35mm Summicron V3 - best kept secret

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I’m very much surprised!?

Here on LUF there’s much rave about the 35mm Summilux pre-asph v2, 35mm Summicron V4 KoB and the 35mm Summilux Steel Rim re-issue.

However, the 35mm Summicron V3 seems totally forgotten - a hidden gem.

I’m currently shooting both the 35mm SR re-issue and 35mm Summicron V3 and can say from f/2-f/2.8 and onwards they render very similar indeed. On M10Mono I actually prefer the 35 Cron V3. On color the SR re-issue has the contrast and pop like the KoB and the V3 is more muted, but very nice and vintage on digital. So it’s a tie on color.

A clean/perfect V3 can be had for 1,400-2,000Euro - a bit of bargain compared to the 35Lux v2 or re-issue. Just saying 😊

I know, it’s not expensive or having unicorn  serials like 216xxx 35 Lux. But there’s still plenty of magic… And actually the V3 is a hell of a lot rarer - I believe around 6,000-7,000 copies produced in total.

Just saying and to call the big spender, “empty barrel” roar mentatilty, we do hear all too often (IMO) on this forum from a select (previously banned) few.

Edited June 30, 2023 by MadsP

[Pyrogallol]

I have a v3 “Spotticron”. Despite having embedded spots of something firmly attached to the front glass it is still a good performer. Copy of a recent darkroom print.

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[FDS]

This lens was my very favourite in the 1970s-'80s.  I used it mostly around f8 / f9.5 but wide open it was a bit of a bow-wow. I literally wore it to death. So nicely compact.  I  even recall that mine was no. 2541297!  

Edited June 30, 2023 by FDS

[Lelmer]

The lens is less important than the photographer's talent 😊

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13 minutes ago, Lelmer said:

The lens is less important than the photographer's talent 😊

Totally agree! Kind of my point earlier - but you didnt pick that up?

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Al Brown said:

I bought my nicely used and optically flawless 35 pre-asph lux v2 last Christmas for 1760€ from Italy. One has to look beyond ebay though.

Sounds like an awesome find 👌🏻

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Feel the same about the 50mm Summicron V3. A great lens too and can be had even cheaper than the 35mm. 800-1,100Euro range.

[Guest]

On 7/1/2023 at 8:53 AM, Al Brown said:

I bought my nicely used and optically flawless 35 pre-asph lux v2 last Christmas for 1760€ from Italy. One has to look beyond ebay though.

How do you like the 35 Summilux pre-asph v2 compared to the SR re-issue both on digital?

[Guest]

6 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Absolutely and doubtlessly I prefer the steel rim. It is 45 years younger, 6-bit coded, without any age-related flaws both on barrels and within the lens elements, with bigger front rim which is awesome, has much nicer sun hoods and (not that it matters with IQ but still) comes in silver out of the box. I also feel the core sharpness wide open is better, but that can also be related to the untracked used condition of my now ex v2 pre-asph (maybe someone took it apart etc.).
I have just done an editorial for a magazine, wide open with ND4 and a 6x sunstar filter, it looks amazing.

Thanks, love my 35SR re-issue too. Haven't tried the 35Lux pre-asph v2, so was curious to hear your thoughts.

[Jeff S]

6 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Absolutely and doubtlessly I prefer the steel rim. It is 45 years younger, 6-bit coded, without any age-related flaws both on barrels and within the lens elements, with bigger front rim which is awesome, has much nicer sun hoods and (not that it matters with IQ but still) comes in silver out of the box. I also feel the core sharpness wide open is better, but that can also be related to the untracked used condition of my now ex v2 pre-asph (maybe someone took it apart etc.).
I have just done an editorial for a magazine, wide open with ND4 and a 6x sunstar filter, it looks amazing.

You must really like it, given the QC issues you summarized..

