Summaron 35mm f3.5, early version with A36 filter mount, Leica screw mount. Serial number in the 760,000 range, manufactured in 1950. The Leitz product code is SOONC. It features a double-Gauss optical design with 6 elements in 4 groups. The distance scale is marked in feet, and it accepts A36 clamp-on filters.

Introduced in 1946 as the successor to the Elmar 35mm f3.5, the Summaron is slightly taller and heavier than the Elmar, yet it remains extremely compact and highly portable. Its classic appearance is also part of the charm of this vintage lens.

The lens offers excellent resolution in the center, while the natural falloff toward the corners when used near wide open creates a wonderfully dramatic atmosphere. Despite its impressive rendering, the Summaron was produced in relatively large numbers and remains reasonably priced, making it one of the most approachable classic Leica wide-angle lenses.

However, the Summaron is also well known for developing haze, and its optical performance can vary considerably depending on the condition of the glass.

The correct lens hood is the FOOKH.

This is an item previously sold by our shop and has now returned to us. Its condition remains just as beautiful as when we last sold it, with no noticeable scuffs and almost no signs of use.

A full overhaul was completed in 2025. Thanks to the thorough servicing, both the aperture ring and helicoid remain very smooth to operate. Rangefinder coupling is also spot-on.

The internal elements show slight coating deterioration that is only visible under strong LED light, and close inspection with a loupe reveals one small spot of balsam separation. Neither should have any noticeable effect on actual images. Overall, the glass is in quite good condition. Test shots, including those taken against the light, produced excellent results.

Third-party front and rear caps are included.