Lens identification

[dennersten]

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Can somebody tell me anything about this piece?

 

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Leitz Micro-summar 24 mm. på Tradera. Tillbehör | Samlar, äldre |

 

Is it an old enlarging lens? Is it any value in a piece like that?

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[luigi bertolotti]

It was a lens for microphotography, made for scientific use on Leica cameras with proper accessories: they were listed in the late '30s and were available in several focal lenghts (24 - 35 - 42 - 65 - 80 -100 - 120) : the 24 was coded SUMAN: they where catalogued for many years also after WWII, and were superseded by the series of PHOTAR Micro Lenses, which I think were available until not many years ago (they could be used on Leica SLR too).

A "specialty collectors item" , not of great value, interesting expecially if complete with the accessories to make it usable on a Leica body (adapter, bellows etc...)

[dkCambridgeshire]

The Micro Summar set of high magnification macro and micro lenses, all with f4.5 max. aperture, comprised the following with approximate optimum magnification ranges on 35mm format

 

24mm for magnification from 7:1 to 16:1

35mm for magnification from 4.6:1 to 10:1

42mm for magnification from 3.7:1 to 10:1

80mm for magnification from 1.5:1 to 4:1

120mm for magnification from 1:1.7 to 2:1

 

They are used on a focusing bellows and would normally require (i) adaptor 543107 for the 120mm, (ii) adaptor 543109 for the 80mm, and (iii) adaptor 543109 for the 42mm, 35mm and 24mm.

 

Additionally, another adaptor 500935 is also needed if used on Leica R bellows. But the lenses were also available with an M x 0.75 attachment thread which screws directly into the 500935 R adaptor.

 

There is also another adaptor 542046 which enables the M x 0.75 thread to be converted to the universal Leica thread and thence via further adaptors to the Visoflex.

 

There was also a set of Milar macro lenses which had high contrast for black and white photography whereas the Micro Summars were more suitable for colour.

 

Both the Milar and Micro Summar sries were superceded in the early 70's by Leitz Photars of similar focal lengths.

 

The 24mm Summar shown in the auction would require at least one adaptor and maybe two, to be usable on a bellows R and would probably only be suitable for very high magnification photography from approx 7:1 to 16:1 on 35mm format. The lens to subject distance at these magnifications would be very short and would require special subject illumination using either transmitted or incident lighting systems.

 

These lenses will also cover 9cm x 12cm ( 4" x 5" ) format at much higher magnifications eg the 24mm will cover from 12.5:1 up to 25:1 magnification on 5" x 4" .

 

For further reading please see "Photomacrography - An Introduction" by William White ... Focal Press 1987 ISBN 0-240-51189-1

 

I have sets of both Summars and Photars and will post some photographs of them with their adaptors soon.

 

For most macro photography the 60mm Macro -Elmarit R and 100 mm Macro-Elmar R and 100mm Apo-Macro Elmarit R are quite adequate. The 60mm Macro-Elmarit can be used at up to 4 x magnification with additional tubes on a bellows and works quite well reversed using stop down metering. Reversal of the 60mm lens enables a greater apparent subject to lens distance ie then becomes an unhooded lens which facilitates easier subject illumination when using incident light.

 

Cheers

 

dunk

[dennersten]

Wow i am so owerwhelmed of all the knowledge and helpfulness here. Thanks a lot Luigi and Dunk! Really intresting reading.

 

It was a beatiful lens, but i let i slip away in favour of a Leica M4 black paint and my first Summaron ever. My photobudget is really empty for this year now. No more toys.