An underrated lens...

[michali]

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I have every focal length within the M system just about covered; from the C/V 12mm, to the WATE, MATE, 24mm Elmarit, 28mm, 35mm, 75mm & 90 Summicrons, 35mm & 50mm Summiluxes & 135mm Apo-Telyt, not to mention several other M lenses in the arsenal.

 

In the endless quest for the holy grail of focal lengths for everyday walk-around use, the 40mm focal length has always appealed to me, primarily due to its perfect positioning between the 35mm & 50mm focal lengths.

 

A few weeks ago I set about looking for a good copy and sourced a mint 40mm f2 Summicron on Ebay. Satisfied with the seller’s credentials, I paid for it and eagerly awaited delivery, only to be informed by the courier company about 2 weeks later that the parcel had been lost in their system. A refund claim was filed and so again I went about looking for another 40mm. It didn’t take too long to locate another mint 40mm, also on Ebay, this time from a different seller and this lens arrived about 4 days later, only to be followed the next day by the first 40mm which had been “lost”!

 

The images from this little lens have completely blown me away! I have obviously not conducted critical edge to edge tests in the style of Sean Reid. However in my view and based on what I’ve seen so far it outperforms, on center and overall image quality, the latest version 35mm Summicron Asph, which as a result I’ve just sold as surplus to requirements, (I've kept the Summilux as my only 35mm lens other than the MATE).

 

It's a wonderfully compact package on the M9 with its collapsible rubber lens hood.

Here's a grab shot with the 40mm Summicron of Ronaldo one of our cats, in late afternoon light.

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[k_g_wolf ✝]

Excellent, could hardly be better.

 

 

Best regards

GEORG

[jaapv]

Hey! Mike. Are you selling your superfluous lens?

[michali]

Hi Jaap,

Yes I am if you're interested send me a mail.

 

BYTW I sent you an email last night did you get it?

Best

[roguewave]

Mike. I agree that the 40 cron is one of the best lenses in the M system. Super light & just a sweet spot. So inexpensive & the images are divine. With the harsh light of Africa, you also might consider the Rokkor 40 as well. I own both the 40 Cron & the Rokkor. The more modern coatings on the Rokkor really help with flare.

[thompsonkirk]

I agree with you but maybe it's no longer underrated – its virtues are well known here & I've seen lots of praise, including Graeme Hutton's, Ben's, & my own. And I see its price is rising.

 

Things I especially like:

 

--Very accurate match to M9's 35mm framelines – much closer than a 'real' 35.

--Sharp right away at F2

--I can't see any focus shift

--Relatively low contrast (new 35 asph can require substantial PP to keep contrast & saturation under control)

--Film-like in its compromise between sharpness & 'glow'

--Inconspicuous; looks almost point-&-shooty

--Rather nice bokeh

--Pretty good color (but sometimes it misses)

--Not much tendency to flare

 

And above all, I can feel comfortable taking it anywhere because it cost only $300 (+$85 to have DAG code it). Now maybe they're up to $500, but that's just 10% of the cost of the new 35!

 

It's almost always on the camera that I keep with me in a little tummy-pouch. I used to use an 8-element 35 Summicron v1 (which the Antique Camera website says might be even better than v4), but I just sold it because the 40 Cron was so much sharper at f2. I also have a 35 pre-asph Summilux, but will probably sell it too because the 40 Cron is so much freer of flare.

 

My 40 has no rubber hood, but I found it doesn't vignette on M9 with one of DAG's 39mm adapters & the stubby little hood from a late 50 2.8 Elmarit. This makes it even more compact & inconspicuous.

 

But don't let the secret out, :-)

 

Kirk

[kkochheiser]

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Thanks Kirk, I've been looking at this lens and appreciate your comments. I wasn't aware that it was codeable (if that's a word). Does Leica have a code for it or is it coded as something else?

 

Thanks again.

 

Kent

[thompsonkirk]

As 35 pre-a Cron. DAG will send the mount to John Millich; it comes back milled, & DAG codes & adjusts it. He will also grind/file the mount to bring up 35mm framelines. Might as well have it cleaned at the same time. It'll be like new, but as always it takes him some time.

 

Kirk

[zlatkob]

What framelines does it normally bring up, before any special modifications?

[cbretteville]

The 50/75 lines on an M, the 40 lines on a CL.

Carl

[Theodor Heinrichsohn]

I agree with you but maybe it's no longer underrated – its virtues are well known here & I've seen lots of praise, including Graeme Hutton's, Ben's, & my own. And I see its price is rising.

 

Things I especially like:

 

--Very accurate match to M9's 35mm framelines – much closer than a 'real' 35.

--Sharp right away at F2

--I can't see any focus shift

--Relatively low contrast (new 35 asph can require substantial PP to keep contrast & saturation under control)

--Film-like in its compromise between sharpness & 'glow'

--Inconspicuous; looks almost point-&-shooty

--Rather nice bokeh

--Pretty good color (but sometimes it misses)

--Not much tendency to flare

 

And above all, I can feel comfortable taking it anywhere because it cost only $300 (+$85 to have DAG code it). Now maybe they're up to $500, but that's just 10% of the cost of the new 35!

 

It's almost always on the camera that I keep with me in a little tummy-pouch. I used to use an 8-element 35 Summicron v1 (which the Antique Camera website says might be even better than v4), but I just sold it because the 40 Cron was so much sharper at f2. I also have a 35 pre-asph Summilux, but will probably sell it too because the 40 Cron is so much freer of flare.

 

My 40 has no rubber hood, but I found it doesn't vignette on M9 with one of DAG's 39mm adapters & the stubby little hood from a late 50 2.8 Elmarit. This makes it even more compact & inconspicuous.

 

But don't let the secret out, :-)

 

Kirk

 

I agree with nearly everything said, except the comment about the "pretty good color" which does not correspond to my experience. I also own the Minolta equivalent f2 lens which is ( I have used it only on film ) slightly more contrasty than the Summicron 40.

Teddy

[wizard]

... so far it outperforms, on center and overall image quality, the latest version 35mm Summicron Asph, which as a result I’ve just sold ...

 

While the Summicron 40 is certainly an excellent lens, it is not likely to outperform the 35asph in any way. Maybe your copy of the 35asph was not fully within tolerances, but be assured that 35asph that is in order will outperform the 40, and that at least to me does not come as a surprise, given the much more recent optical construction of the 35asph.

 

I happen to own both the Minolta 40mm and a 35asph, and while the Minolta 40 is of very high resolution and sharpness if stopped down somewhat, it is no match for the 35asph in terms of both corner sharpness and contrast (besides the 35asph has very high resolution, too).

 

Andy