Summicron 35mm f2.0

[Kristjansson]

RE: A condition Summicron (1960) M 35/2,0. with Goggles. I purchased the lens from Leica store in Copenhagen 3 weeks ago.

Just after I arrived home from Copenhagen (Dec 19th) I found that the Distance on the lense was not correct, and it didn't match the focus looking through the range finder. Otherwise, the lense was in top condition.
Is´t possible that the lense has been taken apart and incorrectly reassembled?

What is the value/price to day on Summicron (8 elements) 35mm f2,0 w/goggles?
Kind regards.
Kristjansson.

 

[splitimageview]

I found that the Distance on the lense was not correct, and it didn't match the focus looking through the range finder.

If you focus on a subject measured to be exactly 3 meters away, for example --- so the rangefinder double image is in focus on that subject --- what does the focus scale on the lens indicate?

 

[Kristjansson]

Thank you for your reply. After focus on subject in exactly 3 meter, the focus scale on the lens is 1,5 meter.

 

[splitimageview]

Do you have other lenses with which to compare?

 

[Ororaro]

Looks like someone messed with the goggles.

Taking them apart and reassembling can cause decentering and focusing to be way off.

Of course, there may be other factors.

 

[splitimageview]

It's too early to come to any conclusion. Let's see what the result is with another lens first...it may be the RF cam on the camera.

 

[Duofold RF]

If your M3 is fine with other lens at infinity. Set the goggled lens at infinity position, look through the viewfinder, does the patch superimposed for infinity? If not the goggle may be off

 

[splitimageview]

I'm not sure the goggles themselves can cause this, as there is no separate goggle adjustment. Or maybe you were referring to the goggled lens, and not the goggles specifically. 🙂

Mount the lens and:

• Focus on a true infinity target (distant object, at least 100m or so, tall tree, distant building).
• Align the rangefinder on this object.
• Does the lens focus ring hit the hard infinity stop at the same time?

If the:

• RF aligns at ∞, lens at ∞ stop → baseline OK
• RF aligns before/after lens hits ∞ → one of them is wrong

Mount another Leica lens that is known (or assumed) to be accurate.

• Focus on the the previous 3m subject
• Observe where the lens scale lands

If the second lens reads 3m, the goggled lens is out of calibration.
If the second lens also reads 1.5m, the camera RF is out of calibration.
If each lens shows different distances, multiple lenses are out of calibration, camera likely ok.

 

[JSteed#2]

maybe a silly question, but are you using the lens and goggles on an M3 or later M? The goggles are specific to the lack of 35mm lines on the M3

 

[splitimageview]

although originally designed for the M3, the goggles will work on most Ms, bringing up the 50mm framelines and adjusting to a 35mm field of view

 

[Kristjansson]

I have done the following:
With Summicron f2 w/goggles, focused at 3 meters.
Using Leica, M3, MP, EV1 and M4. Same result, scale on the lens shows 1.5-1.6 meters (instead 3,0m).
Focus 1 meter distance. The Summicron shows 0,7.

 

[splitimageview]

this points to the lens being out of calibration. can you do the infinity test as outlined above?

 

[Kristjansson]

maybe a silly question, but are you using the lens and goggles on an M3 or later M? The goggles are specific to the lack of 35mm lines on the M3

Yes I know, the M3 dose not have 35mm lines. But I using this lens on all my Leica cameras. Works just fine, but the reading scale is wrong with all the Leica I have.

 

[splitimageview]

Having an EV1 camera is the ultimate test as focusing at the sensor eliminates the RF cam as a factor.

I'll post a suggested test....

 

[splitimageview]

Put the lens on the EV1 and focus on something at infinity (at least 100m) and zoom the EVF to maximum magnification. This way you can see focus errors at the pixel level.

Focus the lens to the hard infinity stop. Is the EVF sharp?

Or is the EVF sharp only after adjusting the lens to another focus point (prior to the infinity stop?)

 

[Kristjansson]

OK. Using my EV1 w/Summicron focusing on subjects faraway. The lens scale shows 2 meter.
Put the lens on infinity (lock) image is blurry.

 

[splitimageview]

Did you test other lenses on the EV1 in a similar way?

Can you return the lens?

 

[Kristjansson]

Yes it is clear that the lens need to be repaired. I have contacted the store and requested a refund for the lens. The store has accepted it.
Thank you for your support.

 

[rfaspen]

Shame it's out of whack. But chances are it's fully repairable. Goggled or not, the v1 summicron is such a great lens (when working properly). I only have the summaron in goggled form but I love it. Used on any of my M's, the goggled view is appreciated. Maybe the shop will repair it for you?