Leica User Forum - View Single Post - Summaron-M 35mm f/3.5 for M2

Erik van Straten · 04/28/08, 01:51 AM

Since 2002 I own a screw-mount version of the Summaron 35mm f3.5. I was truly impressed by the quality of the pictures it rendered. I used this lens, fitted with a the screw/bayonet adapter, also on my 2003 MP. I loved it's compactness and it's optical qualities. Eventually, I picked up a 4th generation Summicron-M 35mm and started to use it instead of the Summaron, mainly because it was faster.
As I am a two lens shooter, 50mm and 35mm, it's very convenient to use the same model shade on both lenses, because they do accept the same lenscap wich, on my cameras, is connected to de camera with a cord. My favorite 50's are both the collapsible and first model rigid Summicrons. On these lenses the tiny shade of the Elmar-M 50mm f2.8 fits perfectly. On the 4th generation Summicron this shade also fits, but it cuts off the corners of the picture. Just because I was curious, I tried this shade on the Summaron 35mm f2.8. To my suprise it gave no vignetting at all! The viewing angle of the 4th generation Summicron must be larger than the viewing angle of the earlier 35mm lenses. In fact it's great to use this shade on the 1st generation (8element) 35mm f2 Summicron, the 35mm f 2.8 Summaron and the 35mm f 3.5 Summaron with 39mm filter thread.
Recently, I bought a 35mm f3.5 Summaron no 1179135 (1954) in an absolutelely mint condition. It was made for the M3, wich must be equipped with a 35mm viewfinder in its accessory-shoe to use it. Mounted on my MP it caused the 50mm frames to appear in the viewfinder. A little filing on it's bayonet mount brought it into the condition that it gave the 35mm frames into the viewfinder. The optical qualities of this lens are fantastic, as good as the Summaron 35mm f2.8 (wich I have with the eyes for the M3) or even better. I can use it with the shade of the Elmar-M 50mm f 2.8 (of wich I have 2) so I can easely change lenses while using the same lenscap.
By the way, since I have the 35mm f1.7 Ultron made by Voigtländer, I don't use the 4th generation Summicron anymore.
This version of the Summaron 35mm f3.5 must also work great on the M2 and it is, I think, more commonly available than the "real" M2 version of this lens.

04/28/08, 01:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
Erik van Straten Benutzer Join Date: 04/28/08 Posts: 49	Re: Summaron-M 35mm f/3.5 for M2 Since 2002 I own a screw-mount version of the Summaron 35mm f3.5. I was truly impressed by the quality of the pictures it rendered. I used this lens, fitted with a the screw/bayonet adapter, also on my 2003 MP. I loved it's compactness and it's optical qualities. Eventually, I picked up a 4th generation Summicron-M 35mm and started to use it instead of the Summaron, mainly because it was faster. As I am a two lens shooter, 50mm and 35mm, it's very convenient to use the same model shade on both lenses, because they do accept the same lenscap wich, on my cameras, is connected to de camera with a cord. My favorite 50's are both the collapsible and first model rigid Summicrons. On these lenses the tiny shade of the Elmar-M 50mm f2.8 fits perfectly. On the 4th generation Summicron this shade also fits, but it cuts off the corners of the picture. Just because I was curious, I tried this shade on the Summaron 35mm f2.8. To my suprise it gave no vignetting at all! The viewing angle of the 4th generation Summicron must be larger than the viewing angle of the earlier 35mm lenses. In fact it's great to use this shade on the 1st generation (8element) 35mm f2 Summicron, the 35mm f 2.8 Summaron and the 35mm f 3.5 Summaron with 39mm filter thread. Recently, I bought a 35mm f3.5 Summaron no 1179135 (1954) in an absolutelely mint condition. It was made for the M3, wich must be equipped with a 35mm viewfinder in its accessory-shoe to use it. Mounted on my MP it caused the 50mm frames to appear in the viewfinder. A little filing on it's bayonet mount brought it into the condition that it gave the 35mm frames into the viewfinder. The optical qualities of this lens are fantastic, as good as the Summaron 35mm f2.8 (wich I have with the eyes for the M3) or even better. I can use it with the shade of the Elmar-M 50mm f 2.8 (of wich I have 2) so I can easely change lenses while using the same lenscap. By the way, since I have the 35mm f1.7 Ultron made by Voigtländer, I don't use the 4th generation Summicron anymore. This version of the Summaron 35mm f3.5 must also work great on the M2 and it is, I think, more commonly available than the "real" M2 version of this lens.