Tacitus
History
Reged: 17/01/2006
Posts: 871
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Here are some links to a few photos taken with a 'new' 1953 Summaron 3.5cm f3.5. The camera was a Leica IIIf and the film Kodak Gold 200. This isn't a 'test', just some samples that show how a 55 year old lens performs in real life.
'Modern' architecture, Exhibition Road, London
Medium res. version (link)
'Ancient' and modern architecture, Imperial College, Exhibition Road, London
Medium res. version (link)
Lincoln Cathedral (2 photos)
Medium res. version (link)
Medium res. version (link)
Summary:
Disregarding the dubious quality of the film, developing and commercial scans, this tiny lens produces images which are sharp, well saturated and free from distortions. There is no vignetting, and the lens is really quite flare resistant. Apertures used were between f8 & f11, and while a degree of softness is visible in the outer areas of the image frame, overall the lens compares very favourably to my 35mm f2.8 AI Nikkor (which doesn't fit a Leica of course). It is apparent from the scans that the lens is capable of more detail than Kodak Gold (yuk!) can handle.
And for pixel peepers (no post-processing):
100% crop at centre of the first Cathedral photo
100% crop from corner of the first Cathedral photo
Other photos may bee seen on my my Flickr pages.
.T.
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Zou
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 2087
Loc: Edinburgh
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Impressive stuff. I bet it'd do well with a roll of Velvia... 
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Zou's Flickr Page
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TimF
Senior Member
Reged: 30/07/2001
Posts: 16038
Loc: Herts/Beds border
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Some years back, when AP's esteemed former editor was researching for buying a Leica there was a correspondence in the magazine's letters pages. One comment burnt into my brain, which was that these old lenses (and the writer was really referring to screw-mount lenses much older than this one) were just waiting for film good enough to come along to show off their real capabilities.
This just reinforces that impression. I once owned a Summaron 35mm/2.8 in M-mount which was a reallly good piece of kit. Only the contrast, which was a touch less than more recent glass made the difference, but that's down to individual preference more than anything. Enjoy!! 
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Tim BSRIPN
The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people's reality, and eventually in one's own - Susan Sontag
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Tacitus
History
Reged: 17/01/2006
Posts: 871
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Thanks for the comments.
Another Summaron image (Lincoln Cathedral):
Link to large (600kb) image
And for comparison one taken with a Canon A640):
Link to large (640kb) image
As Zou says, the Summaron and Velvia (and good quality scanning) could be a winning combination ... and it's more fun to use than a digital camera
.T.
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Heric
newbie
Reged: 31/03/2008
Posts: 12
Loc: Milan, Italy
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Congratulations on the photographs
The yield of is truly remarkable for being produced many years ago
I really like
Hello
Heric
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http://newnonsololeica.blogspot.com/
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Tacitus
History
Reged: 17/01/2006
Posts: 871
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Ciao Heric
Grazie per le vostre parole gentili. I have just looked at your other post - molto buon - Italian cities can look timeless in black and white ...
.T.
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