Leica LTM Summitar the star...

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Thank you very much David, that's really helpful. I agree, phone contact is often the way to go (horse's mouth and all that).

Best
Philip
 
Summitar informal portraits f/2 and f/4

Summitar informal portraits f/2 and f/4

Here's a couple of Summitar photographs of a birthday girl from a week ago. Gloomy day in Ireland, sitting near a restaurant window. Scanned from darkroom prints.

The first one (at f/2) is unprocessed. The second one (at f/4) was too sharp, so I added a bit of Gaussian blur in PS. I know this makes the comparison unscientific, but aesthetics must prevail ;-)

I think the Summitar is great for portraits. And lots more. In fact, a Leica M2 and Summitar (no lens hood) have become my standard carry around. Fits in a coat pocket.

All the best,

Seán in Tipperary.
 

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Now with a Rolleicord

Now with a Rolleicord

Just for comparison, here's one in the same place on a Rolleicord with Xenar. (Again, slightly softened in PS).

Sean.
 

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Thank for pointing that out ZF1. You're absolutely right! I'm amazed that you could diagnose that from an online photograph. I didn't know until you mentioned it. Can you tell the serial number? ;-)

All the best,

Seán.
 
No expert by any means, I just read into the Ken Rockwell article on the summitar before I purchased it. Link is here if you are curious.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f2-summitar.htm

The SUMMITAR was uncoated prior to World War II, and was coated from about 1946 (about serial nr. 601,001).

The SUMMITAR originally had a 10-bladed diaphragm, which was changed back to the complex 6-bladed design of the previous SUMMAR (1933-1939) in 1950.
Click to expand...

It appears that the most desirable ones would be from those made 1946-1950. My example is from 1951. Just one year off and the bokeh balls are hexagonal. Not so aesthetically pleasing.

Example here:
14133880456_dbcef9dcfd_c.jpg
 
i bought a copy of a 50/2 summitar v 1938 uncoated in rather clean condition few months back, shot my first few rolls during my recent trip to Penang Island and Hat Yai. sent in one color (Portra 400) roll for dev awaiting its return, have many more BW (Tmax 400) rolls waiting for my friend to do dev.


when it is done i would put some selected photos up here, can't wait! 🙂

mine is a 10 bladed, round iris version.

i mounted a filter adaptor, a bw filter and a 3rd party hood over it for the flare.
 
rlin1987 I was in Hat Yai recently as well, probably between us the most Leica's it has seen for a while.
Only for once I didn't take my Summitar... first trip I haven't for quite sometime.. the 5cm DR had an outing instead
 
@rodt

Haha, I crossed the border from Penang actually and between these 2 places I certainly enjoyed Penang more.

Would be great if you could show us some Hat Yai photos off your 50DR.

Once I get my BW back I would put them up as well

summitar is still sharp for a 1938 lens.. 76yo now.. i would advise a hood though

2nbayih.jpg


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OP8isLd.jpg


1946 coated 10-blade Summitar using a Nooky (but at almost 1 meter anyway) at f.4 I think.

Shot on a IIIf using Pan F+ processed in DD-X. I was pleased with the look I got and will use this combination again.
 
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