Does anyone use a 5cm collapsible Summicron? Reason is, I saw one going for a good price. I know Erwin Putts rates it behind fixed Summicrons old and new, but it is a handy size with one useful extra stop compared with a 2.8 Elmar. Fogging, low contrast a problem?

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), April 18, 2002

Answers

Yes, they are lower contrast (and less color saturation)than the current lenses, and most are fogged and have a lot of cleaning marks. They are nicely made and have a nice feel to them, but it is hard to find a really clean one.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), April 18, 2002.

I've had one since the late 60's, used it first on screwmounts and then on M2's with an adaptor. M2's are long gone but I kept the collapsible Cron for my LTM's. I've had a Leitz UV filter on it for thirty years, there are a few coating marks nonetheless. Not from wiping, from the coating just breaking down. I haven't shot with it more than a couple times since the mid-70's. I have 2 newer Crons and they're sharper and more contrasty. Frankly the collapsible Cron isn't all that much shorter than a current Cron...nothing like the LTM 5cm Elmar which lies almost flat to the body when collapsed. With the Elmar on an M6 you can slip it into an inside suitcoat pocket without much of a bulge.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 18, 2002.

Perfectly good practical lens, front element & coating very soft, think that is where the problem comes from, so check it out. I have used one on and off for years alternating with new '80's summicron, because it (& 50 Elmar) fits Sooky M (=Somky?) close focus fitting with specs, which often turns up cheap as chips because nobody knows what it is (alternative to close focusing Summicron, does same job)

Never had a problem, full aperture and all. I accept optics are probably inferior

James Elwing

-- James Elwing (elgur@acay.com.au), April 18, 2002.

I have one that was recoated and cla'd two years ago by John Van Stelten, aka The Focal Point -the tabI think was then $175. It looks brand new. Shooting it alternately with a 1970s third version, the differences are really quite subtle, though possibly the modern coating has increased the older lens' contrast. Ernst Hasz has stated that his friend Henri Cartier-Bresson has used this lens from 1954 onwards, upgrading bodies up to and including the M6 but always with his old 7 element collapsible Summicron . Presumably he likes the "signature." So do I! And on Pacific Northwest volcanos I like being able to easily slip my M3 into a parka pocket out of the way of wind-driven grit....

-- david kelly (dmkedit@aol.com), April 18, 2002.

David: I have a collapsible 50 Summicron that sits on the shelf 99.9% of the time. Mine is the early screwmount version made in '52. When used with chrome film, the pictures have a very warm tone from the glass. Mine has cleaning marks and scratches from it's prior owner. The lens is lower in contrast, and a good cleaning would probably improve that. I don't like the locking focus lever, it is difficult to focus with gloves on.

-- Mark A. Johnson (logical1@catholic.org), April 18, 2002.

The contrast is subtly lower than with a recent Cron. This is only visible in some photos. The difference will be noticed only in the shadow areas, where the collapsible will give more shadow fill so that you can see into the shadows a bit. Shadows on chrome film with a Summicron-M are more apt to be pure black. Improvements in perceived sharpness with the newer "crons are mostly due to the improved contrast. The collapsible is already quite sharp.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), April 18, 2002.

FWIW i have one in constant use daily!Since 1967.Its really sharp and has wonderful colors but beware against the light,can flare! Like big time.The front and esp the back elements very soft. i have uv filter always on and only blow dust off.WAY sharper than the Elmar,old version,no idea about the newer one.I luv the fact fits camera easily under a jacket or shirt.Makes an M3 and i guess a M6 kinda smaller.More like Leicas were!I do not need more sharpness and the wonderful "dimensionability"is wonderful.People i.e clients have purchased more repeats from this lens than any other!Used at Portraits,weddings etc.

-- jason gold (leeu72@hotmail.com), April 18, 2002.

I agree with Jason that for people shots, this lens does a very nice job without the extra "bite" that the newer lenses can have. I have an old Zeiss 1.5 Sonnar now that has a similar look to the images of the Collapsing Summicron.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), April 18, 2002.

I have a collapsible Summicron on my IIf. I find the contrast is fine. It does have cleaning marks on the front element but they don't seem to affect picture quality. I also like how I can collapse the lens and stick the camera in a coat pocket. I would like to get an adapter for it so I could use it on my M.

-- Chad Hahn (thehahns@cornhusker.net), April 18, 2002.

I have and use it on my M6. I use it indoor, frequently using f2 aperture, without flash and on color negative (normally AGFA, 100 ASA). This lens does a very nice job WITH old-fashion results that the newer lenses DOESN'T have. If your's is beautiful and the price is good, i suggest you to take and use it.

Ciao. Domenico

-- (Giandom@comune.re.it), April 19, 2002.

Thanks guys for such a fast reply. My feeling is that 50s, even older softer ones make good portrait lenses and are also good for moody scenics (the Summar on my IIIa is good for this too). For architecture, perhaps a 35 asph would be better. I do like the size of the collapsibles - why don't they still do a 90? - but concede the LTM Elmar is way smallest. If anyone else is browsing thorugh this, can you recommend anywhere else to clean old lenses?

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), April 19, 2002.

I use one on my M3. The glass is clear, no fogging, however, the front element has cleaning marks and is scratched up. The results I get with it are supprisingly good. The lens is very well made and is compact with the M3.

Regards,

-- Alan Purves (lpurves@mnsi.net), April 19, 2002.

Ive been using one for the past year with wonderful results. Not as contrasty as other more recent lenses but with beautiful bokeh. I highly recommend it as its my favorite 50mm lens.

-- Mario Mazariegos (mariomazariegos@msn.com), April 19, 2002.

I use one I bought used, 40 years ago, on my IIIf. Somehow, my Summicron has managed to avoid cleaning marks and is a VERY sharp lens. I traded a 50/3.5 Elmar and a 50/1.8 Canon for the lens and was dissapointed because it didn't seem to couple properly with the rangefinder on the Canon VI T I used at the time. The lens sat in a drawer until I bought a IIIf body in 1999. I was blown away by its sharpness on that camera--I use it frequently now and can't imagine ever needing a better 50.

-- Robert Marvin (marvbej@earthlink.net), April 19, 2002.

Don Goldberg did a great job on my 50mm collapsible Summitar. He's at www.dagcamera.com

608-835-3342 2128 Vintage Drive Oregon WI 53575 Tony Oresteen

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@mindspring.com), April 19, 2002.