Summaron v Colour Skopa

[Cpitch]

I have just purchased my first leica (M2) and a very
clean Summicron 50mm F2. My funds are little thin now,
but I would like to add a 35mm to my kit any advice on
Summaron v Colour Skopar any advice will be helpful.
Thank's All

 

[Tom A]

The Summaron 35f2.8 is a very good lens - in many ways better than the 35f2 Summicron from the same era. It is particularly good in close. BUT - it is an old design and finding a clean one is tricky - and they have increased in price lately as many users have discovered it.
The Color Skopar 35f2.5 is a modern lens, small and compact and fits the M2 perfectly. It is on par with non-asph Summicron (later version III/IV) and the 2/3's stop "speed loss" is not significant. Makes a great package with the M2 - and without the hood it is almost pocketable.
As always, I recommend you check on Flickr for images done with the lenses you are interested in - resolution is not great, but it shows how the various lenses perform when it comes to rendition of color or grey scales pretty well.

 

[kxl]

It is on par with non-asph Summicron (later version III/IV) quote]

Tom - interesting comment. Can I infer from that statement that given a choice of one over the other when considering IQ ONLY (build quality, mystique, status, etc... aside) that, as far as you're concerned, it's a coin flip?

 

[Tom A]

Thats a lot of parameters to consider! I like the Summaron 35f2.8 (don't like the 35f3.5!) and I also like the Skopar 35f2.5. In most cases you wont see much difference between them. However, wide open the slightly higher contrast of the Skopar will work better - it gives an appearance of sharpness that the 35f2.8 would not have.
Build quality of the Summaron is better, all brass/alloy etc, but it does have the stupid infinity lock (can be removed). The Color Skopar 35f2.5 II is well built, but it is a "modern" lens and the use of lighter alloys makes it feel "less" solid. I have had 35f2.5's since they came out and on one I managed to snap the aperture ring stop. On the other hand I have done the same thing to at least 3 Summicron 50mm f2.0 Summicron's version IV!

 

[FrankS]

I like the Summaron lens too. I have an extra one.

 

[le vrai rdu]

got a color skopar LTm, excellent and very small lens 🙂

well built , light and ergonomic 🙂 i love it

 

[VictorM.]

"Stupid infinity lock"! Hah! I like infinity locks.

 

[Tom A]

Infinity locks always click on when you are focussing - and then when you want to go closer - there it is - all locked up!
On the 50 Summicron's i simply take out the catch/spring assembly and grind off the "flange" on the lens so that it is smooth. Occasionally I put in a "knob" for focussing - but mostly it is left smooth. The lock on the 35's is a bit more complex to take out and re-assemble if someone wants to buy a lens (one reason I rarely sell optics is that a/they tend to look used and b/ not everybody appreciates knurled knobs attached to the lens.

 

[Never Satisfied]

The little colour skopar is a great lens and is fantastic value for money. I have one, it was my first 35mm RF lens. Its speed is it's only real down fall.
IMO Andrew,

 

[Cpitch]

Thank's for all the advice on Summaron v Colour Skopa,as I said in my
first post I am new to Leica cameras and glass. It would appear the M2
and the Summaron would be a good combo,but user wise the Colour Scopar
just has the edge and is good value. All your advise is greatly appreciated

 

[laptoprob]

At some time I had the Serenar35/2,8 (the little silver one) and a Color Skopar. Sold the Skopar because of the very high contrast. The tiny Canon/Serenar is great! But that's my preference. The Skopar is a fine lens.
I now only have the 1,7 Ultron as 35. And happy with it. Build quality is not stellar but I haven't wrecked the lens yet.

 

[Spider67]

And another vote for the color skopar 35/2,5! Great lens...I like its contrast for BW.

 

[oscroft]

I use a 35 on my M2 almost exclusively, and I've used both Skopar 35/2.5 and Summaron 35/2.8.

They're both very good lenses (both have given me very nice results on colour transparency film), and I couldn't see any real difference in the results from either of them. I liked the build quality and feel of the Summaron better (though I don't like infinity locks either), but the Skopar is still pretty well made for a modern lens.

I sold the Summaron, but only because it was a goggled version intended for the M3 (though it will fit and work fine on M2, M6 etc), and looking through the goggles was a pain (even if they did have an attractively quirky appearance).

Who knows - I might get another one some day if I should happen upon a nice ungoggled one at a reasonable price.

 

[Sparrow]

Hi Alan

I use the same pair, but the m2 version, and I'd sum it up as; Summaron- less contrast, less saturation lots of detail, Skopar- more contrast, more saturation enough detail.

I tend to use the former for B&W and the latter for colour, but I can see how you would get good results from the summaron with slides

 

[oscroft]

Hi Stewart,

Summaron- less contrast, less saturation lots of detail, Skopar- more contrast, more saturation enough detail

Yes, I think you're right, my Summaron results have a bit less contrast and saturation - I guess that helps with the poorer latitude of slide film.

Cheers,
Alan