dpitt Posted March 8, 2015 Share #1 Â Posted March 8, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Recently I acquired a Summilux 35mm serial 234xxxx in excellent condition. Glass is perfect, no marks on the outside, used, but not much. Has been in storage for the last 20 years. Dust inside, (one larger spec) so CLA will be needed. It does not mount on digital bodies and is not coded, just original condition. Â My previous Summilux 35 has been modified for use on M8, coded and cleaned. It performed very well on my M8 when stopped down. But I found it very soft wide open, and hard to focus accurately. Also I did not like the in hood solution for the UV/IR filter on my M8. Â How much variance is there between samples? Is there a chance this one will focus better and will be less soft on my M8 after modification? Unfortunately it does not mount so I can not try it out. Â This is a collectors quality lens... I suppose a good CLA without modification done by Will van Manen would never hurt the value. But would I ruin the value for a collector by modification and adding a 6-bit code? Â Any advice? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Hi dpitt, Take a look here Summilux 35mm Dilemma. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
matlep Posted March 8, 2015 Share #2 Â Posted March 8, 2015 It will most likely be as soft as the other one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted March 8, 2015 Share #3 Â Posted March 8, 2015 I found it very soft wide open, and hard to focus accurately. This is the nature of the beast. Also I did not like the in hood solution for the UV/IR filter on my M8. You are stuck with it I'm afraid. How much variance is there between samples? Not that much that I have ever come across and I've had several over the years. Is there a chance this one will focus better and will be less soft on my M8 after modification? Unlikely. This is a collectors quality lens... I suppose a good CLA without modification done by Will van Manen would never hurt the value. But would I ruin the value for a collector by modification and adding a 6-bit code? If you want to keep it 'original' to attract a collector's price then it should be left well alone. Â One of my favourite lenses with characteristics are those you mention above - if you don't like them then its not the lens for you I'm afraid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglou Posted March 8, 2015 Share #4 Â Posted March 8, 2015 There are variations between samples, i have a fantastic one made in Canada (and will keep it forever) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frase Posted March 8, 2015 Share #5 Â Posted March 8, 2015 I have a Canadian one from the early 80's and in real world situations not taking pics of lens charts at 2.8 there is no difference between it and my version 4 German 35mm summicron. My copy is pretty rough but I have spent a lot of time changing shims to get it to focus perfectly on my m9. I like the pre asph summilux it seems to have a bad reputation but I just use it like a summicron with emergency 1.4! Good luck I hope it comes back better than your previous one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 8, 2015 Share #6 Â Posted March 8, 2015 My late German copy is my favorite lens for soft portraits on the M8.2 but its softness at f/1.4 is what i prefer in the lens. This and the famous glow give an unique look to the pics. It is a lens with focus shift though. Mine has been calibrated to be sharp at f/2.8 so it could certainly be a bit sharper at full aperture had it be calibrated another way. Perhaps your sample could benefit from another calibration as well, i don't know as it is earlier by 20 years than mine. Beware that you could have focus problems at medium apertures due to focus shift though. Your Summilux will never be sharp at f/1.4 anyway, better getting used to it or choose another lens IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglou Posted March 8, 2015 Share #7 Â Posted March 8, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) A good sample is not really soft wide open, it is only low in contrast and glowy but the details are present. By 2.8, 4 then it becomes very clear and very sharp with a wonderful out of focus rendering, you can recognize out of focus shapes much better than with the latests aspherical lenses and pictures do not " stress " the eyes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpitt Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share #8 Â Posted March 9, 2015 Thanks for all your replies. Seeing it as a Summicron or Elmarit 35 with emergency 1.4 would maybe help accepting the focus and softness issues for me. But still, I do not like to actually use this sample too often.The fear of damaging the cosmetics and lowering the value would take out the fun for me. For use, I prefer a beaten up one with good glass. Â If you want to keep it 'original' to attract a collector's price then it should be left well alone. Paul, do you mean that even a CLA would affect the collctors value? The glass is mostly clear, but I noticed one large black spec of something in the inside. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted March 9, 2015 Share #9 Â Posted March 9, 2015 Paul, do you mean that even a CLA would affect the collctors value? The glass is mostly clear, but I noticed one large black spec of something in the inside. I would post this question in the "Leica Collectors and Historica" section of this forum to be certain - I'm not a collector. if I had a 'pristine' example of a lens I would sell it and buy one that I was comfortable using, but I wouldn't do anything with it (not even a CLA because everything I've read would suggest that originality is important). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 9, 2015 Share #10 Â Posted March 9, 2015 Thanks for all your replies. Seeing it as a Summicron or Elmarit 35 with emergency 1.4 would maybe help accepting the focus and softness issues for me. Better accept flare as well as the 35/1.4 pre-asph is very prone of it. As i suggested above it is a special lens. Buying it for the non-special parts of it is not the best idea in my humble opinion... but YMMV as usual . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Gunst Lund Posted March 9, 2015 Share #11 Â Posted March 9, 2015 It is very difficult to open an old lens up without leavig taces from the tools, so after a cleaning there will most likely be visible marks - so no longer a mint lens... Â Could we plese see some'product' photos of the lens... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted March 10, 2015 Share #12  Posted March 10, 2015 Here a sample of mine taken with the M8 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/242021-summilux-35mm-dilemma/?do=findComment&comment=2778017'>More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.