I have recently found a small lens when clearing out my grandfathers loft and would like to know what this lens is used for and its value The lens is stamped (Ernst Leitz GmbH Wetzlar Germany Summar 42mm)and has aperature marks 2,6,12 total diameter is only about 2cm across and the aperature works as new and the optics are like new.

-- David Slater (dave_slater@lineone.net), May 04, 2002

Answers

The Summar was an intermediate lens in production before the Summitar, never really a stellar performer, but in its own right a nice lens for what it does best, soft portrature, Dont take my advice, go right to the source.

http://www.cameraquest.com/ltmlens.htm

mike

-- mike (thearea19@aol.com), May 04, 2002.

The regular production Summar lens for Leica SM was a fast for the time 50/2.0 lens made from 1932-1939, first in a collapsible mount and nickel finish and later in a rigid mount and chrome finish. The lens you have says 42mm? It could be a special macro (or micro) type lens, these lenses were called Summars or Milars. They are very old (probably 1930s or so). I don't know how much they are worth, but I don't think the demand is very great, even though they are uncommon. That's my best guess as to what the lens was made for.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), May 04, 2002.

I feel sure it was for macro. I have a series of similarly aperture marked lenses which came in an 'Ernst Leitz' box with a 5x4 copy camera body, with a leaf shutter which vignettes heavily if used for normal focussing distance. Mine are 50mm, 80mm, 100mm and 120mm I think. I can look them up and give you more information if you require? James Elwing

-- James Elwing (elgur@acay.com.au), May 06, 2002.

Just to add to the description the lens is black and the total width including the aperature ring is 2.5cm and 1.7cm deep also clearly brass construction with a ten blade aperature iris.

-- DAVID SLATER (dave_slater@lineone.net), May 06, 2002.

You didn't ask for this, but here it is anyway. I am sure what you have is related

DESCRIPTION: 5"X4" large format negative close focussing wooden camera equipped with Leitz lenses in an Ibsor shutter. There are no manufacturers markings on the camera or rail.

Fittings include: 1) Ibsor leaf shutter, speeds 1 sec-1/100 sec; vignettes at normal to infinity distances. 39mm fine pitch thread.

2) 12cm f4.5 Summar lens, uncoated; marked 'E.Leitz Wetzlar'attaches by screwed adaptors to Ibsor shutter via 40mm fine pitch thread.

3) 10cm f4.8 Milar lens, possibly slight coating; marked 'E.Leitz Wetzlar'attaches by screwed adaptors to Ibsor shutter via 40mm fine pitch thread.

4) 8cm f4.5 Summar lens, uncoated, marked 'E.Leitz Wetzlar'attaches by screwed adaptors to Ibsor shutter via 40mm fine pitch thread.

5) 8cm f4.5 Summar lens, appears coated, marked 'E.Leitz Wetzlar'attaches by screwed adaptors to Ibsor shutter via 40mm fine pitch thread. Similar to 4) except with a deep set mount.

6) 50mm f4.5 Milar lens, slight coating, marked 'E.Leitz Wetzlar'attaches to 47mm fine pitch thread. (This was with the set of lenses in the red 'E.Leitz Wetzlar' box. All aperture markings are similar but it does not have the correct thread connectors to fit the shutter.

 'Milar' lenses appear to be of more recent manufacture than 'Summar' lenses.

Lenses do not have conventional f stops marked, but numbers obviously related to some conventional exposure system. I estimate the numbers to relate to f stops thus:

1 is f3.2 2 is f4.8 4 is f6.3 6 is f8 12 is f11 24 is f16 48 is f32 96 is f64

-- James Elwing (elgur@acay.com.au), May 07, 2002.

PMFJI. These things are all macro lenses, intended to be used on, e.g., the Leitz Aristophot stand. All are intended to be used at magnifications not much lower than 1x, the shorter ones only at much higher magnifications. All will cover at least 4x5 at the magnifications for which they are designed to be used.

The shorter ones, under ~ 60 mm should have 0.8" x (if I recall correctly) 24 threads/mm, that is, Royal Microscopical Society mount. The longer ones are larger, and require lens-specific adapters to screw into shutters. These are sometimes called micro lenses because of the smaller ones' mounts and intended uses.

They all still have value, typically at least a couple of hundred dollars each, based on recent sales on eBay. I'm not sure whether the purchasers are users or collectors, but the lenses should still be very usable.

Leitz' macro lenses aperture scales typically read in 'exposure factors', i.e., '2' means expose twice as long as required for maximum aperture, '4' means 4 times as long, ... I have some Zeiss and Reichert (now part of Leica Microscopy) micro lenses in which the scales seem to indicate the diaphragm's diameter.

FWIW, I mine on a Nikon SLR with appropriate adapters, extension tubes (LTM with more adapters), ... , and on a Speed Graphic. Some sort of through the lens focusing is necessary with all of them.

To learn more about these lenses and similar ones from other makers, visit http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm and go to his microlens page.

Cheers,

Dan

-- Dan Fromm (76266.333@compuserve.com), May 08, 2002.