SUMMICRON R 35mm (Typ-I)
Not called the legendary nine-elements.
A review and Photo example of the SUMMICRON R 35mm F2 (Typ-I).
Table of contents
Gallery
- Sample photo taken with the LEICA SL Typ601.
Review
1．Overview
The Summicron-R 35mm I-type (old model) was released in 1970 and is a Leica R-mount lens with a focal length of 35mm. Approximately 11,000 units were manufactured.
The lens is made up of 9 elements in 7 groups, weighs 500g, and has 8 aperture blades.
The I-type lens introduced here is available in 1-cam, 2-cam, and 3-cam versions.
The square hood 12509 can accommodate Series 7 filters and is also equipped with a rotating mechanism for PL filters. The hood 12509 is the same as the Elmarit-R 28mm (first generation) and Elmarit-R 35mm (second generation).
When the hood is removed, there is a hood fixing pin with a tapered tip (also called a fine taper), and the design is similar to that of the Summilux-R 50mm (first generation), Elmarit-R 28mm (first generation), and Elmarit-R 35mm (second generation).
The first M-mount Summicron has some impressive nicknames, such as the legendary 8-element lens, and it would seem that the first R-mount Summicron could have a similar legend, but no nickname or legend remains to refer to it.
This is probably due to the fact that Japanese manufacturers are strong in the field of lenses for SLR cameras, while Leica has a small presence, and there are few users of these lenses.
2．Usability
The Summicron-R 35mm I-type (old model) is an older lens design, and compared to the sharpness in the center, the resolution in the corners is obviously lower and roughness can be seen.
This lens is best suited for scenes that make the most of the subject near the center. If you want to get a uniform image across the entire 35mm format, it is better to use the latest lens.
When used with the medium-format digital camera HASSELBLAD X2D, the vignetting is hardly noticeable, but the corners, where roughness is noticeable in 35mm, are more noticeable due to the wider sensor size.
R-mount lenses from the early 1970s are characterized by pinned hoods, and many lenses, such as the SUMMILUX 50mm (old model), ELMARIT 19mm (old model), and ELMARIT 24mm, use the same type of hood.
Though the image is old, the heavy lens and the large curved front lens make you want to own it.
The lens I own is a 3-cam modified with a ROM terminal, and it is a rare lens because it is not often seen on eBay. I bought it on consignment at a yellow shop with a cross on it in Ginza.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the old Summicron-R 35mm Type I, its image quality is lacking when compared to digital cameras with 20 megapixels or more.
However, it is quite usable with low-pixel SLR cameras and film, so it can be used effectively depending on how you use it.
Specification and Competitor
The original R-mount Summicron 35mm had a lens configuration of 9 elements in 7 groups, and the CARL ZEISS DISTAGON 35mm F2 for SLR cameras was a similar lens with 9 elements in 7 groups.
The DISTAGON 35mm F2 was released in 2006 for Nikon F mount and M42 mount without a built-in CPU, and shortly thereafter for Pentax K mount.
In 2010, the Nikon F and Canon EF with the same lens configuration but with a built-in CPU were released.
In 2016, the Nikon F and Canon EF were released, with the same lens configuration but with a built-in CPU and a new exterior and brand name, MILVUS.
The lens configuration diagram for the old Summicron is on page 51 of Quarterly Classic Camera No. 17, “Special Feature: Leica SLR R Lenses vs. M Lenses,” so I have traced it and shown it below. Comparing the two, the Summicron R 35mm (Old) has lenses scattered throughout the entire lens barrel, while the Distagon (now Milvus) 35mm F2 has lenses concentrated in the rear lens, making them completely different. However, it is interesting to note that they look the same just by looking at the name.
| Lens name | SUMMICRON R 35mm(Typ-I) | DISTAGON 35mm |
| focal length(mm) | 35 | 35 |
| Maximum aperture | 2 | 2 |
| Minimum aperture | 16 | 22 |
| Lead blade | 8 | 9 |
| Lens configuration | 9element in 7group | 9element in 7group |
| Minimum distance(m) | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Lens length(mm) | 61.5 | 72(Nikon-F) |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 66 | 63.4(Nikon-F) |
| Lens hood | 12509 | Bayonet type cylindrical hood |
| Filter diameter(mm) | Series 7(or E48) | 58 |
| Weight(g) | 508 (with hood and Filter 569) | 240 |
| Lens mount | LEICA R | NIKON-F |
| Production numbers | 11,316 | – |
| Release date | 1970 | 2006 |
Reference links
Update history
- 2025.1.13
- 2024.02.26
- 2022.06.15
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