using the Summaron f/3.5 35mm

[bkrystad]

Picked up this fine little lens (1954 version) from an RFF member months ago but am finally getting around to squeezing some darkroom time into my schedule. Here's a sample with FP4 (flatbed scan of a wet print). A couple more shots are at my flickr account.

I like the depth and contrast of the result. But for all I've read about the magic of the f/2.8 35mm Summaron, I'm wondering if someone can explain what I'm missing? (Besides half a stop.)

 

[David Murphy]

I've used them both. They are both first rate lenses. Both nice and compact, but the 35/3.5, at least in LTM, is extraordinarily compact - a wonderful lens, particularly at home on a Leica bottom loader. For use on an M3 (or even an M2, M4), nothing is finer than a Summaron 35/2.8 with eyes (OK maybe a Summicron 35/2 with eyes!).

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

I have a 1954 M-mount f3.5 version as well. filed down so it brings up the 35mm framelines on my M4 and M2.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

It's one of my best and strangely, least frequently used lenses. Maybe it's the slower max aperture (which is not an excuse since I hang out at f/5.6 usually). I'm just not sure. It's so compact that it should always be on my camera. Maybe this coming week...

Phil Forrest

 

[peterm1]

I like this little lens. I have had one for a few years now and am now beginning to use it with my M8 and have found that it renders very nicely. A traditional rendering found in lenses of that era (early-mid 1950s.) Unfortunately mine needs cleaning, having developed the haze that many lenses of this era have, so I have no photos to post till after I have it cleaned.

In fact, the haze is not always a problem - it can be ignored in soft even lighting and may even add a nice flare element in some situations where there is bright lighting in the photo, but it is never the less on the whole, a limiting factor till I get around to having it serviced.

The only other slight issue is that mine is one of the early ones made for an M3 and so is not designed to bring up the correct framelines in any M camera. I may have that rectified when I have the lens cleaned.

I also own the thread mount version (which is clean and free from haze) and now that I think of it will put it on an adapted to see how it works on my M8.

In short persist with it, I am sure you will like it.

 

[retnull]

Yes , absolutely. This lens is strangely under-hyped. "Classic rendering", yes, if that means razor-sharp with fine tonality.

 

[David Murphy]

Recent shot with a 35/3.5 LTM Summaron. Color print film. I think mine was made in 1952.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Unfortunately mine needs cleaning, having developed the haze that many lenses of this era have, so I have no photos to post till after I have it cleaned.

Mine is the last generation screwmount, for the IIIg. It looks like the M2 version but is LTM. If yours is constructed like mine, it is the easiest lens I've found to clean.
Two prong spanner will remove a retainer in the rear and the lens optics module will come out of the focusing helical. After that, you can take the rear lens group off with a spanner and clean the haze out from the element surfaces that are adjacent to the aperture blades.

One of Leica's sharper lenses. It's great on the digitals because of its low contrast but high resolution. Just a fantastic lens all-round.

Phil Forrest

 

[bkrystad]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and great samples from this little lens. I was fortunate to get a well-cared-for one from a fellow member, with the grinding for the 35mm frame lines already done. I will push it more in the coming year and enjoy the results.

 

[Eric L]

I like using mine. I have a 35/3.5 with goggles. It works fine on the M6. The goggles just de-magnify the 50mm frame lines it brings up into 35mm.

 

[maddoc]

I have the small LTM version of this lens, like it a lot. 🙂

 

[matt335]

It's a gorgeous lens. Congrats. I have screw mount LTM and the F2.8 M mount as well. Living under the sun here both are adaptable to most situations. I love them both. Have fun !

 

[menos]

I like mine, although, I seldom use it, as a modern 35 Cron or Lux is just more practical.
When I got mine, I did a one day mostly with the Summaron lens through Shanghai.
I love, that it is really sharp in the middle (mine is welded wide open ;-)) and has this strange softly edge thing, "framing" the image.

Here is a few:

It is fine even for some low light shots in urban areas with some last backlighting and pushed film or ISO1250+ with the M8.

It works great for scale focussing, as the minimum focus is more useful for up close candids at 1m or slightly more too.
This makes for great quick shots.

 

[David Murphy]

Very nice shots menos -- shows the utility of this lens in confined spaces.

 

[l.mar]

It's one of my best and strangely, least frequently used lenses. Maybe it's the slower max aperture (which is not an excuse since I hang out at f/5.6 usually). I'm just not sure. It's so compact that it should always be on my camera. Maybe this coming week...

Phil Forrest

I agree, this is a great little lens. I plan on using my Summaron more in the near future.

 

[menos]

Very nice shots menos -- shows the utility of this lens in confined spaces.

Thanks David ;-)

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

I have posted this above (scanned with a canoscan 8800f):

a friend was kind enough to scan the negative on a hasselblad imacon at his school. this is shot while walking, so there probably is some motion blur in there.


click the picture for full size.
the original file is 8869x6026px, huuuuuge .tif and a 30mb jpg.

 

[helen.HH]

GREAT Simon.... Tres Atmospheric & SHARP !

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

GREAT Simon.... Tres Atmospheric & SHARP !

thanks helen. this tiny lens is astonishingly sharp, especially for its age. mine is from 1954!

 

[maddoc]

I like this one a lot, very nice !

I have posted this above:

a friend was kind enough to scan the negative on a hasselblad imacon at his school. this is shot while walking, so there probably is some motion blur in there.