Collapsible Summicron-M service potential.

[wayne_crider4]

Can anyone tell me the word on getting a 50mm F2 collapsible cleaned up as far

as scratches and is it possible to address haze or is that beyond help. Is it

worth it to address or is money better spent on a Voigtlander or another brand

in either a 35mm or 50mm focal length. I'd prefer a 35mm; My pocketbook would

prefer a 50mm. Thanks

[ronald_moravec1]

FocalPointlens.com does this work. The scratches have to be very light to polish out otherwise too much material has to be removed. The glass is then recoated. Haze can usually be cleaned at the same time. This a lot of skilled optical work

 

A 50 Heliar will cost about the same money in my opinion. In perfect condition, the coll sumi is not that great a lens. I would consider something else.

[DB_Gallery]

I bought a hazy one with almost no scratches on ebay for $200. Don Goldberg ( DAG camera

) made it as good as new for just $90!! The lens draws *gorgeous* and is sharper than people

give it credit for. Even wide open I love the look. It has a very old world look to it. The photo

is of my girlfriend's cat "Bea" while she is in the shower. 1/25th at F/2 with Ilford XP2. I own

a sharp as nails 50mm 1.4 aspheric and I still will never-ever sell the collapsable. It is very

sharp and yet, has a unique old world look.<div></div>

[DB_Gallery]

100% crop of a scan...<div></div>

[adrian bastin]

It was HCB's favourite lens and he stuck with it in preference to the rigid Summicron which seems more favoured by photographers now.

 

Unless the scratches are v bad the haze upsets the performance more, on these, and is easier to remove. This is, or should be, done chemically, to leave coatings intact.

[paul_neuthaler]

Here's an example from my 50 Collapsible Summicron M -- with some scratches & some haze -- I'm happy with it as is!<div></div>

[john_shriver]

Common enough lens that scratch removal does not make economic sense, compared to finding another one without scratches. Cleaning out haze does make economic sense.

[wayne_crider4]

John here's the deal on another clean lens. I checked E-auction last night looking to see what was around in anything and up came a mint example of the Collapsible and it went for $455 with no last bids. Knowing my luck I could have bid 500 and not won. I also saw some examples with scratches and haze at prices I thought were somewhat high, and you know that you take your chances at auction. So, looking at 455 gets me into a 40mm Nokton, a 35mm Skopar, a 35mm Ultron etc with room to spare; Maybe a Canon or Nikon? Now I would prefer a Leitz but I'm not addicted to getting one although Paul's example looks very nice and I do like that collapsible retro feature. I've got a loaner right now that I have yet to process film on, (should be today), and I'm just putting it out there to see if I'm better off buying something else such as a new Voigt or get this scratched one cleaned up and know what I have being a Leitz lens. I'll be out today finishing the roll and will see the negs tonight. I may be a little early on this, but the lens coating is scratched and I don't consider it light per se' or I'd not ask. I hope the lens proves me wrong.

[john_gleason1]

Wayne ---

 

In that price range, you can easily pick up a nice 40mm Summicron-C or its Rokkor equivalent. Great performers, not much bigger than a collapsible 50mm, and a nice compromise between the 35mm and 5omm you're considering.

[francois_gaboury]

Here's two pictures that I took with the Coll summi. A summicron-C is good alternative in the

250-400 range. You can also get the lens cleaned and if you still doesn't like the results, sell

it back. A Leica lens that was cleaned shouldn't be very hard to sell.

[francois_gaboury]

Here's the second one.

[Rob F.]

I picked up a very nice collapsible Cron in LTM mount, from one of those eBay sellers in Sweden, for $220. The deals are out there, you just have to be patient until one has your name on it.

[paul t]

These are great lenses if you get them cheap. Mine was $270 from a regula at rff; I can't see

that's it's worth spending money on an indifferent one, but in any case you should avoid one

that has any scratches at all. Although you can get the front element recoated by arax in the

FSU, it's easier just to look for a perfect one.

<p>

This was from a roll where I was testing an M3. Go together like a horse'n'carriage, altho

personally I plan to switch to a Nikkor 50/1.4 in search of that extra stop... <p>

 

<img>http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e295/greenwichpaul/getahead-1.gif</img>

[exabetal]

I got a related question. I gather the collapsible Summicron is somewhat lower optical quality than the rigid and the DR. Would that make the old Summar 2.8 50 (v1) preferable over the collapsible Summicron? I see the summar has a higher value on Colluci's "Leica M Lens Price List".

[wayne_crider4]

Huub look over in http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm under Leica. You might find a reference.

[vics]

I have a not mint Collapsible and a not mint Dual Range. I love them both, each for their individual qualities (like my kids!) Here's the Collapsible with Tri-x in full strength D-76.<div></div>

[wayne_crider4]

Such a sweet Rose and yes they do seem to have a certain quality about them.

 

I developed my partial roll and unfortunately the film was just too old. But I did see potential. Maybe another cleaner one unless the re-coat price is decent. I'm still thinking that a more contrast-y lens would suit me better but I do appreciate the bokeh.

[vics]

Maybe try a Rigid? My DR is much contrastier (at least wide open) than the collapsible, and it's the same optical cell as the Rigid. I suppose the rigid is lighter than the DR.

[paul_neuthaler]

Scratched a little, hazy a little, the collapsible 50 'cron is a wonderful Leica lens IMHO. Here's a shot I took of my grand neice on Sunday:<div></div>

[paul_neuthaler]

here's another of her older sister<div></div>

[paul_neuthaler]

last one: sister & wife<div></div>

[laurentvuillard]

I used the collapsible before selling it to buy V4, at 5.6 hard to tell the difference with the latest version, at f2 the new one is far more contrasty abd sharper in the edges! THe collapisble is however such a nic epiece of engineering, gives a special look to cameras!