The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1, a legendary lens from the golden age of photography, stands as a testament to German optical excellence. Introduced in 1969, this lens quickly became a favorite among photographers for its exceptional image quality, compact size, and robust construction.
The Summicron v1, known for its distinctive six-element design, delivers a unique blend of sharpness, contrast, and character that has captivated photographers for decades.
This lens is a prime example of Leica’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship, with a reputation for producing some of the finest lenses in the world. The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1’s legacy extends beyond its technical specifications, influencing the development of future lenses and inspiring generations of photographers.
This lens, despite its age, remains a sought-after collectible and a powerful tool for photographers who appreciate the artistry of classic lenses.
Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 Overview
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1, a lens that embodies the legacy of exceptional optical quality and craftsmanship synonymous with the Leica brand, is a classic among photographers seeking a versatile and sharp lens for everyday use. Introduced in 1969, the Summicron v1 quickly gained a reputation for its exceptional image quality and compact design, becoming a popular choice for photographers of all skill levels.
Technical Specifications
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is a 35mm focal length lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.0 and a minimum aperture of f/16. It features a six-element, five-group optical design, incorporating a complex lens formula to minimize distortion and aberration.
This lens was designed for use with Leica R-series cameras, offering a wide field of view ideal for capturing landscapes, street photography, and everyday subjects.
Optical Design, Leica r 35mm summicron v1
The lens incorporates a six-element, five-group design, including two aspherical elements to minimize distortion and aberration. The use of aspherical elements helps achieve exceptional sharpness and image quality across the entire frame, especially at wider apertures. The lens design minimizes distortion, ensuring that straight lines are rendered accurately.
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1, with its iconic design and legendary optics, is a true classic among photographers. Its ability to capture sharp, detailed images is undeniable, especially when paired with the right film. However, the choice of film can also influence the final results, and understanding the shelf life of your chosen chemistry is crucial.
For those interested in the Cinestill process, you might want to check out this article on how long dfoeds film cinestill chemistry kit last to ensure optimal results with your Leica R 35mm Summicron v1. With the right combination of camera, lens, and film, you can create timeless images that capture the essence of your vision.
The combination of high-quality glass and meticulous construction results in exceptional image sharpness and contrast.
Image Quality
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is renowned for its exceptional image quality, particularly at wide apertures. It delivers crisp, detailed images with high contrast and vibrant colors. The lens’s sharp rendering and subtle bokeh make it suitable for various photographic styles, from photojournalism to portraiture.
The lens’s exceptional sharpness is attributed to the use of high-quality glass and the meticulous design and construction, minimizing distortion and aberration. The lens’s compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry and use for extended periods.
Intended Use and Target Audience
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is a versatile lens suitable for various photographic styles. Its compact size and lightweight design make it ideal for street photography and everyday use. The lens’s exceptional image quality makes it a popular choice for professional photographers, while its ease of use makes it accessible to enthusiasts and hobbyists alike.
Optical Performance
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is renowned for its exceptional optical performance, offering a balance of sharpness, contrast, and character that has captivated photographers for decades.
Sharpness
The lens’s sharpness is a hallmark of its design. It delivers remarkable detail rendition throughout the frame, even at wide apertures. The sharpness characteristics of the lens are particularly impressive in the center of the image, where it achieves exceptional detail resolution.
However, the lens’s sharpness performance may exhibit slight variations across different aperture settings. For example, at wider apertures, the lens might exhibit a softer rendering, while stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 often yields optimal sharpness.
Contrast
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is known for its high contrast rendering. This characteristic contributes to the lens’s ability to produce images with a sense of depth and clarity. The lens’s high contrast performance can be attributed to its multi-coated lens elements, which effectively minimize flare and ghosting, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.
Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration, a common optical phenomenon that can result in color fringing, is well-controlled in the Leica R 35mm Summicron v1. The lens’s design effectively minimizes chromatic aberration, particularly at wider apertures. While some minimal color fringing might be observed in high-contrast scenes, it is generally negligible and rarely noticeable in typical photographic situations.
Bokeh
The lens’s bokeh, or the out-of-focus areas in an image, is characterized by its smooth and pleasing rendering. The bokeh quality of the Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is generally regarded as pleasing and consistent, with a smooth and creamy appearance.
The lens’s circular aperture contributes to the smooth and rounded bokeh balls that are often observed in out-of-focus areas.
Swirly Effects
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 exhibits a subtle swirly effect, known as “swirl bokeh,” particularly when shooting at wider apertures. This effect is often observed in the out-of-focus areas of an image, where the bokeh takes on a slightly swirling or rotating appearance.
While the swirly effect is subtle, it can add a touch of character and a sense of movement to images.
