Took the plunge on a user Summitar on for my M8!

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eleskin

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I just bought a 50mm Summitar for my M8 on Ebay from Pacific Rim Camera for $175 USD. Only issue is on the edge of one of the elements is some seperation/haze. I asked on another thread I started if this would be an issue as a user lens. I suspected it would be fine, especially with the M8. Everyone seems to think lenses like this are fine, and I thought the price was just right for what I need.

My interest in this lens was sparked by Steve Huff's review of the Summitar on his M9. I thought the look of the lens was stellar and unique. I own a Noctilux and love it's character, and my guess is I will love this one as well, especially wide open to give that swirly background outdoors. The color from this gem is really beautiful!

So what do all of you think of this lens on your M8/9?

I am excited to use this lens, especially for $175!
 
I also just got a Summitar (1946) for my M9 based on the Steve Huff blog and its a really good lens. A little soft wide open but with beautiful bokeh and very sharp stopped down, and lower contrast than a modern lens so I think it gives another half stop before highlights blow. Its certainly very usable.

Mine came with the aperture ring very stiff indeed. I loosend it up with a tiny drip of WD40, but once this had evaporated the stiffness came back, so I used a smear of sowing machine oil around the aperture ring, working it in then wiping the excess off, and its been running very smoothly ever since. I got a codable mount and coded it as a Summicron; anybody tried any different code?

Steve
 
250swb said:
I also just got a Summitar (1946) for my M9 based on the Steve Huff blog and its a really good lens. A little soft wide open but with beautiful bokeh and very sharp stopped down, and lower contrast than a modern lens so I think it gives another half stop before highlights blow. Its certainly very usable.

Mine came with the aperture ring very stiff indeed. I loosend it up with a tiny drip of WD40, but once this had evaporated the stiffness came back, so I used a smear of sowing machine oil around the aperture ring, working it in then wiping the excess off, and its been running very smoothly ever since. I got a codable mount and coded it as a Summicron; anybody tried any different code?

Steve
Click to expand...
I think this is a very common problem with this lens. Mine was absolutely stuck when I bought it and a previous owner looks to have taken pliers to the aperture ring to get it to move. Still, I like how it renders subjects. I think I am going to bite the bullet and send it it for a real cleaning, as the home remedies are short lived.
 
Ronsonal has been working for a year on one of my Summitars. Apply a trace with fluid on a Q Tip.

Wonderful lens by the way.
 
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