Ancient Standard Lens 3: LEITZ SUMMITAR 5cm F2
A review and Photo example of the SUMMITAR 5cm F2.
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Table of contents
Gallery
Sample photo taken with the LEICA M9.
Review
1．Overview
The Summitar 5cm f/2 is a standard lens released by Leica in 1938.
Its main specifications are listed below, with details in the table.
- Aperture: f/2
- Lens Construction: 7 elements in 4 groups
- Aperture Blades: 6
- Minimum Focus: 1.0m
- Leica M Rangefinder Camera Rangefinder Coupling: 1.0m
- Hood: “SOOPD” and “SOOFM.” The two hoods have the same dimensions; the only difference is the lens name engraved on them.
2．Usability
The Summar 5cm f/2 has the same Gaussian lens construction as its predecessor, the Summar, but the front element is a cemented lens, which means it has one more piece of glass than the Summar.
The resulting image quality is comparable to the Summar in the center, but the edges are more refined, suggesting a more advanced lens than the Summar. Still, it doesn’t quite compare to the slightly more expensive retractable Summicron. Therefore, if you’re looking for a practical 50mm f/2, we recommend the slightly more expensive Summicron.
The filter thread on the Summar is recessed slightly from the front of the lens, with a unique 36.5mm diameter, meaning regular filters cannot be used.
Leica sells specialized filters, which can sometimes be found on the used market.
Third-party manufacturers also sell 36.5mm to 39mm conversion rings, which allow you to use standard 39mm filters. Furthermore, the filter part uses the same standard as the Steinheil Orthostigmat 35mm, so the Summitar’s filter adapter ring can be used.
Of course, if you want to try out a variety of lenses, there are many available on the used market, making it easy to choose the condition of the lens, and since the lenses are inexpensive, it’s great to try them out and find one you like.
The number of Summitars produced is 170,000, exceeding the 120,000 produced by its predecessor, the Summar. The lens with a higher production number is the original Summicron 50mm f/2, with a total of 250,000 units. However, since Summicrons come in a variety of types, such as retractable, fixed, and eyeglass-mounted, the production numbers for each type would likely be in the tens of thousands. It is estimated that this lens is the most produced of any lens with a retractable lens barrel, which is its distinctive feature.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the SUMMITAR 5cm F2 can be summed up as a standard lens that could not become a Summicron. Since the Summitar was produced in large numbers, if you search patiently, you may be able to find a lens in good condition, although it may be expensive.
Specifications, considerations, etc.
Leica experimented with f/2 standard lenses until the Summicron was released in 1951, and the lens configuration was seven elements in four groups. The Summicron was a high-performance lens thanks to the addition of spacers called air lenses to the four groups and seven elements.
| Items | Hektor | Summar | Summitar | Summicron |
| Focal length | 5(cm) | ← | ← | ← |
| Max aperture | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min aperture | 18 | 12.5 | 12.5/16 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 6 | 6/10 | 6 | 10/16 |
| Lens Construction | 6elements in 3groups | 6elements in 4groups | 7elements in 4groups | ← |
| Min distance(m) | 1.0 | ← | ← | ← |
| Lens length(mm) | 32 | – | – | – |
| レンズ最大径(mm) | 47 | 47.8 | 47.8 | 47 |
| Filter size(mm) | A36 | ← | 36.5 | 39 |
| Hood | FIKUS | FIKUS/SOOMP | SOOPD | SOOFM / IROOA / ITDOO |
| Weight(g) | 190 130 | 205 180 | 240 | – |
| Release date | 1930 | 1933 | 1938 | 1951 |
| Production number | 5,600 | 127,950 | 172,390 | 253,314 |
Reference links
- Leica Wiki Summitar 5cm F2
- Classic Camera Selection 19: How to Identify Leica Lenses (Asahi Sonorama) – Amazon Affiliate Link
- Leica lenses (Shashin Kogyosha) – Amazon affiliate link
- There is a review of the Summit P100 by Kyu Goto
- The book describes the specifications and the differences in specifications, but does not mention lens depiction.
- The appendix includes a diagram of the lens construction.
Affiliate links
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Update history
- 2024.06.06
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