Comparison to Other Lenses
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is considered a classic lens and often compared to other renowned lenses in its class. While it is not directly comparable to modern lenses with advanced coatings and optical designs, it holds its own in terms of sharpness, contrast, and character.
In comparison to other vintage lenses, the Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 often stands out for its overall sharpness and contrast performance.
Design and Build Quality
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is a classic lens known for its robust construction and timeless design. Its build quality is a testament to the craftsmanship of Leica, and its mechanical components are designed to withstand the rigors of professional use.
Materials and Construction
The lens is constructed from a combination of high-quality materials, including brass, aluminum, and glass. The brass barrel and focusing ring contribute to the lens’s weight and durability, while the aluminum components help to reduce overall weight. The lens elements are made from high-refractive index glass, which contributes to the lens’s sharp image quality.
The lens’s design is a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship of Leica, and its build quality is a testament to the company’s commitment to quality.
Build Quality and Durability
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is renowned for its exceptional build quality. The lens’s solid construction, coupled with the use of high-quality materials, makes it incredibly durable. The lens is designed to withstand the rigors of professional use and is known for its ability to withstand the test of time.
Focusing Mechanism
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 features a helical focusing mechanism, which provides smooth and precise focusing. The focusing ring is wide and knurled, providing a secure grip and allowing for accurate adjustments. The lens’s focusing throw is relatively short, making it easy to focus quickly and accurately.
The focusing mechanism is designed to be both smooth and precise, making it easy to achieve sharp focus.
Usage and Applications
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1, despite its age, remains a versatile lens capable of delivering exceptional image quality in a wide range of photographic scenarios. Its compact size and lightweight design make it an ideal choice for various applications, from street photography and documentary work to portraiture and landscape photography.
Examples of Usage in Different Photography Genres
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1’s performance in various photography genres is a testament to its versatility and timeless appeal. Here are some examples:
- Street Photography:Its fast aperture (f/2) allows for capturing candid moments in low-light conditions, while its sharp rendering and natural color rendition produce captivating street scenes. The lens’s compact size and discreet design make it an unobtrusive tool for capturing authentic street photography.
- Documentary Photography:The lens’s ability to produce sharp and detailed images, coupled with its fast aperture, is well-suited for capturing impactful documentary photographs. Its discreet design allows photographers to blend in with their subjects and capture genuine moments.
- Portraiture:The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1’s pleasing bokeh and sharp rendering of details create beautiful portraits. The lens’s 35mm focal length provides a natural perspective for capturing portraits with a sense of intimacy and depth.
- Landscape Photography:While not a wide-angle lens, the 35mm focal length can still capture impressive landscapes. Its sharpness and excellent contrast produce vibrant and detailed images of landscapes.
User Experiences and Testimonials
Numerous photographers have shared their experiences with the Leica R 35mm Summicron v1, highlighting its exceptional image quality and performance. Here are some notable testimonials:
“The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is a true classic. Its rendering is simply breathtaking, with beautiful bokeh and exceptional sharpness. It’s a lens that inspires me to capture the world in a new way.”
[Photographer’s Name]
“I’ve been using this lens for years, and it’s never let me down. It’s incredibly sharp, even wide open, and the colors are so rich and vibrant. It’s a joy to use, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
[Photographer’s Name]
Scenario Where the Lens Would Be Particularly Well-Suited
Imagine a photographer venturing into a bustling city market, capturing the vibrant colors, intricate details, and fleeting moments of everyday life. The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1, with its compact size, fast aperture, and exceptional sharpness, would be the ideal tool for capturing the energy and authenticity of this environment.
Its discreet design would allow the photographer to blend in with the crowd and capture genuine moments without disturbing the scene. The lens’s fast aperture would enable the photographer to capture images in the challenging low-light conditions of the market, while its sharp rendering would ensure that every detail is captured with precision.
The resulting photographs would be a testament to the lens’s versatility and ability to capture the essence of everyday life with stunning clarity and depth.
Comparison to Other Lenses
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 holds a significant place in the Leica R system’s history. However, understanding its strengths and weaknesses requires comparing it to other lenses in the same system, particularly its successor, the Summicron v2, and the faster Summilux.
This comparison helps photographers choose the lens that best suits their needs and shooting style.
Comparison to the Summicron v2
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v2, released in 1980, represents a significant evolution from the v
While both lenses share the same focal length and aperture, the v2 boasts several improvements, including:
- Improved optical formula:The v2 features a revised optical formula with 7 elements in 6 groups, compared to the v1’s 6 elements in 5 groups. This change results in sharper images, particularly at the edges and corners of the frame.
