Re: [Leica] Leica IIIa and Summar 50 f2 vs Leica IIIc and Elmar 50 f3.5

[Ted Bradshaw <ted@junior60.demon.co.uk>]

Rich Lahrson <tripspud@wenet.net> wrote:

> I think all of the Summars were uncoated glass;

Very nearly all. There is evidence that some Summars were built immediately
after WW2 and were coated in the factory before sale. Moreover, there are
some examples of the lens that appear to have been coated by Leitz when
returned to the factory for servicing.

The lenses coated by Leitz have a rather soft coating, very different in
terms of durability from the hard coating to be found on contemporary Zeiss
lenses. The coated lenses are therefore quite prone to showing sign of
coating degradation due to over-enthusiastic cleaning by their former
owners.

Ted Bradshaw.