Jeff

[grahamc]

Assuming they would render exactly the same, I gave up my 35:2 v3 in favour of 35:2 v2, which has a slightly smaller profile similar to the diminutive 40:2.  (Side by side the higher profile v3 looks like the ugly duckling)

This proved to be a mistake as my v3 (history unknown) was sharper than my (Leica CLA'd) v2, and with more contrast.   Of course I don't claim my sample size of 1 and 1 to be statistically sound, this could be sample variation. 

Also the tab on the aperture ring of v2 makes it more awkward to use than V3, which you can rotate from any place on the ring much like 8e - really comfortable design.

I still like the size of v2 but will get around to selling it and look for another v3 I think.

 

[dsj]

I absolutely love my 35 2.0 Ver. 3 and 50mm 2.0 Ver. 3. 

need to get the 35 serviced. 
the 50 works perfectly on digital after a cla and 6 bit coding by the mothership. 

[JoshuaR]

I've been using and enjoying this lens for a bit. I purchased it as a smaller alternative to my 35 Lux FLE. The FLE is a bit bigger than I'd like for an out-and-about lens; even though I love the images, I often find myself leaving it at home. (At home, it's my preferred lens.)

I'm struggling a bit over whether to keep the v3. I like the size a lot on my M10. But I have found that more of my highlights are blown out than I'm used to. I'm using the lens without a hood—is that part of the problem? Or is it the older design?

If I don't keep the lens, I'll probably let go of it along with the FLE, and then replace both with a 35 Cron ASPH v2 as a do-it-all 35mm. I'm also thinking about the Steel Rim reissue—the one thing I can't quite figure out is if I really like the rendering at f/2 and smaller. (I've realized that I don't like things to be too vintage.) Or maybe I just need to learn to use my v3 a little better!

Two recent images, which I quite like:

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My son attempting to hypnotize me, M10 + 35 Cron v3.

 

View from train window, M10 + 35 Cron v3.

[Greenhilltony]

On 7/1/2023 at 4:18 AM, Al Brown said:

The v2 and v3 are practically the same thing and then there is the Summicron-C 40/2, which is the beefed-up version with virtually the same optical formula based on a double Gauss with 6 lenses/4 groups, clearly inspired by the v2 11309 from 1969...

(Scheme: M. Cavina - "Little lies from the Leitz world")

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On 7/1/2023 at 2:02 AM, Pyrogallol said:

I have a v3 “Spotticron”. Despite having embedded spots of something firmly attached to the front glass it is still a good performer. Copy of a recent darkroom print.

The summicron-c 40/2 and its Minolta versions have the better barrel designs aestheticallly IMO, and much more budget-saving. Sometimes I think the appearance of the lens is an important factor and even weighs more than the actual IQ differences. Because you want someone else notice you’re using a classics, a legend, or whatever big-name lens without seconds needed to identify. LOL. And most of the time lenses are equally pleasing in IQ when stopped down to F4 and further. So the ergonomics, aesthetics, build quality are sometimes the deciding factors for a purchase.

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4 hours ago, JoshuaRothman said:

I've been using and enjoying this lens for a bit. I purchased it as a smaller alternative to my 35 Lux FLE. The FLE is a bit bigger than I'd like for an out-and-about lens; even though I love the images, I often find myself leaving it at home. (At home, it's my preferred lens.)

I'm struggling a bit over whether to keep the v3. I like the size a lot on my M10. But I have found that more of my highlights are blown out than I'm used to. I'm using the lens without a hood—is that part of the problem? Or is it the older design?

If I don't keep the lens, I'll probably let go of it along with the FLE, and then replace both with a 35 Cron ASPH v2 as a do-it-all 35mm. I'm also thinking about the Steel Rim reissue—the one thing I can't quite figure out is if I really like the rendering at f/2 and smaller. (I've realized that I don't like things to be too vintage.) Or maybe I just need to learn to use my v3 a little better!

