Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/02/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Erwin, I checked in Lager's book: Leica: An Illustrated History Vol II Lenses. He shows two different cross sections for the collapsible (SOOIC, SOOIC-M) and rigid (SOSTA, SOSIC/SOMNI) Summicrons (SM and M respectively) on p54 (SM) and p 166-7 (M). Both seven element designs. Apparently at different times Leitz showed different cross sections with the rigid lens in brochures. But they ARE different. Just look at the lenses side by side. Adam On Wed, 28 Jan 1998, Erwin Puts <imxputs@knoware.nl> wrote: >>Dave, >>Increase your version number by one, ie the current optical design is >>v 4, since the original collapsible and firest rigid chrome lenses are >>distinct >>optical designs.... > >This statement has been made several times and has never been proved. The >original Leica brochure from 1954, describing the introduction of the >Summicron, including its optical properties, show the identical design for >both versions. My own findings support the conclusion that the collapsible, >the rigid and the DR are optically identical. Unless somebody gives really >factual and conclusive evidence to the contrary, I would prefer to state >that there were inly three designs and the current one is number 3 and not >number 4. >Erwin > >