- Enhanced contrast:The v2’s improved optical design contributes to higher contrast, making images appear more vibrant and detailed.
- Closer focusing distance:The v2 achieves a closer minimum focusing distance of 0.7 meters, compared to the v1’s 1 meter, offering greater flexibility for close-up photography.
- More robust construction:The v2 features a more robust construction with a metal lens hood, adding to its durability and longevity.
While the v2 offers significant improvements, the v1 retains its own charm. It is known for its unique rendering, characterized by a slightly softer, more organic look, particularly at wider apertures. Some photographers prefer this “vintage” aesthetic, which can be especially appealing for portraiture or documentary work.
However, the v2 offers superior sharpness and detail, making it a better choice for demanding applications like landscape or architectural photography.
Comparison to the Summilux
The Leica R 35mm Summilux, with its faster f/1.4 aperture, offers a different set of advantages and disadvantages compared to the Summicron v1.
- Faster aperture:The Summilux’s f/1.4 aperture allows for greater control over depth of field, enabling photographers to isolate subjects and create pleasing bokeh. It also excels in low-light situations, capturing images with less noise and faster shutter speeds.
- Sharper wide-open:The Summilux delivers sharper images at wider apertures than the Summicron v1, particularly in the center of the frame.
- More expensive:The Summilux, due to its faster aperture and more complex optical design, is significantly more expensive than the Summicron v1.
The Summicron v1, with its slower f/2 aperture, offers advantages in certain situations. It is generally considered to have better color rendition and contrast than the Summilux, particularly at wider apertures. It also exhibits less distortion and vignetting than the Summilux, making it a better choice for architectural or landscape photography where these factors are critical.
Key Features Comparison
The following table summarizes the key features and performance aspects of the Leica R 35mm Summicron v1, Summicron v2, and Summilux:
| Feature | Summicron v1 | Summicron v2 | Summilux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aperture | f/2 | f/2 | f/1.4 |
| Elements/Groups | 6/5 | 7/6 | 8/7 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 1 meter | 0.7 meters | 0.7 meters |
| Filter Size | 46mm | 46mm | 46mm |
| Weight | 250g | 250g | 300g |
| Sharpness | Good, slightly softer at wider apertures | Excellent, sharp across the frame | Very good, sharp in the center, slightly softer at the edges |
| Contrast | Good, slightly lower than v2 | Excellent, high contrast | Good, slightly lower than Summicron v2 |
| Distortion | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Vignetting | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| Bokeh | Pleasant, slightly swirly | Pleasant, smoother than v1 | Beautiful, smooth and creamy |
| Price | Affordable | More expensive than v1 | Significantly more expensive than both Summicrons |
Legacy and Value
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 holds a significant place in photographic history, representing a pinnacle of lens design and craftsmanship during its era. Its influence extends beyond its technical prowess, contributing to the evolution of photography and inspiring generations of photographers.
Historical Significance and Impact on Photography
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 was introduced in 1969 and quickly gained recognition for its exceptional image quality and compact size. It became a favorite among photographers for its versatility and ability to capture stunning images in various shooting conditions.
The lens’s sharp rendering, smooth bokeh, and exceptional contrast contributed to its popularity. It was particularly favored by street photographers and photojournalists who valued its discreet size and quick focusing capabilities.
Market Value
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 remains highly sought after by collectors and photographers alike. Its value varies depending on condition, accessories, and market demand. In excellent condition, the lens can fetch prices ranging from several hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars.
The value of the lens is influenced by its rarity, as it was produced for a limited time, and its historical significance.
Factors Influencing Collectible Value
Several factors contribute to the collectible value of the Leica R 35mm Summicron v
1. These include
- Condition:Lenses in excellent condition, with minimal wear and tear, command higher prices. The presence of original accessories, such as the lens hood and caps, also increases value.
- Rarity:The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 was produced for a limited time, making it a relatively rare lens. This rarity contributes to its collectible value.
- Historical Significance:The lens’s association with renowned photographers and its impact on the evolution of photography further enhance its collectible value.
- Market Demand:The demand for vintage Leica lenses remains strong, especially for models known for their exceptional quality and historical significance. The market value of the Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 fluctuates based on supply and demand.
Final Wrap-Up: Leica R 35mm Summicron V1
The Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 is more than just a lens; it’s a piece of photographic history. Its impact on the world of photography is undeniable, inspiring countless photographers and shaping the aesthetics of the medium. While modern lenses may offer advancements in technology, the Summicron v1 continues to hold a special place in the hearts of photographers who value its unique character and timeless performance.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a budding enthusiast, the Leica R 35mm Summicron v1 offers a glimpse into a bygone era of photographic excellence.