Summar Lens Parts?

[bcentsale]

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Bought a III off e-bay several years ago and it came with a 5cm summar collapsible. The camera arrived and it was several months before I had a chance to play with it, past the buyer protection period unfortunately. Turns out lens was missing the aperture blades. I bought a Jupiter 8 in the interim, but would really like to be able to use the original collapsible lens without having to buy a new one. Can anyone recommend a place to get parts, or should I just try to find another lens?

[earleygallery]

The Summar is very prone to scratching so first off I would check the condition of the optics carefully - shine a torch from one side and look through the other.

 

A nice clean Summar can be bought for about £100-150 average ones sell for about £70.

 

I suspect that unless you have an exceptionally clean one it will be best to seek another example.

[earleygallery]

Oh and easier to find and a better overall lens would be a 3.5 Elmar although the Summar has a lovely fingerprint IMHO

[bcentsale]

Thanks for the pointer. What are the differences between the Summar, Elmar, and Summmitar, as far as quality and design?

[koray]

Search ebay for 380248351100 - a completed listing for parts/repair condition Summar (or Summitar), includes aperture blades and many other parts. There were no bids with an opening price at $25. The seller may relist it for you if you request.

 

Cheers,

 

K.

 

Following photo was provided in the listing, click on it to arrive listing:

 

[bcentsale]

I've put the parts Summitar on my watch list. The glass on my Summar appears good on both the front and rear elements. No scratches, fungus, or haze. I've also put a bid in on an Elmar from the mid 1950's that I'm pretty hopeful on. Thanks again, guys!

[elgenper]

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Following photo was provided in the listing, click on it to arrive listing:

 

 

These are Summitar parts, of course, not Summar. The aperture blades in a Summar have a very peculiar shape, completely different from the ones in the photo. The reason is probably that Leica managed to design an f/2 lens that used the same filters and lens shade as the standard f/3.5 Elmar, so there was very little room for the diaphragm mechanism inside the barrel.

 

Anyhow: while the Summar gives images with a soft, "misty" character wide open, it becomes just a so-so lens when stopped down. I doubt that anyone would want to use it as a standard lens today. So, use it as a lens for special effects, and use it wide open. Ergo, it´s not worth the trouble and money to restore the aperture. In any case, this lens is neither very rare nor very expensive in working condition, so it would be easier to just buy another one.

[chris_livsey]

Anyhow: while the Summar gives images with a soft, "misty" character wide open, it becomes just a so-so lens when stopped down.

 

This is "misty" on an M8 (no filter, yet to find a SOOGZ adapter for less than I paid for the lens) this lens is uncoated No 217254 and I suspect, with no personal proof, this is preferable for that Summar look.

[bcentsale]

That's definitely got an ethereal quality that I like! Parts for the Summar are back on!(but back-burnered) I'll try an Elmar as suggested by the gent earlier, provided I can obtain one in good order for a good price.