Summicron Development

[Accipiter19]

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I recently purchased two Summitars in hopes of getting one in good enough shape to use. When I shot them last week and compared them to photos shot with my Summicron DR, I discovered two entirely different color renditions in the Summitar shots.

 

The shots with 1948 Summitar had greens that were vibrant. The 1952 Summitar (serial number 980xxx) had greens that more muted and "cooler" and matched almost perfectly the ones from the Summicron DR. Was Leica changing its lens formulation or color palette during this four-year period?

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[UliWer]

Your later example is coated. If the earlier one is really from 1948 it should be coated as well. The later one should also have a hexagonal aperture while the aperture of the earlier one was completely round. I don't think and don't know if there was a change in glass sorts. Though it is possible that coating and/or the glass have deteriorated differently which might lead to different colours on your photos.

[algrove]

I just want to say WELCOME, that's all.

[tobey bilek]

Someone improperly cleaned the interior coatings and they are gone on the older lens.

 

My two later ones image like the early Summicrons except they are not as sharp at 2 and 2.8 so I use them special effects. At 5.6, I swear they are sharper as new Summicrons.