Just acquired a mint 3.5cm Summaron

[bill]

I have just acquired a rather splendid 3.5cm Summaron, serial nr. 16395xx. It seems to be in exceptional condition, and mounts beautifully on my IIIc. I intend it to replace my 3.5cm Elmar.

What do we know about this lens? What should I expect in terms of performance? Remember that I only feed my IIIc on Kodak 400CN, so I am not too bothered by colour fidelity, but any other information will be gratefully received.

Regards,

Bill

[luigi bertolotti]

It's a lens much better than one can argue seeing its present market evaluation... a bargain to buy, for if one doesn't fell the need of a more luminous one, is a pleasure to use: I used one for years on my IIIf (and me too have an Elmar 35, that is significantly lower in contrast and sharpness) and at normal stops like 5,6 or 8 I never found the Summicron so superior to it. You made a good buy, indeed.

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by bill

I have just acquired a rather splendid 3.5cm Summaron, serial nr. 16395xx. It seems to be in exceptional condition, and mounts beautifully on my IIIc. I intend it to replace my 3.5cm Elmar.

What do we know about this lens? What should I expect in terms of performance? Remember that I only feed my IIIc on Kodak 400CN, so I am not too bothered by colour fidelity, but any other information will be gratefully received.

Regards,

Bill

Bill

I have the M mount version of that lens (is yours the f3.5 version?), made in the mid fifties. It doesn't have the M3 goggles.

In my experience, it tends to be a bit soft, esp in the corners, but has benefited from a CLA at MK (a hundred quid). It's not as good as the f2.8 mid sixties version, that was one of the lenses that I shouldn't have sold...

Here are some examples:-

Winning

races

lifebelt

Racing2

Pippa

Potatoes

Single seaters

Blimey. I've used it quite a lot

[bill]

Thank you gentlemen, for your useful posts. It is indeed an f3.5 and apart from a small speck of dust inside, appears to be nigh on perfect, optically. Very interested to see your examples, Andy - shows me what is possible in a very graphic way - I hope that I can do so well!

It's ensconced on my IIIc as I type, for the purposes of the Barnack Challenge; now all I need to do is find that random act of kindness!

Regards,

Bill