Leica LTM The Ultimate thread on Summitar hood alternatives

[rtphotos]

Hi all,

Are you looking for a Summitar hood? Read on...

I recently purchased a lightly used Leica 50mm f/2 Summitar, serial #658***, ca.1948. It didn't come with a hood, so I began my research to find the appropriate one. After searching the archives on this forum, I learned that the Leica-suggested hood for the Summitar is the SOOPD, sometimes referred to as the foldable “barn-door hood”.

The SOOPD is no doubt designed to be the most effective flare reducing hood for this lens, but I feel that it is a bit large and cumbersome to use - just my personal opinion, of course, but take a look here to see for yourself:

Summitar w/SOOPD hood (post #4)
- http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica...rrect-lens-hood-ltm-summicron.html#post481003

I prefer a more compact hood and sought advice on this and other fora for an alternative to the SOOPD. I also noticed in my search of the archives that this topic reappears occasionally, often with incomplete answers/suggestions.

I've gathered these valuable suggestions on to this single thread so others who find themselves searching for a Summitar hood can make their own informed decision without the need for others to re-hash what already has been suggested.

The following are links that will offer the reader a number of popular options for a Summitar hood, often with photos illustrating the hood attached to the lens:

General discussion on Summitar hoods (esp. page 2)
- http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25302&page=2

Leica hood 12585 (H), and Series VI adapters, hoods and filters (post #7)
- http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22536

Leica hood 12571/IROOA (post #653)
- http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=694659

Leica hood ITDOO (post #2)
- http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=740920

Leica hood FIKUS modified
- http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17168

Leica SNHOO E36 tapered-E39 adapter and aftermarket E39 screw-in hood (post 8 and 11)
- http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica...39-lens-hoods-iiif-5cm-lenses.html#post452726

Custom-made E36 tapered-E39 adapter [S.K. Grimes and Don Goldberg]
- http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49241 [S.K. Grimes, post #14]
- http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica...summitar-50-filter-thread-specifications.html [Don Goldberg, post #10]

Russian hood modified
- http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26357 (post #9 and 10)
- http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00HOXu

I'd like to mention a few more things that I have learned about Summitar hoods. The Summitar was made over a span of 15 years between 1939-1955, and there have been three distinct design changes to the front rim of the lens pertinent to hood usage. The three designs can be described as: no channel, “v” channel, and a square-bottom channel. Some of the above mentioned hoods may work fine with one Summitar type, but not others.

I'd like to also make note that there were variations in the Leica SOOPD hood. Some were clamp-on and others were clip-on style. Care should be taken when selecting the correct SOOPD hood as the clip-on style requires a Summitar with the proper channel design.

Please feel free to add to this discussion with your own experiences and suggestions. And thanks to those who have already contributed to the above linked discussions. If you are looking for a Summitar hood, I hope this thread leads you to the appropriate one that meets your requirements, style, and pocket book.

Finally, if you have photos of your Summitar in action with an alternate hood, POST 'EM!

Attached below is my Summitar with SNHOO and generic 39mm screw-in metal vented hood.





rt


ADDENDUM: October 2010 - Ebay seller "heavystar" is selling a SNHOO replica for a very reasonable price!!
Check out his Ebay stores here: http://stores.ebay.com/Heavy2stars-Photo-Gear/_i.html?_nkw=snhoo&submit=Search&_sid=1552931

 

[rxmd]

Is there a way to look at the pictures from the Leica camera forum without having to create a user account and logging in there?

 

[rtphotos]

Is there a way to look at the pictures from the Leica camera forum without having to create a user account and logging in there?

Sorry about that rxmd. If I'm not mistaken, I think you do need to log in to view the pics on that forum.

But no worries - if you are just looking to see what the SOOPD hood looks like on a Summitar, look no farther than Big Hairy Bee's set up right here on RFF (post #665):

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18496&page=17

rt

 

[LeicaTom]

*Very Happy*

I just found the original pre 1946 "barndoor" SOOPD clamp-on/top logo version on
Evilbay - for about the price I paid in Germany for one like it over 15 years ago
(it was sold with the original matching numbers kit 1939 IIIa I owned back in 1995)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170209286240

This will be a welcome addition to my 1940 "uncoated" Summitar in just keeping the standard original kit

This is my 1940 Summitar w/original bakelite cap and black rim filters together with my 1945 "K" Shutter Leica IIIC

Tom

PS: I know the OP had stated that the original hood is bulky, but not really when it`s folded out of place on the lens with the camera around you neck - just thinking out loud

 

[Athos6]

My Summitar

My Summitar

I use a Tiffen Series 6 adapter with a Ednalite 6-P Series 6 vented hood. There is a Series 6 UV filter tucked in there as well.

 

[rtphotos]

Thanks for the comments LeicaTom. How about posting a couple of photos of your new SOOPD folded on your Summitar, just for comparison? Great price, by the way!

Nice photos of your Tiffen series 6 adapter and Ednalite hood, Athos6!

Keep 'em coming!

rt

 

[payasam]

I did not find the SOOPD inconvenient in the least. An RFF friend, Sean Moran, found it for me. First version, clamp on, which fits all Summitars. Inspired me to buy, from KEH, a SOOFM for the Summicron I now have.

