Incidentally I repaired this exact type of lens this weekend. It was hazy, needed a good cleaning and also got fresh lubricant on the helicoid. The first negatives from this lens on my Leica IIIf look promising and I'm curious to see how I will like it in the long run. With respect to the pictures, I like the dark reds of the building and boats as well as the contrasty b&w. I'd print them depending on the environment they are supposed to hang in, if this is the intended result. 😊
I love this lens. I've had it since I was 15yo. It needed a good cleaning as it was hazy as well and when it came back from being cleaned and CLA'd it was like a piece of jewelry. Love it.
Kirk, i like the relaxed way you present this lens. Think about buying one, although it is mostly to satisfy my GAS ( Gear Acquisition Syndrome) 😊 Thanks for posting!
I picked-up a later 1960 mount LTM version of this lens - same glass - because I wanted a vintage chrome lens for my Barnack, M4 and monochrom, also adapted to my SL for a more compact package. It’s ‘basically’ as good at given apertures as the Summicron 8-element or Summaron f2.8, beautiful little lens with all the built quality, but a fraction of the price. What’s not to like?
Thank you for your Video, Kirk. Well done - a pleasure to watch! Hope to hear more about your experiences with this lense. I just acquired it and will now experiment with it on the SL2-S, M 10 and M9. Which lense hood would be the right one?
Ralf - Great that you purchased this lens. The lens hood I have on it is silver and says Summaron - Elmar 3,5 cm engraved on the barrel of it. It looks like it is made of aluminum and has a thumb screw to tighten it onto the lens. Sorry I can't be more help there.
This is one of my favorite Leica lenses. It feels like a tiny brass cannonball. I think few people realize that it has a symmetrical optical design (similar to the 8-element), which if you drink the Kool-Aid, is a good thing. With the adapter I'm using the 35mm frame lines pop-up automatically on both the M9 and M7. It just happen to be 6-bit coded so I unwittingly lucked out when I bought it. It's a Kipon 35/135 with product code 005041. Very enjoyable video!
Thanks TheBink77. I’ll have to look into it. Another viewer mentioned the adapter issue so I investigated it and found that mine is for the 28/90 frame lines. I’ll have to look into the one you have. Many thanks.
Hi Kirk, if you get the correct adapter it will automatically bring up the 35mm frame lines in your viewfinder. The best ones are unsurprisingly made be Leica and Voigtlander but there are others which work well.
Hi Matthew - I was unaware of that. The adapter I have was on the lens when my dad gave it to me when I was 15. Thanks for the info I’ll have to look into that.
It's unusual that it wouldn't display the correct frame lines then. Does the adapter have the focal length marked on it? I think that the 35mm adapter usually says 21-35 on in it.
Actually it has just occurred to me that your digital Leica doesn't have the traditional frame line illumination window inbetween the viewfinder and rangefinder windows. I'm not sure how these digital Leica bodies work. Do they also take the information from the bayonet of the lens mount or do they need the 6 bit code to tell them which frame lines to project?
Ross - It’s the hood that is made for the lens. It’s says Summaron-Elmer 3.5cm on it. It is attached with a knurled screw on the side. It’s aluminum and the inside is flat black and is slightly ribbed. It doesn’t have any other markings on it. Sorry I could not help more.
My problem is that the screw mount to bayonet mount is the wrong one it is for the 90 mm not the 35 so it does not hit the roller in the camera in the right place.
black and white pictures look better , amazing lens !
The B&W are always my favourite, nice video, thinking about getting that lens
It’s a great little lens. Make sure you get the screw mount to m mount adapter so it will go on the M cameras.
Incidentally I repaired this exact type of lens this weekend. It was hazy, needed a good cleaning and also got fresh lubricant on the helicoid. The first negatives from this lens on my Leica IIIf look promising and I'm curious to see how I will like it in the long run. With respect to the pictures, I like the dark reds of the building and boats as well as the contrasty b&w. I'd print them depending on the environment they are supposed to hang in, if this is the intended result. 😊
I love this lens. I've had it since I was 15yo. It needed a good cleaning as it was hazy as well and when it came back from being cleaned and CLA'd it was like a piece of jewelry. Love it.
