The Summarit: Dreamy Photos or Haze?

[Gabriel M.A.]

A few more samples with this Summarit, now wide open, at f/1.5:

 

[wamjam]

....and some more...shutter speed is at 10

 

[richard_l]

I will not spend a fortune on this lens. If it has lens separation [which I doubt], I will not fix it.

Raid

Mine is in almost mint mechanical and cosmetic condition. If I have any $$$ left after income and property taxes next year, I may get mine fixed, unless I can find a really nice Lux 50 for less than it would cost to fix the Summarit. I would really rather have the Summarit, as I generally prefer to take the road less travelled, and it is such a beautiful, well-made lens.

It is interesting that Leica chose the Summarit design for the 40mm Minilux, which many people agree produces outstanding images for a PnS.

Richard

 

[raid]

Richard,
I agree with you that the Summarit is beautifully made. I will get mine cleaned professionally. I also went after this lens with the hope to get a different "look" with it.


When shining a light source through the lens and when moving the lens around in my hand, I see sparkling little spots inside. Must be dust particles inside that are causing the soft focus effect.

Raid

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

When shining a light source through the lens and when moving the lens around in my hand, I see sparkling little spots inside. Must be dust particles inside that are causing the soft focus effect.

Oh no no no, that certainly doesn't sound good. Make really sure they're dust particles. 🙁 What you're describing, sounds to me like is separation. That certainly explains the look on your pictures. I have a Xenon (precursor to the Summarit) with heavy separation. I can take pictures with it, but they are extremely soft. I'm hoping one day I can have it repaired...or have the elements exchanged; it's a matter of patience.

 

[raid]

Gabriel: I thought that lens separation appears as a rainbow colored ring that is seen in the fron of the lens.

Raid

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I'm talking about a different kind. I still don't know exactly what it is, but when I showed the pictures to Brian Sweeney (which is one of the few things I last heard from him before I lost all his e-mails during my last four-day-long motherboard upgrade...I hate Windoze) he suggested it may be cement separation. It looks really weird, and what you described fits.

I'll send a picture much later (I'm scanning a roll of film and processing other RAW files, and it won't be freed-up before I leave for the morning)

 

[raid]

Gabriel: I hope that you are wrong. It will be very expensive to get such a problem fixed, if it is cement separation.

Raid

 

[raid]

I am pleased to report that the Summarit had some internal milky coating that caused the softness. Now it is crystal clear. I am a happy guy.

Raid

 

[FrankS]

Excellent news, Raid! Got any results to post?

 

[raid]

Frank: I just got the lens back today after work. I also got a few days ago the original lens hood for the Summarit and I got from Luigi the shoulder strap and a wrist strap. Joe sold me his Luigi strap a while ago, and so my three old Leicas each has a Luigi strap. I love the outfits now.


Leica M3 + Summarit
Leica IIIc + Summar
Leica CL + Summicron C


Raid

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I am pleased to report that the Summarit had some internal milky coating that caused the softness. Now it is crystal clear. I am a happy guy.

Excellent. Glad to be wrong. The "sparkly little spots" didn't sound good at all. "Internal milky coating" sounds more benign and easier to fix.

Let's look at the results!

 

[raid]

I will take out the Summitar this weekend to the beaches. After a tiring CLA, the lens deserves some good views. 🙂

Raid

 

[pshinkaw]

These three photos are from the same roll. Leica M2, Summarit, Fuji Superia 100 color negative film, scanned at the time processing by Walgreen's. No additional post processing or cropping. The lens is actually a little bit dirty, it has a slight haze.

I think they are quite sharp. It's basically a combination of film, lens, and contrasty light. Winter time air helps, because there is little or no heat convection in the atmosphere. The light is at least as important as the lens.

-Paul

 

[raid]

Paul: At which aperture did you take these photos and did you use a lens hood or not?

Raid

 

[raid]

I have received back a roll ofcolorfilm with the [cleaned] Summarit. I did not write down which exposures or aperture settings were used, but I recall using F 1.5 mostly with occasional use of F 4.0. The photos came back as mostly soft at 1.5 and nice at f 4.0. I can tell from the photos that it had to be this factor and no other causing the differences.

Here are some photos:



Raid

 

[raid]

Here are some more photos:

 

[raid]

Here are some more photos:


What is your opinion on this particular Summarit?


Raid

 

[Jungle Jim]

Raid--
Did you use a hood on your Summarit on these last photos of your daughter?
It looks like some glare is refecting off the brick wall and into the lens to make some of the pictures appear soft. Especially in the last 2 shots and pictures number 4 and 5. The summarit is noted for flare and mine does the same thing even after it came back cleaned from Focal Point. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I think they look just what you would expect from the Summarit. There is some loss of contrast in bright areas, but I'm guessing this is due to the front element; are there some scratches on the coating or on the interior side of the front element? I wouldn't be surprised if they hardly showed up.

Cute pics, Raid.