Hi, Well it's just the wrong time of year to be spending too much money on myself but I REALLY want a 35mm lens for my M6. When I first started looking a couple months/weeks back I was seeing a few 35mm 2.8 Summaron's in the $350 range but now that seems to be harder to find. I'm picky as heck with my equipment but if some one out there has a lens such as this that will go on my M6 ( not all will as I understand it must be ser# 3,000,000+, not sure about that either- sorry) and is is good condition ie, nice glass, filters threads clean, smooth focus etc...I would be much interested. Failing that a 35mm Summicron Asph for the same price would suffice

Happy Holidays!! Warren

-- Warren Allen (whatrix@home.com), December 17, 2001

Answers

Warren, I just picked up a Canon 35/2.0 LTM with mint glass,cosmetically around 8 of 10 from around 1962 that just blew me away. They can be had for around $300. I am a LTM user and was considering the Ultron. I am totally impressed. I took the same shot at 5.6 and wide open and could hardly tell the difference, the saturation and contrast was equal. The easiest way for me to tell the difference in comparing the photos was the depth of field with the closed down shot being ever so slightly sharper. I shot a roll of XP2-Super and couldn't believe how this lens handled the bright sun at the pool. The bright areas weren't burnt out and the dark areas had detail. Here is a link. Also even inside at 2.8 this lens exhibits good constrast and sharpness Guar ds The lens is very small and has a classic feel. I have some color shots I can post at a later date.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), December 18, 2001.

I forgot to add that these images were from flatbed scans of 4X6 prints and I was at the mercy of the processor.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), December 18, 2001.

Warren

I don't understand your post. The 35/2.8 Summaron is an older lens that hasn't been made since the 1960s. SN 3,000,000+ dates to the 1980s. There are no Summarons with SN 3M+. The 35/2.8 Summaron (two versions, one with eyes for M3, and one w/o eyes for M2) was a good lens in its day, but can't match the modern 35s for sheer definition.

However, the 35/2.8 Summaron, like other chrome lenses in its day, was beautifully constructed and is mechanically superb: an elegant lens. If you want one at leats in E++ condition with good glass and perfect mechanics, my guess is that it would cost significantly more than $ 350. Like the chrome 8-element 35/2.0 Summicron of the same vintage, this lens is eagerly sought by collectors.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), December 18, 2001.

I think there are some points where I can help:
1. The Serial# 3m+ does not exist for the summaron - but Warren, you're right with the remark that not all summarons will fit correctly: You have to watch out for a M2 - summaron (w/o 'glasses') if you want the compact one - only this one will bring up the right brightlines. Mine for example has a ' in the 1.9m range.
2. The price you mention is ok for a usable one, not a collectors one. I saw some on german eBay for about 300$, mine costed me 600$ but came with an M2 body (also user condition, though). Be aware that you might spend some $ as well on a CLA, these lenses are all about 40 years old and most of them need some caring hands.
3. The quality of the old summarons, esp. the M-Summarons (and here the 2.8) are still more than acceptable - the newer lenses have been improved on wide apertures, but from f4 on it is very hard to tell the difference of a (CLA'd) summaron and a summicron or summilux.
4. Warren, there is also the cheaper 35/3,5 summaron (which is not that bad) and the LTM - adaptor which might give you the joy (?) of using lenses like the zeiss 35/2.8 biogon or it's russian Jupiter-11 (?) copy, the 35/3,5 elmar in LTM or the new Voigtlaender lenses (though these might be > 350$) or other old 35s from other manufacturers though I cannot tell you about quality and price of these.

Warren, the easiest place to find one is ebay, you might want to look there - 350$ should buy you a nice, but not a perfect one. If you don't mind the small aperture, you'll really like the lens !

HTH - Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), December 18, 2001.

Warren; are you anticipating to December the 28th, or you really have no idea of what are you talking about.

A summaron is a decent lens, not an asph, but reasonable good for day ligth work, and I belive you can find a good example under 300 USD, but truly recomend to save money and get a summicron; I donīt know where you live, but photo stores can have marvels hidden, look up and good luck.

I recomend to get a book on leica lenses, that will help you a lot.

The best for christmass.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), December 18, 2001.

Dear Warren; sorry for my harsh answer actualy I thougth you were kidding.Sorry.

I recomend you a book to have a better idea of what you can get and the look of lenses in case you find in a back yard, "Identifying Leica Lenses" by Ghester Sartorius. You can check every lens there.

Again good luck and my very best wishes to you to find the rigth one before christmass.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.