LEICA SUMMICRON M 35mm (6elements)

A six-element Summicron with solid image quality

Review and Photo example of the SUMMICRON-M 35mm 6-elements.

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Gallery

Photo example with LEICA M typ240 digital camera.

Review

Overview
Usage
Add info

1．Overview

The Summicron-M 35mm 6-element lens is a wide-angle Summicron for the Leica M mount.
The M-type Summicron, which is called the 6-element lens, is often called the second generation depending on how it is counted, and is further divided into early and late models based on the difference in the lens barrel.
The difference between the early and late models is the appearance, such as the addition of corners to assist in rotating the aperture ring.

The lens introduced here is a late model of 6-element lenses, and 15,620 were produced between 1971 and 1979.
This lens does not support modifications that add 6-bit code for lens recognition because the lens mount bracket structure is old.

The late model of 6-element lenses has a simple, flat appearance except for the protrusion of the focus lever, and is a moderate size that matches the M-type Leica, and I feel that it goes well with the macho early digital Leica M-type cameras.
The lens I have is made by Leitz Canada, has serial number 266xxxx, and was manufactured in 1973.

2．Usage

I’ve used several of them, and they generally provide flawless, solid images even at full aperture.
The last lens I used has a soft, emotional image (probably due to the fact that the lens I own is a little cloudy), and is worth considering if you’re tired of modern 35mm lenses.

The official compatible hood is called IROOA, and is popular for its unique trumpet-shaped appearance, and many compatible hoods are made.
The hoods in the photo below are a safari-colored compatible hood sold by Mapcamera on the left, and a compatible hood from an unknown manufacturer on the right. Both hoods have double hooks and can be attached in reverse, but the lens I own cannot be attached in reverse because the focus lever interferes with a reverse-attached hood.
There are also IROOA-compatible hoods made by UN, a company that releases many classic camera compatible products, and recently IROOA-compatible hoods made in China have also been seen.

3．Add info.

The M-Summicron has been released in a variety of unique lenses, including the legendary 8-element, modern 7-element, aspherical, and APO, and this lens, commonly known as a 6-element lens, is a somewhat unspectacular lens among the M-Summicron 35mm.

For that reason, it can sometimes be found at a low price if its condition is slightly poor, so if you’re happy with its condition, it’s a lens worth acquiring.

Specification

Items	8 elements	6 elements	7 elements	Asperical
focal length(mm)	35	35	35	35
Maximum aperture	2	2	2	2
Minimum aperture	16	16	16	16
Apature blade	10	10	10	8
Lens configuration	6groups 8elements	4groups 6elements	5groups 7elements	5groups 7elements
Minimum distance(m)	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7
Lens length(mm)	28.4	30	26	34.5
Lens max diameter(mm)	51	51	51	53
Filter diameter(mm)	39	39	39	39
Weight(g)	150	179 Actual measured values of owned units	160	225(Black) 340(chrome)
Release to end	1958〜1969	1969〜1972 1972〜1977	1979〜1999	1996〜
Production numbers	38,450	12,400 15,620	52,993	–