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 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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

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]

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/foru...1&d=1188792114

[Todd.Hanz]

classic lens with a classic look.

[ozarque]

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.

[helenhill]

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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/[email protected]/

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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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.

[Steve M.]

The Summar has a bad reputation because so many of them have been destroyed due to careless cleaning of their soft front element, along w/ the effects of haze over many decades. If you get a good one they are surprisingly easy to open and clean. I really wish I hadn't sold the one that made those photos. It was also the first lens I'd ever opened and cleaned. These were shot w/ a Bessa R3A.

[photo4ls]

Rick, (Mr.Flibble) really like your images from the Summar. You seem to
have one that was taken good care of. Post some more.
Nelson

[Mr_Flibble]

Thanks, mine does have some cleaning marks on the front though. And I've had to re-lube the aperture ring. I bought one just because of its characteristics to get close to the feel of the 1940s images.
It doesn't get enough use though

[greyelm]

1935 Summar on a Lumix G1

[helenhill]

GREAT shot Erik....Love the Reflections in the Car windows
and them Spotting YOU

Beautiful Lush Greens w/ the Summar Greyelm

as usual tres Retro Cool Mr Fibble

Cheers- H

[kevin m]

This is my all time favorite photo with my Summar...

I can see why. It has a lovely softness to its signature that seems to work with the image you captured.

[Nando]

My aunt and uncle with their new granddaughter.


Tio António and Mel, Vila Boa by ~ Nando ~, on Flickr


Tia Zulmira and Mel, Vila Boa by ~ Nando ~, on Flickr

[NickTrop]

Wow - lots of great shots. Sold mine a bit back to fund some other purchases (plus I don't want to go down that slippery "Leica slope"...) Plus I didn't get on with the FSU camera it was bolted to... Whoever on this thread said that the Summar "looks like memories" was spot on. Also, it proves that sharpness isn't everything... overrated even. This lens would fail any lens test of test patterns miserably - yet it renders beautiful "memories". Anyone looking for a lens with "signature" - this is it. No mistaking a shot taken with a Summar.

[nordleadx]

mine was fogged and had it clean , with lots of marks on glass and still finding a better copy.

[alexnotalex]

Love the Summar with my Bessa R2, collapses completely, and the TTL meter and proper finder help my composition. The Summar makes highlights brighter and shadows darker, and is capable of incredible sharpness. A lens with a real signature.

[snausages]

Just shot my first roll with a RFF purchased Summar. Slightly hazed, but I'm digging the results.

Portra 160 + Summar:

[charjohncarter]

I scanned one of mine from '64, wish I hadn't sold that lens:

[LeicaFoReVer]

is there any particular summar type that gives those nice signatured photos? I think there are various types of summars. Are they all giving nice results?

[snausages]

I wasn't aware there were different versions (in terms of optical design) for the Summar? I believe mine is from 1937.

[LeicaFoReVer]

there is like a type with a black rim for example. I was just wondering if they have different optical designs and signatures.

[John Shriver]

There is one extraordinarily rare tropical version that has a different optical formula, with one extra element. Otherwise, I'd say they're optically all the same.

The key is getting one that is clean and unscratched.

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by John Shriver

The key is getting one that is clean and unscratched.

and one that is coated. They are out there.

Erik.

[helenhill]

M2 & Summar

[tbarker13]

Helen, those are beautiful images.
Going to make a great pairing with the planar.

[dogberryjr]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

and one that is coated. They are out there.

Erik.

I got one from Igor for a nice price. Now to find time to use it.