drawback in using a Summaron 35 f3.5 (LTM first version)

[romualdo]

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I have an LTM 35mm f3.5 Summaron (first version with rotating A36 type mount)

I'm just wondering if I'm missing something regarding it's functionability - due to the rotating mount setting the aperture can be an issue if you attempt to set it after you have focussed - it will rotate the lens back out of focus (when you attempt to turn the aperture ring, the whole lens rotates). I usually turn the lens till it reaches infinity lock (locks), set the aperture then focus. Is that correct or is there another approach?? Wonder why they designed certain earlier lenses this way. Due to this (in my opinion negative) feature I prefer to use my Summaron 35 f2.8 LTM instead.

Edited October 14, 2019 by romualdo

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[a.noctilux]

In those day, photographers had much more time to set their "crude camera" 😵, no complain as our modern days which need to do things faster.

Now we are lucky that we can choose with user ergonomics in mind and manufacturers tend to take ergonomics into account when designing objects.

The Summaron 3.5/3.5cm which I do use a lot is for me very "ergonomic" if we use it as it was designed for.

The small size is a plus nothing better since then.

If you want to use it, setting the aperture before focus can become second nature (or not), or like me, I've found that blocking the "lever" with one digit after focussing, and change aperture is doable with some practice : no drawback for me.

...

Better and better Þ

It's better "move" in ergonomics than the former Elmar 3.5/3.5cm and 3.5/5cm which aperture setting is via a small "lever" at front 😏.

Edited October 14, 2019 by a.noctilux

[romualdo]

25 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

The small size is a plus nothing better since then.

If you want to use it, setting the aperture before focus can become second nature (or not), or like me, I've found that blocking the "lever" with one digit after focussing, and change aperture is doable with some practice : no drawback for me.

Thanks Arnaud

Agreed, it's a beautiful small lens & I still love it (use it on my M240 & X-pro2 on top of my screwmounts)

Also I've tried that technique you mention above (blocking the lever with your finger) - doable but takes a bit of practice

Edited October 14, 2019 by romualdo

[a.noctilux]

Those old lenses are so light and compact that they become my prefered trio with Monochrom,

They give nice results and don't show their ages in pictures

 

image show many times, already

the SOOGZ on the 3.5cm is a must to take my multiple E39 colored filters

(we can see this as drawback, as I have also A36 filters, not so many though)

 

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And if in color, I accept the nice "Glows" in high light

the glows can be reduced when close the lens down two stops

 

With M10

 

 

Edited October 14, 2019 by a.noctilux

[UliWer]

With the Summaron‘s later version, which has 39mm filter-mount instead of A36, the lenses front does not rotate when you focus. I am astonished it does with the earlier version.

The later versions with E 39 and screw mount are not so frequent, you have to search a little bit. Serial numbers  for the later version are  higher than 1.423.142.