Summicron Lens versions

[jim_lennon1]

How con you tell if a 35mm or 50mm summicron lens is a particular version? I am interested in identifying the version of the 35mm summicron immediately before the asph version and the 50mm summicron immediately before the built-in hood version. Are these versions pictured anywhere?

[andrew10]

Identifying Leica Lenses by Sartorius. (sp?) Relatively inexpensive

book available from Amazon. Great reference source.

[michael_darnton1]

Maybe someone will contradict me--I believe the 50 version previous

to the current one had no knurled focusing ring, only a tab, and was

the only 50 version to have this particular combination. Just a

guess, but I bet it also had the square-form letters and numbers.

 

<p>

 

Here's a nice link for you, too: http://cameraquest.com/mlenses.htm

[jay_.]

Michael is correct about the 50...but there were 2 versions of it.

The earliest had a smaller tab which was convex rather than concave,

and did not have the latest font style. It was also made in Canada

vs the 2nd style which was made in Germany. The same Canada/Germany

switchover was made on the v.4 pre-ASPH 35/2. Thanks to collectors

and much mythological misinformation the Canada ones are priced

less...so much the better for the informed user.

[albert_smith]

If you go to the link below and scroll down, there are a couple of

views of the pre-aspheric 35mm Summicron. This is displayed as a

benchmark of a compact lens and is used to show how small Voigtlander

lenses are. The photos of the Leica lenses are in the middle of the

link sitting next to the 25mm and 15mm V'lander lenses.

 

<p>

 

The link is a bit slow to load due to the clarity of the photos, but

it is pretty much worth it.

 

<a href="http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtlen.htm">click </a>

[albert_smith]

Here is a link with a good photo of the last tabbed and external

hooded 50mm Summicron. Go all the way to the bottom and see the

black M2. Note: he has the older metal hood rather than the

contemporary plastic one, but they look the same. I use the metal

hood also on my late Summicron.

 

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<a href="http://w1.320.telia.com/~u32008343/leica.htm">click </a>

[andy_piper2]

Also try <a href="http://kscamera.co.kr/leica/m/m50.htm">here</a>. The

pictures aren't 3D, but contain more variations.

 

<p>

 

To see the 35s, scroll to the bottom and click the link tagged "M35,40"

 

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RE the 35 v.4 (immediate preASPH)

 

<p>

 

1) it has a fairly large-diameter aperture ring, the better to be

usuable with the lens hood mounted. This is visible in the diagrams

linked to above. The ring sticks out away from the lens barrel by close

to 1/8 inch.

 

<p>

 

2) The aperture index mark is in a trapezoidal depression or notch,

(which gets "filled" by a tab on the lens hood when it's attached - the

hood has a replacement index mark since it hides the one on the lens

itself).

 

<p>

 

3) The serial number - in some cases - is on the rear surface of the

aperture ring under the lens. It's possible some later German versions

moved the SN back to the front of the lens once they no longer needed

that space for "Leitz lens made in Canada". But if the number IS hidden

on the aperture ring it's almost certainly the last preASPH optical

design.

[bert_keuken]

This is a 4th version Summicron 35mm

<img src="http://home.wanadoo.nl/bkkn/summicron35.gif">

[bert_keuken]

For the pre-built-in-hood Summicron 50mm go here: http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtBR2.htm