Two recent images, which I quite like:

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My son attempting to hypnotize me, M10 + 35 Cron v3.

 

View from train window, M10 + 35 Cron v3.

It’s all a matter of taste. I had the FLE some years ago and loved it back then. Now, I find it too sharp and modern on digital M for my taste and subject matter (family/people reportage/documentary).

I’ve later on had both the 35 Summicron ASPH. v1 and v2 - both sold. Again for me, too sharp and high macro contrast. Quite a neutral lens in rendering, but the contrast and high sharpness gives a look where I feel the soul of the subject/image is lost - I know very subjective. 

I LOVE the 35mm Summicron V3 and the look it provides on digital. Medium contrast and slight glow around highlight edges in focus at f/2. Sharp and a lot more tamed from f/2.8-4 and further stopped down. On M10 Monochrom (which I shoot exclusively now) it gives a great classic B/W look to my eyes. Colors are slightly more muted than on modern lenses on digital color M.

35SR re-issue has some of the vintage traits with even more glow at f/1.4. However colors are more saturated and modern and macro contrast higher from using modern glass. So kind of a mix of vintage and modern look, if that makes sense.

Hope this helps and good luck,

- Mads

[mark r.]

i bought 35 v3 Canada in 2014, and it performs best for me on SL2-S, better than M10 imo, no other digital camera until this (that I've tried among several Leica and Sony) does it.

on SL2-S even f/16 is surprisingly usable w just a touch sharpen p/p...and M Rokkor 90/4 also same thing at f/16, never on any other camera last 9 yrs can do that. .if anyone gets chance to try SL2-S it's really good camera imo to pair with v3 (and a couple other M Zeiss I have also are very good, 25/2.8 and 50/2)

Edited September 16, 2023 by mark r.

[nitroplait]

35/2 version 2 and 3 are certainly different optically.

Even without knowing what is inside, one can easily see that the front lenses have different diameters. However, both are designed by Dr. Mandler and not too far apart in time, so they most likely share a lot of character and the optical ideals of the time.

I own a V3 that I bought used 20 years ago for so little that I won't even mention it - other than at the time I did not think it was cheap at all - things change.
I am very happy with it and the thought of replacing it never occurred.

I have shared this before, but I think it fits well into this thread:

Instagram's @TokyoCamerastyle aka John Sypal was one of the influencers that was invited to Wetzlar for the M6 re-release.

He took below photo of Leica CEO Andreas Kaufmann showing his M11 paired with a 35/2 V3.

Dr. Kaufmann can pick and choose from any Leica shelf - and he chooses this lens!!

I have no idea if his photography sucks, but if so, it is not the fault of the lens 😉

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Credit: Instagram: @tokyocamerastyle John Sypal.

Edited September 16, 2023 by nitroplait
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[Bear]

I love the v3. I got a great copy for $1350 last year and it has become my everyday, random snapshot lens because it's just so small. It's obviously not as sharp and contrasty as my 28 cron which is my most used lens, but it's just a great all-arounder. Here's a recent shot. I think the lens renders bright lights in an interesting way. 

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[jonnyboy]

I just picked mine up, I'm already in love with the compact size. 
I wasn't really in for a 35 as I have the Zeiss 35mm Distagone already but I found this battered one for less than £700 so I had to pull the trigger. Cosmetically, it has paint loss and the numbers all a bit faded but the glasses are free from scratches, separations etc. so it's all good.

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[thatkatmat]

On 9/25/2023 at 12:20 PM, Bear said:

I love the v3. I got a great copy for $1350 last year and it has become my everyday, random snapshot lens because it's just so small. It's obviously not as sharp and contrasty as my 28 cron which is my most used lens, but it's just a great all-arounder. Here's a recent shot. I think the lens renders bright lights in an interesting way. 

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Yes, it has glow similar to the Pre asph lux. I have both and don't use the cron much because they're both about the same size. But when I do I'm always glad I bought it.