Anyone have a hood for sale for a chrome, fixed lens Summicron 50MM F2, serial # 153xxxx? I believe this lens is from the late 50's. What's is the correct hood for it?

-- Jung Suh (jungsuh@hotmail.com), January 26, 2002

Answers

The similar vintage hood is the metal 12585, (which is annotated for the 50mm f/2.0, f/2.8 and f/3.5 as well as the 35mm f/2.8 and f/3.5).

The hood for the last version of the current formula Summicron will also work, but it is plastic rather than metal. Its number is 12538.

I use these two hoods back and forth depending on which one I put my hand on first... they are operationally the same.

Sorry, I am not selling either of them, but you should be able to locate one with the two part numbers.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), January 26, 2002.

I bought a #12538 from BHPHOTOVIDEO for $75 for my tabbed (11819) summicron. I have an extra #12585 hood but it doesn't have the plastic cover that lets you reverse it over the 50 cron. You can probably find these hoods at all the usual Leica sellers but they want a lot for them usually. Occasionally they come up on ebay. Email if you want to talk about mine. Good luck.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), January 26, 2002.

Jung. The correct vintage hoods for that lens are either: 1) the IROOA (which has a chrome base and a black conical section (not vented) and clips onto the lens); and 2)the 12585 hood (which is all black, vented to allo increased vision through the VF) and also clips onto the front ring of the lens). Both of these hoods can be clipped onto the lens reversed, for storage. There is also a plastic cap that fits over the lens hoods when they are reversed to protect the lens. The caps usually get lost over the years, so when you buy the hood, in most cases, the cap is not provided.

The IRROA and 12585 are the same hoods as used for a variety of other BM lenses of the same vintage: 35/2, 2.8, and 3.5; 50/2, 2,8. So if you have any of these lenses, the IROOA and 12585 can be used on these.

Finally, as mentioned above, a more recent lenshood (12538, a replacement for the 12585) can also be used. This is a plastic hood with a similar vented configuration to the 12585, that was provided with the 11819 version of the 50/2 Summicron, the one immediately before the current version w/ built-in-hood.

Costs: IROOA (about $ 100, collectors like this one), 12585 ($ 75), and 12538 (should be cheaper since its plastic, but fewer around, since they were provided with the lens and available as replacement). Me? I prefer a metal hood: get the 12585, it is a class act. A nice product from Leitz Wetzlar.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), January 26, 2002.

I Have one of those IROOA things I'll sell you for $50.00. Currently its on my SKINNY 90 Tele-elmarit, but I would like thelittle rubber hood fthat belongs on it better.

The IROOA is a little rough, but it would do the job.

Tom Nutter

-- Thomas M. Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), January 26, 2002.