The Mighty Summaron

[richard_l]

Myth: The Summaron 35mm f/3.5 LTM is a nice low contrast lens, especially suitable for classic black and white photography.

Fact: The Summaron 35mm f/3.5 LTM is a good high contrast, high definition general purpose 35mm lens.

I have uploaded three color photos taken with this lens (in a Leica M2) to the "Summaron 35mm f/3.5 LTM" album in My Gallery. Neither contrast nor saturation were boosted in post processing. Film was Kodak 400UC.

 

[OldNick]

Thanks for posting the Summaron photos. I would like to have a 35mm LTM lens and have considered this lens, but read that it was difficult to find a lens that did not have internal haze. Have you found that to be problem?

 

[richard_l]

Thanks for posting the Summaron photos. I would like to have a 35mm LTM lens and have considered this lens, but read that it was difficult to find a lens that did not have internal haze. Have you found that to be problem?

I guess I've been lucky with Summarons. I had one M-mount f/2.8 that got pretty well totaled by a fungus. However, the f/3.5 LTM and f/2.8 M Summarons which I now have are 100% fungus and haze free. The worst lens for haze is probably the 50mm Summarit, with the 35mm Elmar not far behind.

 

[FPjohn]

Sharp, Moderate contrast

Sharp, Moderate contrast

Hello:

My Summaron f3.5 (goggled) is of moderate contrast and sharp. It has little tendency to flare with a hood. No haze, no fog and purchased as Ex+ from George Ury.

yours
Frank


PS Your gallery shots will tempt me into the basement to make sample scans.

 

[djon]

My LTM Summaron 3.5 is wonderful. No sign of haze. Slightly sharper than my Nokton 50 f1.5, faintly less sharp than my Canon 35f2. Moderate contrast. It keeps very fast company.

Summarons are evidently less subject to grief than old Summicrons.

I had an ancient uncoated Elmar. Zero haze. Not a great lens, but nothing was eating it.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I have an M mount goggled 35/3.5 Summaron, seems to perform well with color, here's a limk to one of mine : http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=7528&cat=3422

Todd

 

[Todd.Hanz]

BTW djon,
I noticed the reference to Robert Earl Keen Jr. in your signature, great taste in music!


Todd

 

[richard_l]

Summarons are evidently less subject to grief than old Summicrons.

I have a late model Summicron 50 that got a fungus inside the front element, but I got it cleaned out before it had etched the glass.

 

[richard_l]

I have an M mount goggled 35/3.5 Summaron, seems to perform well with color, here's a limk to one of mine : http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=7528&cat=3422

The goggled version has that nice recessed front element. I had to devise a hood for the LTM; otherwise it flares if you stare at it too hard. 😉 The reputation of the LTM Summaron for low contrast may be due to flare and haze as much as anything.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Glad to another satisfied 35/3.5 Summaron LTM user. I do not know how they got a bad rep but I will keep mine thank you.

Bob

 

[Dan Chang]

If you shot with a f8-11 aperture and use hig hcontrast film, I am not suprised.

 

[richard_l]

If you shot with a f8-11 aperture and use high contrast film, I am not suprised.

Yes. Kodak 400UC film is almost as contrasty as slides or digital, and I always try to use at least f/8 when shooting landscapes.