[Leica] Leica M3 plus Summilux and Summaron

[h_arche at yahoo.com (H. Ball Arche)]

If it turns out that you like shooting wide, than consider trading out the 
body before giving up that Summaron. You'll want the M2's broader 
viewfinder, and that lens really is a great one. I really like the one I 
have, but I'm in the opposite situation of owning the goggled version and 
shooting it on an M2 (want to trade?). In the end I couldn't afford the M2 
version. The deal you got is like "buy this lens, and for a couple of 
hundred bucks more I'll throw in this body and prime". 

Here's a link to what Tom A. thinks of all the various 35's he'd used at the 
time; he talks about the Summaron at the very end:
http://tinyurl.com/58jljx



--- On Thu, 3/19/09, Leina Gonzalez <gonzalel at online.de> wrote:

> From: Leina Gonzalez <gonzalel at online.de>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica M3 plus Summilux and Summaron
> To: lug at leica-users.org
> Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 11:04 AM
> Thanks guys! And for your advice George, Arche, and to all
> who told me to "take the deal." In any case, it is
> a great camera after all, I think I was wavering because
> I'd never used either of the lenses and that I could
> potentially be overpaying. I know think that isn't the
> case, you've all helped me with that. I did have my mind
> set on an M2 with a wide angle but this deal seems to be the
> best that I can find. And after having read lots, it seems
> to me that the lens is a M2 Summaron version, if I can call
> it that.  I was confused as to the idea that there was a
> goggle-less M3 version that "worked" on the M3.  I
> don't they exist given the need for an external
> viewfinder or a goggled version. The owner has indeed told
> me that it is a model that is without the goggles, that it
> was used on the camera but I don't think often enough
> considering the fact it is practically new.  I think I will
> have to see how I use the camera, before I think about
> swapping out lenses. I fins a discussion on the rangefinder
> forum in which folks use the Summaron 2.8 3without a
> viewfinder and argue that the M3 viewfinder has a 40mm view,
> and that focusing isn't a problem.
> 
> The pre-ASPH, second version Summilux should be nice too
> but I think I read only at certain apertures. (Stopped down
> I think.) Any clues???
> 
> Sorry for the beginner questions, but I've been
> thinking about this for many (many) months after having used
> a Leicaflex SL with a Summicron 50 and recently a IIIc/Elmar
> and basically I've become hopelessly hooked. With regard
> to the Summaron, I'm not sure if they designed it that
> way but it is interesting to hear from you all that have the
> lens and use it without the viewfinder. Thanks Charles and
> Marc for the external viewfinder suggestion, I checked and
> mercy are those expensive! Anywhere from 300-600 euros
> depending on condition, maybe I will stumble on one some
> day.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
> information