First thoughts on the Summicron

I wish I had a better title for this post. I really do. Unfortunately nothing comes to mind. Which is too bad, as a lens like this one really deserves all the creativity you can put into it, to match what it can put out. I have lusted after a 35mm Summicron (or cron for short, but we'll get to that later) since I sold all of my digital camera equipment almost a year ago to buy the M6. That's right, it has been a year of shooting only film. I have taken some of what I consider to be my best work. Was that the film? Eh, it's debatable. However the passion that it gave me has been received by others in the world as well. With my highest viewed video on YouTube being my talking of the tradition to film. I suppose it is ironic then that one year after I sold my dSLR, I just purchased an Olympus EP3. However the reasons why belong in another post.

So despite all of my lust, I had to take baby steps to get to this point. When I first purchased my M6 I bought a Jupiter 12 to go with it. For those who don't know the Jupiter 12 is a Russian 35mm 2.8 lens based off an old Zeiss design. It is a non retro-focus Biogon that despite being of Soviet blood, actually produced very pleasing results in both color and black and white. Especially when stopped down, so for the nominal $130 it cost me to get a black wide angle moderately fast lens with rangefinder coupling I wasn't going to complain.

Lonely Monkey - Seattle, WA Jupiter 12, Tri-X @ 1600

But as time wore on I saw the limitations of the simple Jupiter. While the optics would suffice, the controls of it left much to be desired. The aperture adjustment was recessed and awkward to adjust often requiring me to pull the camera from my eye to change it around. Which caused more than one missed shot. And I'll admit, I was also superficial enough that it felt strange having such a cheap lens on such a nice camera. So when a simple Voigtlander Color Skoper 35mm 2.5 popped up at a dealer I nabbed it up. What a difference it made, the aperture adjustment was in the right spot, the focus was quick and smooth. The lens was small and most of all. Damn was it sharp.

Accord and Brick - Portland, OR Voigtlander 35mm 2.5, Kodak Gold 200

I was happy with the Voigtlander, running countless rolls with that combination. I had been able to grow so accustomed to it that I knew where the lens was, and what I was going to get from it at any given setting. But the thought of the Summicron was always in the back of my mind. However was it really worth 3-4x what I paid for the Skopar? Unfortunately I wasn't sure.

To get down to what it means to be a Summicron, Leitz lenses have designations based on speed. Of those lenses there are variants based on when the lens was made, and how it was made. Colors, accessories, location, there are many factors going into what you will pay from $800 to $4,000 for a 35mm f/2. The only way to be familiar with it all is to research, something I highly suggest doing before going out and buying one for yourself. So to help, here's a quick breakdown:

Noctilux - Fast fast lenses, f/0.95 - 1.1

Summilux - Fast lenses, f/1.4

Summicron - Quick lenses, f/2

After that it gets convoluted, with the names quickly changed based on focal length, age, etc.

I had spent enough time wanting one that I had become well versed on the subject. So when one popped up on craigslist I had actually played with in the store some months prior (the owner had taken it off consignment to sell himself) I decided to finally go for it.

Now the big question remains, was it worth it? Well truth be told I'm not sure. I know after all of my rambling that is really a pathetic answer. Having just bought it a few days ago I've only been able to run a few rolls through. I can say this, the focus is spot on, the lens is smooth (however I am planning on getting it regressed to be a little quicker to focus) and looking at what it produces I can't say I'm disappointed. There is zero, and I mean zero vignetting or distortion, but then again the Voigtlander didn't really have any either. I am eager to keep shooting though, to finally have a lens that fits the camera as it should. And one that if it comes down to it. I can sell it for more than I paid, because in the end isn't that what matters most?

...no it's the images.

Indoor Carousel - Portland, OR 35mm Summicron, Fuji NPZ 800 @ 400

Jenny on Max - Portland, OR 35mm Summicron, Fuji NPZ 800 @ 400