Summitar Lens Questions

[lagrassa]

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I have a 5cm f/2 Summitar S/N 978470 (c. 1952). I notice that the aperature ring does not "click" at each f/stop but rather is continuosly variable. Is this the way it is designed? I've read that later Leica lenses did have "click stops" on the aperature ring, but I'm not sure what is considered to be "later". Any information would be helpful as I am new to all this.

 

Also, I've run my first roll of film through my IIIc and am waiting for the results. For a few shots I forgot to extend the lens from the collapsed position. Will this affect the focus or ??

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[doubice]

As far as I know (and remember ), none of the Summitar lenses of any vintage had click stops. Maybe some of the ones made between 1954 and 1955 (total of 87 lenses) did but, I have never encountered any. The aperture was 'continuously variable'.

 

Not extending the lens will result in wonderful, totally out of focus and perfectly round 'images'. Been there, done that - with the first ever roll of film I shot - with a Leica IIIb and Elmar 50mm, in 1965...... Never again since.....

 

Best,

 

Jan

[lagrassa]

Thanks for the information on the Summitar lenses. Also, I am glad to see that I was not alone in forgetting to extend the lens on the first roll. I guess with time it becomes part of the drill.

[luigi bertolotti]

Summitars never "clicked" f stops, on the contrary Summarit 1,5 did, though maintaining the uneven spacing of f values in the ring... and the "click positions" are easily a bit unprecise in respect to f values... in my item (perfect as for glass) it's hard to understand at once if you clicked to 11 or 16... luckily, I almost use it only at wide apertures...