Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>Gary, > >I copy you a message that, on April 98, Don Mc Clure posted to the list >about the topic you are interested in.I never tried it,though. > >Enjoy > >Ernesto > >PMFJI, > >I don't know about Summarits, but I did dismantle and clean my "free" >Summar last week. It had big chunks of black paint floating around in it >between the two main lens groups. (SNIP) Hello All, I was going to post the Summar disassembly story myself, but I lost it when my email database crashed a few months ago. Thanks Ernesto! I just want to add that the process isn't as difficult as it sounds, if you have the correct tools. The problem with my Summar was stuff between the two main groups. According to Laney, Summars are six elements, with the middle four cemented into two separate pairs. The rear three elements are mounted together in one unit that unscrews easily. I didn't need to take apart the front three elements, so I don't know how it is done. There are not spanner notches in the front mount of my Summar (No. 407357--from 1937--for those of you who like full serial numbers). Maybe you can get in by taking off the aperture ring. But maybe you shouldn't worry about how cloudy your Summar is and just enjoy it as is. Front element problems sometimes don't interfere with a lens' performance that dramatically, other than causing flare and lowering contrast. I didn't really see much improvement in mine after I removed the chunks of black paint. It is pretty sharp at f6.3-f9. Wider than f4.5, it is quite soft and lovely, with a good deal of vignetting wide open. Colors are a little desaturated (even Velvia), but the lack of contrast with B&W can be adjusted somewhat if you do your own souping. I need a hood for my Summar, but haven't been able to locate a SOOMP. Does anybody have one for sell, or know of a substitute? Don McClure Leica Cheapskate, Reactionary and Long Time LUG Lurker (I wouldn't buy a 35 1.4 ASPH even if I could afford it. Maybe someday I'll get an old version 35 Summilux if enough of you people upgrade and drive the prices down.)