Who uses a collapsible Summicron?

Does anyone use a 5cm collapsible Summicron? Reason is, I saw one going for a good price. I know Erwin Putts rates it behind fixed Summicrons old and new, but it is a handy size with one useful extra stop compared with a 2.8 Elmar. Fogging, low contrast a problem?

Yes, they are lower contrast (and less color saturation)than the

current lenses, and most are fogged and have a lot of cleaning

marks. They are nicely made and have a nice feel to them, but it is

hard to find a really clean one.

I've had one since the late 60's, used it first on screwmounts and

then on M2's with an adaptor. M2's are long gone but I kept the

collapsible Cron for my LTM's. I've had a Leitz UV filter on it for

thirty years, there are a few coating marks nonetheless. Not from

wiping, from the coating just breaking down. I haven't shot with it

more than a couple times since the mid-70's. I have 2 newer Crons

and they're sharper and more contrasty. Frankly the collapsible Cron

isn't all that much shorter than a current Cron...nothing like the

LTM 5cm Elmar which lies almost flat to the body when collapsed.

With the Elmar on an M6 you can slip it into an inside suitcoat

pocket without much of a bulge.

Perfectly good practical lens, front element & coating very soft,

think that is where the problem comes from, so check it out. I have

used one on and off for years alternating with new '80's summicron,

because it (& 50 Elmar) fits Sooky M (=Somky?) close focus fitting

with specs, which often turns up cheap as chips because nobody knows

what it is (alternative to close focusing

Summicron, does same job)

 

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Never had a problem, full aperture and all. I accept optics are

probably inferior

 

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James Elwing

I have one that was recoated and cla'd two years ago by John Van

Stelten, aka The Focal Point -the tabI think was then $175. It looks

brand new. Shooting it alternately with a 1970s third version, the

differences are really quite subtle, though possibly the modern

coating has increased the older lens' contrast. Ernst Hasz has stated

that his friend Henri Cartier-Bresson has used this lens from 1954

onwards, upgrading bodies up to and including the M6 but always with

his old 7 element collapsible Summicron . Presumably he likes the

"signature." So do I! And on Pacific Northwest volcanos I like

being able to easily slip my M3 into a parka pocket out of the way of

wind-driven grit....

David:

I have a collapsible 50 Summicron that sits on the shelf 99.9% of

the time. Mine is the early screwmount version made in '52. When

used with chrome film, the pictures have a very warm tone from the

glass. Mine has cleaning marks and scratches from it's prior owner.

The lens is lower in contrast, and a good cleaning would probably

improve that. I don't like the locking focus lever, it is difficult

to focus with gloves on.

The contrast is subtly lower than with a recent Cron. This is only

visible in some photos. The difference will be noticed only in the

shadow areas, where the collapsible will give more shadow fill so

that you can see into the shadows a bit. Shadows on chrome film with

a Summicron-M are more apt to be pure black. Improvements in

perceived sharpness with the newer "crons are mostly due to the

improved contrast. The collapsible is already quite sharp.

FWIW i have one in constant use daily!Since 1967.Its really sharp

and has wonderful colors but beware against the light,can flare!

Like big time.The front and esp the back elements very soft.

i have uv filter always on and only blow dust off.WAY sharper than

the Elmar,old version,no idea about the newer one.I luv the fact

fits camera easily under a jacket or shirt.Makes an M3 and i guess a

M6 kinda smaller.More like Leicas were!I do not need more sharpness

and the wonderful "dimensionability"is wonderful.People i.e clients

have purchased more repeats from this lens than any other!Used at

Portraits,weddings etc.

I agree with Jason that for people shots, this lens does a very nice

job without the extra "bite" that the newer lenses can have. I have

an old Zeiss 1.5 Sonnar now that has a similar look to the images of

the Collapsing Summicron.

I have a collapsible Summicron on my IIf. I find the contrast is

fine. It does have cleaning marks on the front element but they don't

seem to affect picture quality. I also like how I can collapse the

lens and stick the camera in a coat pocket. I would like to get an

adapter for it so I could use it on my M.

I have and use it on my M6. I use it indoor, frequently using f2

aperture, without flash and on color negative (normally AGFA, 100

ASA). This lens does a very nice job WITH old-fashion results that

the newer lenses DOESN'T have. If your's is beautiful and the price

is good, i suggest you to take and use it.

 

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Ciao. Domenico

Thanks guys for such a fast reply. My feeling is that 50s, even older

softer ones make good portrait lenses and are also good for moody

scenics (the Summar on my IIIa is good for this too). For

architecture, perhaps a 35 asph would be better. I do like the size of

the collapsibles - why don't they still do a 90? - but concede the LTM

Elmar is way smallest.

If anyone else is browsing thorugh this, can you recommend anywhere

else to clean old lenses?

I use one on my M3. The glass is clear, no fogging, however, the front

element has cleaning marks and is scratched up. The results I get with

it are supprisingly good. The lens is very well made and is compact

with the M3.

 

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Regards,

Ive been using one for the past year with wonderful results. Not as

contrasty as other more recent lenses but with beautiful bokeh. I

highly recommend it as its my favorite 50mm lens.

I use one I bought used, 40 years ago, on my IIIf. Somehow, my

Summicron has managed to avoid cleaning marks and is a

VERY sharp lens. I traded a 50/3.5 Elmar and a 50/1.8 Canon

for the lens and was dissapointed because it didn't seem to

couple properly with the rangefinder on the Canon VI T I used at

the time. The lens sat in a drawer until I bought a IIIf body in

1999. I was blown away by its sharpness on that camera--I use

it frequently now and can't imagine ever needing a better 50.

Don Goldberg did a great job on my 50mm collapsible Summitar. He's

at www.dagcamera.com

 

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608-835-3342

 

2128 Vintage Drive

Oregon WI 53575

 

Tony Oresteen