Unlocking the "post" Summaron 28/5.6?

[echorec]

Good evening Gentlemen,

Do you think it is possible to unlock the fixed-focus Summaron and use it as a normal lens?

It looks like I could just loosen the little screw where the focusing lever usually is but I thought I would ask here first before damaging anything.

I used to have a regular 28/5.6 which I sold and I regret that sale everytime I see pictures I took with that lens...

[luigi bertolotti]

Gunnar, I think you could do it without problems... but this isn't based on any direct experience on the Post Summaron... I'd suggest to loosen the screw... verify if the helicoid moves clean (suppose, say, Leitz wouldn't have lubricate the items delivered with Postkameras...)... assure you can reverse well the process... would be a pity to "cannibalize" a lens that is a valuable collector's item.

... wouldn't you exchange your Post Summaron for a fine prewar Hektor 2,8 ? ... just an idea...I have one....

[jc_braconi]

Yes you can, just find the right screwdriver for the slot and may be let a drop of penetrating oil for 24 hours on the head screw

[echorec]

Thanks Luigi & JC,

I will give it a try.

Thanks for your offer Luigi but I think I will hang on to this one. I like the way it draws and this one has clean glass. The one I sold was slightly hazy but produced nice results anyway.

[giordano]

It looks as if the focusing helical is locked in the infinity position - but as I understand it the lenses were used for photographing metering equipment at fairly close range. So presumably there's some sort of shim in the mount to provide the necessary extension, and you'll need to remove that to get infinity focus.

Does the lens have a rangefinder cam?

[luigi bertolotti]

Gunnar... can you post a pic of the back ? Lokking well your 1st pic, seems to be something strange in the Screw to Bayonet adapter... maybe simply a photo effect... but I am curious to see... (and so better if also the s/n is visible...)

My offer for the Hektor was a semijoke... anyway I don't want to separate it from me... was my 2nd Leitz lens after the Elmar 5....

[echorec]

John, there is a shim indeed, thanks for pointing that out.

Luigi, the shim is what you see in the first picture. It was tightly screwed in between the lens and the LTM to bayonet adapter but I managed to remove it.

I also removed the small locking screw and the focusing is very smooth so no need for oil.

Finally, I mounted the lens without the shim on a normal M camera and the rangefinder coupling seems spot-on.

All I need now is a little knob (preferably Leitz original) for the focusing that fits where the locking screw was. Any ideas? I can focus it now with my fingernail but a knob would be more convenient and look better too.

Luigi, I can take a picture of the back tomorrow (and sorry for not getting the semi-joke ),

Thanks for all your help,

[luigi bertolotti]

Gunnar, for the knob... I think the best way to have an original is chasing for a very bad Elmar or Summar... they can be very cheap and have a knob... have no idea if the transplant is easy to do; to continue with my offerings (but this is serious... ), I have a very bad and hazed/scratched Elmar Red Scale: no problem to give it away for almost nothing, if you don't find anything next to home: tell me, via PM in case, if can be a solution.

[echorec]

Hello Luigi,

Thanks for your offer, I will send you a PM.

Best,

[echorec]

Here is the back. I could not find the serial number.

[echorec]

Ok, time to go out and take some pictures...

I found an old 9cm LTM adapter that (naturally) brings up the 28mm framelines on the M6.

[luigi bertolotti]

Sure that the s/n isn't there ? Isn't easy to find... should be finely engraved in the inmost black part of the mount..."conic-shaped".. visible with a strong lght well positioned...


... in the meantime your splendid pic of the M6 + Summaron has arrived ....WOW !!!

[leitz_not_leica]

Sweet old school lens. Are you sure close focus is OK? These lenses, which are not meant to be focused MAY have not had their cams ground to match the focal length. A 28 should not be much of a problem, though.

[echorec]

We´ll see. I have a roll off Tri-X in the camera and I´ll report back when it´s developed.

[echorec]

Here is a simple test shot with focus at 1 meter and aperture 5.6

[cbretteville]

Looks functional to me.
- Carl