Leica LTM Summaron 35/3.5

[raytoei@gmail.com]

After getting less than satisfactory results from my Sun Sola 90mm (too soft at wide-aperture indoors, and flares quite a bit outdoors, quite restrictive don't you think), I wasn't expecting much from my collapsible Summaron 35mm/3.5f.
When I got the prints back from the one hour lab this past week-end, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my summaron performed quite well at wide aprerture. This is an uncoated lens made in 1954.

 

[eia41]

Likewise!

Likewise!

I am equally very happy with my M3 type Summaron 35mm/f3.5, without goggles - not only for its excellent optical, mechanical and aesthetic condition, but most of all for the wonderful results it produces with both Colour and B&W films. An underrated, hence a competitively priced lens from Leitz's golden era...

 

[VictorM.]

Collapsible? They're not collapsible. Uncoated from 1954? All Summarons (and just about all post WWII lenses) are coated. LTM Summarons are compact and surprisingly sharp.

 

[marke]

Yeah, I wasn't aware of a collapsible Summaron.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Summaron or Elmar?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Summarons 35mm f/3.5 are all coated and are stunning performers. However, they are often hazy, but a good repairer can solve the problem in 20 minutes!

Erik.

 

[like2fiddle]

It's a wonderful and very compact lens. I own both the 2.8 and the 3.5 version and can only keep one, so the slower lens is the more disposable at this point. (thus the current classified listing) I find the lens excels in B&W.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Yea, the 35/3.5 Summaron LTM is one tiny well put together lens. One in good condition gives great results.

Bob

 

[payasam]

As Victor M and Erik say, it has to be coated. I've had two of these, same vintage, and they were fine performers although the second was a bit hazy. Other than the disadvantage of slow speed, I found them difficult to handle because of small size.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

egad! you

egad! you

My Bad. I wrote this late last nite.

Yes. The Summaron is NOT collapsible, and upon checking today, it is Coated. I must have been confused with my Elmar 🙂

cheers!

 

[Keith]

I'd forgotten I have one of these until I spotted this thread ... it was in a box of bits and pieces that came with a very rough IIIF I bought off ebay. It was extremely hazy and dirty but after DAG cleaned it for $50.00 it looked like new.

It's an absolute joy to use on my R4A I discovered the first time I tried it. I love the low contrast with black and white and the fact that it's so small ... a very under rated lens IMO!

 

[robklurfield]

I want one of these. I like the size and I like the results.

 

[helen.HH]

FAB lens indeed!!!
i have two the 3.5 & the 2.8
will be selling the 2.8 /don't need the extra stop for daytime
heres one in COLOR...beautifully sharp . MOI.... 3.5 ver.

 

[helen.HH]

3.5 in B&W....with RED FILTER
GORGEOUS Shots keith /Love the Tones !

 

[Keith]

Thanks Helen ... I do believe the little Summaron may actually have the 'Leica Glow!'

😀

Lovely pic of thee I might add! 🙂

 

[mgd711]

I recently got this lens from Nantor... bloody amazing!

 

[mgd711]

Sorry, quickly changed the image there as I realised the image I had posted was short with the Summarit, another great lens.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Anyone got shots of the summaron with an M8? Interested to see a few of those.

 

[Keith]

Anyone got shots of the summaron with an M8? Interested to see a few of those.

I've thought about trying it on my M8 a few times but never got around to actually doing it!

That may have to change now that you've jogged my memory! 😀

 

[naql]

Great pictures. I can't wait to get mine back from CLA.