I had earlier chanced upon a rectangular Canon 42 mm dia. push-on hood on eBay. The son of a friend bought it for me, but the blessed thing got lost on the way to India.

 

[LeicaTom]

Thanks for the comments LeicaTom. How about posting a couple of photos of your new SOOPD folded on our Summitar, just for comparison? Great price, by the way!

Nice photos of your Tiffen series 6 adapter and Ednalite hood, Athos6!

Keep 'em coming!

rt

Ohh yes I will shoot some "camera porn" when the hood gets here, as I recall the first series hoods are a tad bit lighter than later ones as well - if I`m not mistaken.....

and here is the hood that the "barndoor" design is based on

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-XIOOM-rar...oryZ4702QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

that`s the krazy rare original XIOOM hood for the 50/1.5 Xenon, where the Summitar got it`s design from in 1939 - I really would like that hood as well, but I`m SURE it`s going to go over $300+ it`s one of he RAREST of all vintage Leica hoods
(I had one of these like 15 years ago , but could`nt find a Xenon lens to go with it, so I traded it, away -
I regret doing it now, because I just acquired a decent /clean 1936 Xenon)

...the hood is RARER than the lens itself

Tom

 

[peterm1]

I have a couple of original hoods for early Summicrons and (the type with "funnel" sides) and they work well - they are of the clip-on sort, with little "teeth" inside the rim that are actuated by little rectangular buttons on the outside of the rim. Similarly, the later vented leica hoods for Summicrons (both the plastic ones and the metal ones) work well on Summitars in exactly the same manner as described above. They all just clip on using the groove around the end of the lens barrel. You do not require adapters of any sort with these hoods.

I have never bothered with the large barn door hoods which are ungainly, unattractive and expensive.

 

[rtphotos]

Hi Niles,

The aftermarket SNHOO and hood looks good. I'm glad it worked out for you, and thanks for posting the photo!

Peter, how about posting a photo of your funnel-sided summicron hood on your Summitar? Thanks!

rt

 

[250swb]

I use a Heavistar adapter and use the hood from my 50mm Elmar M. Its small and compact and doesn't get in the way of the viewfinder on my IIIf being the same diameter as the lens itself.

Steve

 

[sabrewolf]

I also use the heavystar adapter, and it extend the front of the lens a bit forward creating a slight 'hood' which is enough for me.

 

[peterm1]

Hi Niles,

The aftermarket SNHOO and hood looks good. I'm glad it worked out for you, and thanks for posting the photo!

Peter, how about posting a photo of your funnel-sided summicron hood on your Summitar? Thanks!

rt

I dont have my own photo to hand but I mean the hood depicted here from the i'net (Could not think of a better way to describe it in my post) You can see the little "teeth" inside the rim which engage the groove around the outside of the front of the lens. This suits a variety of lenses as you can see from the inscribed markings.

 

[Krosya]

I use some push-on hood, which is made in USA on my Summitar - works well, perfect fit and look:

 

[DouglasLHagerman]

The SOOFM "barn door" Summitar & Summicron 50 mm hoods are pretty cheap these days, probably because they are ungainly. I bought one and am now flummoxed because it is significantly asymmetrical. Not bent or anything, but designed so that it droops down in front and is wider on the left side than the other. By A Lot.

??? Is the negative in the Leica not centered on the axis of the lens? Why does the barn door hood have such huge variance from symmetery???

 

[analoged]

Ultimate Summitar Hood!

Ultimate Summitar Hood!

Here's and affordable solution!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Leitz-...340?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item232709492c

 

[DouglasLHagerman]

Now that I look at it closely, it is pretty obvious that the film gate in the Leica cameras is not centered on the lens axis. Just take off the lens and look in there; you don't even have to measure anything to see it. M and LTM.

I've been playing with these things for more than 40 years and never noticed it.

 

[Ronald M]

I have a couple of original hoods for early Summicrons and (the type with "funnel" sides) and they work well - they are of the clip-on sort, with little "teeth" inside the rim that are actuated by little rectangular buttons on the outside of the rim. Similarly, the later vented leica hoods for Summicrons (both the plastic ones and the metal ones) work well on Summitars in exactly the same manner as described above. They all just clip on using the groove around the end of the lens barrel. You do not require adapters of any sort with these hoods.

I have never bothered with the large barn door hoods which are ungainly, unattractive and expensive.[/QUOT

They clamp just not well and are easily knocked off. If you put them on a Summicron, you can pick up the whole camera and it remains secure

 

[Frontman]

The Canon S-42 hood for the Canon 50/1.8 lens fits well on a Summitar, and it works well. There is a bit of finder blockage, but no more than with many of the other hoods mentioned. I bought an S-42 hood after getting tired of the original "barn door" hood.

 

[LeicaTom]

Maybe not a cheap or easy to find alternative, but Walz (Japan) made a really well made hood for the Summitar, looks and feels like the Leitz XOONS hood from a Summarit lens and probably cost just as much as that hood does.....
I bought this hood like 7 years ago and I haven't seen another since.

Here's the hood on a 1951 Leica IIIFBD with a matching numbers Summitar.

Enjoy!

Tom