Summaron 3.5cm A36, an old lens on new Leica M240

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Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 A36 version year 1953 on Leica M240 using Rayqual LTM to M adapter (from Japan)

Year 1953, 61 years ago this Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 produced with leica screw mount for Leica III the Leica screw mount camera on that day.

61 years later, the lens still in very good shape like new on it body, the lens pieces still very good also, I fond it few month ago with some haze in 2 surfaces of 2 inside lens pieces and after try with lens cleaning agent, now it no visible, no effected.
The flaw of this lens because it age is on the coating which now it not enough to prevent strong flare from the strong light sources. But as I did start using it on my Leica M240, would say "I start to love this old time character lens more and more"

Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 on Leica M240 at f16 iso400 1/100sec
Download to LR5 then exported to HDR Efex pro 2 for the color and effect enhancement.

With stop down to near to the most smallest aperture, this lens is good on today standard of sharpness field covering but it details resolution (which always opposite to the contrast) is high then after using software tools to enhance the detail it become very good lens on today standard.

Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 A36 on Leica M240 at f16 iso400 1/250sec

Now to seen how it bad (or good) in flare resistance, this picture is perfect to present the flare resistance performance of this old lens (we should always remember that he is so old, 61 already). At the centre area where the sun reflects create a flares over the nearer surrounding area, this made it look soft. And the second effect is the sun star effect is not normal on today lens. Would say that the one whom like to use this old lens should bare and can live with this flaw (or special character).

left to right: Rayqual type II, Voigtlander type I and Chinese made one

To use it on Leica M240, I did using the LTM to M adapter with coding of Tri-Elmar 24-35-50 Zoom lens, set the camera to automatic lens coding detection and with the frame selector of the adapter is 35mm frame then it automatic select the 35mm f4 of this Tri-Elmar zoom lens selection.
It made easy work and to remember which lens been using but to find the right adapter it take me to tried on many adapter (included the coding issue) because this old lens having the infinity focus lock mechanisms very low and can obstruct by the adapter itself to not let you unlock the lens from infinity lock. On the above picture, the first left one (the one I found suitable) and the Chinese one on the right is no problem with the infinity lock mechanism but only the left (black) one and the Voigtlander on the middle let this lens can focus down to near because the right one will block the camera cam and the lens can only focus beyond 5 metres, so the well precisely made is very importance, Japanese made still in my heart.

Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 A36 version on Leica M240 at f3.5 iso1250 1/60sec

In very low light with high iso performance camera like M240 this lens usable especially the character of good sharpness in the center area which the beyond 15mm. center circle will blur with wide open made the lens good for center subject emphasis. If you need the sharpness to cover till the edge you need to stop-down to f16 or f22 which is no drop of center area sharpness, see the next picture.

Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 A36 version on Leica M240 at f16 iso200 1/350sec

Conclusion: this an old lens very well combination with any leica camera because it small but it build like jewels, my one still in very good condition better than many of new age 4-5 years old lens. On performance if you need center sharpness then it well suitable especially if you like to emphasis
only the center area. On outdoor well light which you able to stop down to smallest aperture then the sharpness cover near to the edge of the picture. If you mange to get good one today, enjoy it.

more picture below: