Leica LTM Summar of Love (Leitz Summar Sample Pics)

[NickTrop]

Foolin' around with my one and only Leica lens, a 30's Summar screwed on to a Zorki 4K. This sample is above average but has its share of scratches, a bubble, and some light haze... goes of to DAG a little later this year. By most criteria, this lens sucks - it's not sharp, certainly not high contrast, hates "into the light" shots, not the lens to use in overcast (the more light the better), forget wide apertures, shadow detail? What's that?... But man, nothing takes a more interesting pic than this thing when it wants to, especially people shots - seems to have a mind of its own. I also excels 3-D "pop" strangely at small apertures - 5.6, and smaller even. I really like this lens but it's not an everyday lens. Results are unpredictable, but that's what makes it fun.

 

[NickTrop]

Some Black and Whites

Some Black and Whites

Some black and whites with the Summar

 

[payasam]

The lens does seem to have its share of problems, though the first picture is charming. I had one for a few months and called it my Indian Summar.

 

[NickTrop]

The lens does seem to have its share of problems, though the first picture is charming. I had one for a few months and called it my Indian Summar.

While not gallery pieces, these were scanned from prints on an inexpensive flatbed scanner. The prints look a good deal better - a little more contrast and sharper so the lens itself isn't as bad as these scans would indicate in these areas. Maybe this isn't as good a gauge of this lens as I intended for others who might be interested in it, but I like it enough to send it out for a CLA and intend on using it again... often.

 

[payasam]

If you work with it after it's had a good cleaning, perhaps it will not remain unpredictable and you'll be able to use it when you want the effects it gives.

 

[david werbeloff]

To Summarize

To Summarize

Hi NickTrop:

I particulary like the second color picture, but I see what I have come to know as the Summar thumbprint in all of those you posted: the dreamy quality. But then, as you say, there's a surprise one from time to time.

David

 

[ljsegil]

My favorite Summar pic

My favorite Summar pic

This is my all time favorite photo with my Summar, shot wide open into the light of a sunset (also posted elsewhere in this forum). I think this lens can produce effects unlike any other glass I have ever used.
LJ
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49241&d=1188792114

 

[Todd.Hanz]

classic lens with a classic look.

 

[ozarque]

Summar Shot in the 440000 series serial

Summar Shot in the 440000 series serial

Here is a shot in the hazy sunlight at f4 with the Summar on Neopan 100 developed in Rodinal.
Low res scan of negative. Lens is good after I disassembled and cleaned.
Still some internal specs and very minor haze.
Reassembly of the diaphragm was very difficult and time consuming.
I never got the f-stop marks to line up with the f-stop numbers on the selector dial, so I just scribed a new index mark. The index mark was off when I first received the lens so I think it was actually re-assembled from different front and rear sections of two lenses, but results say it is at least functional.

 

[helen.HH]

ljsegil...that is STUNNING !!

The Summar has such a LOVELY retro classic Signature

 

[John Shriver]

Ozarque -- the slotted actuator ring for the aperture in the Summar may be rotated "not quite exactly" 180 degrees.

To everyone, it's a surprisingly good lens if you get a good specimen, at least stopped down. It's always nuts wide open. But you need to find one with unscratched front element, and clean out all internal haze.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

One of the last pictures I took with my Summar last month,

Leica IIIc + Summar + expired "LUCKY" 100 ISO B/W film
War Photographer at the Siegfried line near Vaals (NL)

 

[charjohncarter]

The lens does seem to have its share of problems, though the first picture is charming. I had one for a few months and called it my Indian Summar.

That's pretty good, I like that.

 

[alexnotalex]

I love my Summar. The pictures it takes look like memories.

My daughter, overcast day at school

love the tones

more here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48737663@N02/

best light,
Alex

 

[mgilbuena]

Hey Mabelsound:

Did you 6-bit code your Summar to work on the M8? If so, what did you code your lens as?

If it's uncoded, have you noticed any color shifts?

 

[greyelm]

I have a Summar too and agree with all the comments about its qualities. I have found it works well on my Lumix G1 and with a bit of Lightroom adjusting produces some unique pictures.

Although not to ozarque's standard I did do a minimum lens clean using a Carl Ziess cleaning kit, it is quite easy to unscrew the front element group. I didn't touch the diaphragm but carefully cleaned through it when wide open. The haze was suddenly gone! I did this on my Summitar too and this showed a marked improvement

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Some Summar Images with Ilford XP2, taken at Fort Veldhuis Heemskerk (The Netherlands)

I really need to fix the light seals under the slow speed dial of my IIIc

 

[alexnotalex]

Summar Lovin, had me a blast!

best,
Alex

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Hey Mabelsound:

Did you 6-bit code your Summar to work on the M8? If so, what did you code your lens as?

If it's uncoded, have you noticed any color shifts?

I have a uv/ir filter on it, but don't have it coded...I don't notice any shifts, but I tend not to notice that kind of thing.

 

[mgilbuena]

Leica Summar 50 f/2 1938, FIKUS hood on M8 body.

I love the warm tones and light contrast on this lens. It's been my regular go-to lens for close-up shots. It certainly delivers a film-like quality to this digital camera.