The Summar 5cm, a high-speed lens emblematic of pre-war Leitz craftsmanship. Featuring a nickel barrel, this particular example is the early black-rim Summar, a model produced briefly after the initial rigid-barrel version. The front of the barrel is finished in black paint, and the Leitz product code is SUMUS. This lens, with a serial number in the 190,000 range, was manufactured in 1933.
It features a hexagonal aperture, is uncoated, and has a continental-style aperture scale with distance markings in meters. The optical design consists of 4 groups and 6 elements. When shot wide open, it exhibits noticeable field curvature at the edges and delivers the characteristic rich bokeh of a double-Gauss lens.
The Rigid Summar used a rotating helicoid like the Elmar and Hektor, but this collapsible version introduced a straight helicoid. According to Jim Lager's writings, Leitz even offered official upgrades from the fixed-barrel Summar to the collapsible version at the time.
This vintage Summar exudes timeless charm and pairs beautifully with a Leica DII or DIII, making it a quintessential choice for collectors and photographers alike.
The lens shows light scuffs across various parts, including the collapsible barrel, but no significant scratches or dents. For an early black-front Summar, its external condition is quite good.
The black paint on the front edge is worn all around, exposing the brass beneath, while the nickel plating retains a subdued shine, with only slight brass exposure on the edges of the base.
The lens underwent a full overhaul in November 2024. Both the aperture ring and helicoid operate smoothly, with excellent precision. The rangefinder coupling is perfectly aligned, and focus is accurate.
Optically, the front element has numerous faint cleaning marks, and the glass shows signs of aging and deterioration. These imperfections slightly affect performance in backlit conditions, producing a generally soft rendering. Sample images demonstrating its character are available in the gallery.
Includes original Bakelite front and rear caps.
A rare and collectible piece.
