randy, what's the serial number of your lens? If your lens is #14***** or higher it is most probably the quite rare version. It is in my view also the most desirable version, for it has evenly spaced f-stops and a very easy to reach f-stop ring.

Erik.

Erik, I will have to check when I get home tonight. Sheesh, I knew you were going to ask that and I still failed to note the number when I was looking at the lens yesterday. 😱

Thanks,
Randy

 

[maddoc]

The 35mm Summaron LTM is a fine little lens. 🙂 I have no problems mounting it on either my M7 or M4-P, the infinity lock stays clear from the frame-line lever.

Here mounted on my M7:

and here one shot on P3200TMZ (@1600ISO / HC-110 "B")

 

[vrgard]

Okay, Erik, I checked my lens and the serial number is 1180nnn. Sounds like it's not one of the rare ones you were referring to. However, it has all the characteristics I described previously. So what is different about my lens versus those later rare ones you were referring to?

-Randy

 

[Erik van Straten]

Okay, Erik, I checked my lens and the serial number is 1180nnn. Sounds like it's not one of the rare ones you were referring to. However, it has all the characteristics I described previously. So what is different about my lens versus those later rare ones you were referring to?

-Randy

The mount is completely different. I'll look if I can find a picture of it. Your version should touch the frame selector lever at the 1 meter setting with the infinity lock pushed in, as one does automatically when focusing. Also, the f-stops are unevenly spaced.

Erik.