Whole Lotta Leica - May's Lens for the M9 is the Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 LTM

 

Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 LTM, ca. 1949-1960

 

This month's pick for my Whole Lotta Leica (WLL) series, where I pair up a different "normal" focal length lens with the Leica M9 is the Summaron 3.5cm (35mm) Leica Thread Mount (LTM).

 

This is one of those sleeper lenses that gets underestimated because of its relative small maximum aperture of f3.5. However, it's capable of great things.

 

I got mine along with an old LTM camera kit I bought on eBay. This was the diamond in the rough in that bag. It is in great shape, and looked pretty much unused, except for some haze on the internal elements. A quick trip to DAG fixed that, and now it's really a great little lens.

 

And by little, I mean little. I compare it to the Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 that was my WLL pick for February. While my Nikkor is also in beautiful shape and faster, the Summaron outperforms the Nikkor in image quality.

 

(Click Here) to go to my WLL page and see all of the lenses I've used in the series so far, along with results.

 

Here's one of my favorite shots from the Summaron, made with a Leica CL film camera.

Harpers Ferry Train Station, by Reed A. George

Leica CL, Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 Lens

 

This image has won contests and even sold prints.

 

This lens has a great way of handling color, quite warm and subtle. Below is an image I shot in an afternoon project on a business trip to Concord, Mass. It was Halloween, and I shot pictures of the pumpkins around town with my CL and the Summaron 3.5cm.

 

Pumpkins of Concord, by Reed A. George

Leica CL, Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 Lens

 

(Click Here) to see the whole Pumpkins of Concord series.

 

But, this month, we'll see how the Summaron performs with digital sensor technology, on the M9. I'm pretty sure it's going to do great.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Skeletons From The Closet Camera For May: The Minolta Autocord TLR!

 

Minolta Autocord, May's SFTC Camera

This month's camera actually isn't coming out of the closet - it's never been in there yet. It's a Minolta Autocord, with 75mm f3.5 Rokkor lens. This is a twin lens reflex (TLR) camera that shoots twelve square images on a roll of 120 medium format film. It's very similar in design to the Rolleiflex.

This is my first Minolta TLR. In fact, I have not used much Minolta equipment at all, other than the awesome Rokkor 40mm f2 that I shoot on my Leica CL. I also have a Minolta 45mm f3.5 lens in Leica Thread Mount (LTM), which I'll be shooting for my Whole Lotta Leica series sometime soon. Other than that, I don't have much experience with Minolta equipment.

I ended up with this Autocord after seeing it posted on a forum for a very good price. Once I'd agreed and paid, the seller nicely informed me that he just realized the shutter button was intermittently sticking. So, I decided that I would cancel my order; who wants a camera that may or may not expose an image when you press the shutter release? Well, the seller went one step further, and sent the camera off to Karl Bryan, a highly respected repairman in Oregon who specializes in Autocords. Then, he offered me the fully CLA'd camera for only $75 more than the original asking price. So, I got a fully refurbished camera for a great deal!

Let me tell you that almost everyone considers Rollei to be the top of the line in TLRs, and I agree. I have a couple of nice 3.5 Rolleis (have always wanted but never sprung for a Rolleiflex with f2.8 lens), and they are spectacular. HOWEVER, the view on the ground glass of this Autocord is brighter and prettier than any of my Rolleis. If the taking lens is similar, this is going to be one awesome picture taking machine, and the Autocord lenses have a great reputation. So, I'm really looking forward to seeing some results with this camera.

So, wish me luck! May is a great month to get to know such a gorgeous new/old camera.

DMC-365.blogspot.com