Hi Folks:

A photo dealer I know has a dual range Summicron for sale at $525.00. The lens looks clean since I performed the penlight flashlight test and it passed (no visible fungus or seperation of the elements). Cosmetically, the lens is in excellent condition with no apparant scratches or cleaning marks on the front element.What I like most about the lens is its ability to focus my M6 as close as, I believe, 19 inches.I am not able to do this with either of my other Summicon lenses.Does the price seem right? I could probably bargain and get it for less, but I am not sure how much to offer. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks experts.

-- John Alfred Tropiano (jat18@psu.edu), November 24, 2001

Answers

Be sure to check it out with YOUR M6. Apparently the DR doesn't work with some of them. Wilhelm

-- Wilhelm (bmitch@home.com), November 24, 2001.

The price sounds good for a DR in excellent condition.

There is useful information on the DR at http://www.cameraquest.com/mlenses.htm, most notably that it must be focused at the infinity position for mounting or dismounting. Assuming that you've tried it on your M6, and the eyes fit OK, you should be pleased with the lens.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), November 24, 2001.

John:

I had one with an M3 and am very sorry I sold it!! It was excellent- a very good substitute for the SLR macro lenses. It was also excellent for general 50mm usage as well. It fogged up quickly here in humid Singapore but a routine CLA fixed that. I always keep my Leica lenses in a dry boxe now, but the others don't seem to be at all prone to fogging or fungus growth.

The front section could be unscrewed from the body and used on the visoflex and it also made a very good enlarger lens as it was designed for distances similar to enlarger projections. Focusing an enlarger at f2 is great.

I can't commnent too knowledgably about the price, as I got mine with the M3 and it was about 500 $CDN 4 years ago, with a few barrel scratches, so I assume the one you are looking at is in better shape.

It is heavy BTW. I assume the eyes are with it and in good shape. Try to get the original case for the eyes and make sure you figure out a way to keep the lens AND the eyes together, 'cause if you lose the eyes, it is VERY difficult to get replacements.

The trick to changing from normal to close range takes exactly one minute to learn, after someone shows you. The critical thing is to remember to put the eyes back in the cse and keep them safe after you switch. On several occasions, I put them in my shirt pocket only to have them fall out a bit later: lucky they fell where I saw them and could retrieve 'em.

Cheers

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), November 24, 2001.

John:

I own an M6 and a 50 DR. I just sent the DR to Focal Point Lens for recoating and cleaning. I haven't gotten it back yet, but it works great on my M6. You need to remember to set the lens close to infinity when changing the lens. The steep cam in the near focus mode, or close to it causes the lens to bind some when changing it. Other than that, I too like the lens because of the 19" capability. I used it to detail a critical project using it handheld at 19" with a flash on an M6 and the detail is terrific. The lens is heavy, but comfortable.

M

-- Mark A. Johnson (logic@gci.net), November 24, 2001.

John,

$525 is exactly what a nice clean ex or ex+ DR, with original box, went for in St. Louis, about a year ago. St. Louis prices tend to be about 10% lower than the familiar national sources. I think your lens might have fetched even a bit more in some stores.

I just picked one up, with the eyes, for $350. It isn't perfect, though. It definitely needs a cleaning, and there may be a slight separation at the extreme edges. I'm not even sure if that can be fixed. SO I'll be sending it off to John or Sherri, which will of course eat up some, or much, of the savings! Cosmetically, the chrome mount looks great.

Regards,

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), November 24, 2001.

John:

Assuming the lens come w/the eyes, the price sounds right (& less than what I paid about 4 months ago).

-- Chris Chen (furcafe@cris.com), November 24, 2001.

When I got my m6... the DR eyes wouldnt fit because of the rubber/plastic piece meant to level the eyes was too low...so I shaved a mm or so off the bottom with a razor and presto it works fine...the guys a Tamarkin asked how I got it to fit and seemed surprised when I showed them.

-- Emile de Leon (knightpeople@msn.com), November 24, 2001.

John,

I once had a 50DR. I found it extemely sharp with good contrast. However, being an older non-multi-coated lens, it flared TERRIBLY in strong backlight situations. If you avoid backlight, the lens should work just fine.

Todd

-- Todd Phillips (toddvphillips@webtv.net), November 25, 2001.

John:

A photographer on the Leica Users Group recently lauded his dual range Summicron, then answered a question like yours: "Buy yourself a dual range Summicron. Pay the man what he wants and don't look back." Of course, he meant a good lens. Your price sounds fair for a lens that is optically and mechanically flawless. If this is the operating condition, so long as the lens isn't a dog don't worry about the cosmetics. If they are really bad, it will usually mean the function isn't good.

I wrote an article published in the First Quarter 2001 issue of VIEWFINDER magazine of the Leica Historical Society. If you don't belong, you should; the magazine is worth the price of dues. Go to www.lhsa.org where you will find information about the Society and a membership application. Welcome! and enjoy your dual range. If you read the article, you will see that I bought this lens first in 1967 and the 7-glass 1956-1969 50mm Summicron is still my prime lens.

Seth

-- Seth Rosner (sthrosner@aol.com), November 26, 2001.