Kirk, i like the relaxed way you present this lens. Think about buying one, although it is mostly to satisfy my GAS ( Gear Acquisition Syndrome) 😊 Thanks for posting!
Many thanks! You should be able to find one relatively inexpensive. It’s a great little lens.
I have to say that the colors out of this are sooo nice. I even prefer color over B&W.
I agree the colors are very nice.
Your style and narration are quite calming, not to mention the fantastic images and location. Great work, Sir!
Thanks Abnon. I will be doing more Leica content.
Very nice pictures and review. Thank you and good luck.
Thanks O SUGI!
I picked-up a later 1960 mount LTM version of this lens - same glass - because I wanted a vintage chrome lens for my Barnack, M4 and monochrom, also adapted to my SL for a more compact package. It’s ‘basically’ as good at given apertures as the Summicron 8-element or Summaron f2.8, beautiful little lens with all the built quality, but a fraction of the price. What’s not to like?
Robert I love mine. Plus it has great sentimental value as well.
Thank you for your Video, Kirk. Well done - a pleasure to watch! Hope to hear more about your experiences with this lense. I just acquired it and will now experiment with it on the SL2-S, M 10 and M9. Which lense hood would be the right one?
Ralf - Great that you purchased this lens. The lens hood I have on it is silver and says Summaron - Elmar 3,5 cm engraved on the barrel of it. It looks like it is made of aluminum and has a thumb screw to tighten it onto the lens. Sorry I can't be more help there.
This is one of my favorite Leica lenses. It feels like a tiny brass cannonball. I think few people realize that it has a symmetrical optical design (similar to the 8-element), which if you drink the Kool-Aid, is a good thing. With the adapter I'm using the 35mm frame lines pop-up automatically on both the M9 and M7. It just happen to be 6-bit coded so I unwittingly lucked out when I bought it. It's a Kipon 35/135 with product code 005041. Very enjoyable video!
Thanks TheBink77. I’ll have to look into it. Another viewer mentioned the adapter issue so I investigated it and found that mine is for the 28/90 frame lines. I’ll have to look into the one you have. Many thanks.
Nice video and great picture.
Thanks Henry
Hi Kirk, if you get the correct adapter it will automatically bring up the 35mm frame lines in your viewfinder. The best ones are unsurprisingly made be Leica and Voigtlander but there are others which work well.
Hi Matthew - I was unaware of that. The adapter I have was on the lens when my dad gave it to me when I was 15. Thanks for the info I’ll have to look into that.
I just checked the adapter it’s a Leica adapter
It's unusual that it wouldn't display the correct frame lines then. Does the adapter have the focal length marked on it? I think that the 35mm adapter usually says 21-35 on in it.
Actually it has just occurred to me that your digital Leica doesn't have the traditional frame line illumination window inbetween the viewfinder and rangefinder windows. I'm not sure how these digital Leica bodies work. Do they also take the information from the bayonet of the lens mount or do they need the 6 bit code to tell them which frame lines to project?
It brings up the 28mm frame lines. It maybe that the adapter is old.
That's a lovely combo but above all very nice images! Suscribed already :)
Thanks very much. I love this old lens. Complete overhaul by Sherry Krauter in upstate NY.
Great images
Thanks Craig.
Hi! Nice video and photos. Which hood are you using with the lens?
Ross - It’s the hood that is made for the lens. It’s says Summaron-Elmer 3.5cm on it. It is attached with a knurled screw on the side. It’s aluminum and the inside is flat black and is slightly ribbed. It doesn’t have any other markings on it. Sorry I could not help more.
What if you tell the camera that you use a 35mm lens ? Wouldn’t it show up 35mm frame lines then ?
My problem is that the screw mount to bayonet mount is the wrong one it is for the 90 mm not the 35 so it does not hit the roller in the camera in the right place.
Very nice video.
Thanks Enrique!
Just bought one from eBay for $400 to try out on my M8.2. 😊
Great find! Just remember, well, I'm sure you know, that the 35 will be a 46mm on the M8.2.
Do you need an adapter for the lens?
This particular lens is a thread mount so it needs a bayonet mount adapter ring which are pretty easy to find.
Kirk Williamson thanks