Summicron 35mm Type I (8 lenses) - please show your photos made with this lens

[il_granduca]

Hello all,

just got a Cron 35 early first type. I love it!
Can you please show photos taken with this lens?
Any tips/hints on how to get the most our of this lens?

thanks!
claudio

 

[mknawabi]

guess youll just have to show us yours. keep it at f/4, seems to be the trend with most summi 35s

 

[Al Kaplan]

I had a type I for several years. I bought it after several years of using a Canon 35/1.8 mostly because it used the same 39mm filters as my other Leitz lenses. Eventually I picked up a type II as well so I could shoot both B&W and color at the same time. The type one had a bit less contrast and a smoother rendition, but you'd really have to shoot the same subject at the same time with the same film to see any difference. Looking back at my negatives from the 1960's and '70's, a period when I had more than one 35, I can't pick out the photos from one lens or another. I finally sold the type I to a collector for way too much money because it was a rare black paint example. As for tips? Use the thing! Use a lenshood. When it's on the camera leave the cap off so you're always ready to shoot with it.

 

[sleepyhead]

Hello. I had a Summicron type I that i used with a chrome M4 and it was beautiful to use and had that classic look (I never used it with colour so can't comment there). I ended up selling both the lens and the body and buying a 35mm Summicron Type IV and a black M4-P because I wanted something more discrete-looking (black).

Here is a shot with the Type I:

Comparing the two Summicron versions that I've used, I found the Type I to be bitingly sharp in the centre (sharper than the type IV), but soft at the extreme corners. You can see that in the bottom corners of the picture I've attached.

The Type IV has a more even sharpness distribution, but less "bite" somehow. Ergonomically I like both of them about equally, with perhaps a slight edge to the older version. I know the Type IV has the "king of bokeh" reputation, but quite frankly I think the two versions are pretty darn close, and I find both pleasing. I never used/use a shade with either and haven't had any flaring issues.

Enjoy your lens!

 

[Meleica]

More info on my 35 Summicron page

http://antiquecameras.net/35summicronmlenses.html

Dan

 

[raid]

From Dan's site: "Most of the Type 1 lenses were made and marked in CANADA. Some were made and marked Wetzlar. Wetzlar lenses bring a premium."

I have a mint chrome 35mm Type 1 that was made in Germany. I can't see myself selling the lens. I really the look from the images. High resolution but medium contrast. The goggles give the lens a very special look, which I like. I use the lens on my M3.

The Canon 35mm/1.8 is similar in resolution and contrast.

 

[il_granduca]

From Dan's site: "Most of the Type 1 lenses were made and marked in CANADA. Some were made and marked Wetzlar. Wetzlar lenses bring a premium."

I have a mint chrome 35mm Type 1 that was made in Germany. I can't see myself selling the lens. I really the look from the images. High resolution but medium contrast. The goggles give the lens a very special look, which I like. I use the lens on my M3.

The Canon 35mm/1.8 is similar in resolution and contrast.

Hello Raid,

so do I have a mint chrome 35mm Type 1 made in Germany with googles! which serial number do you have ? mine is 1.631.182 and it seems to be a prototype since the production starts at 1.640.000

Claudio

 

[peter_n]

I recently bought a bashed-up version of this lens cheap. It was described as "battered" in the advert and when it arrived it certainly looked it. Mine is made in Germany and is serial nr. 2313xxx. I only shot a few frames with it, all at f2.0, mostly of trees/leaves around my house, one of the pics is below. The focus ring was really difficult to move on this lens and it is currently with Steve Choi for a thorough CLA and I'm looking forward to getting it back and using it. 🙂

 

[raid]

Peter,
I hope that the optics are clean after the CLA of your lens. I was lucky in getting a like-new Version M3 35mm Summicron.