Leica Summaron 35mm f/2.8 with OVU SIMWO M3

Leica Summaron 35mm f/2.8 with OVU SIMWO

This is the "goggled" Summaron, the version of Leica's 35mm f/2.8 wide-angle built specifically to work with the Leica M3. Because the M3 finder lacks 35mm frame lines, the lens carries an attached optical viewfinder attachment that magnifies the wider field down into the M3's existing frame lines, letting the photographer compose and focus for 35mm coverage [1][3]. The accessory designation evolved during production: it was first catalogued as SIMOO-MW and later renamed SIMWO, and it carries model number 11106.

The Summaron arrived in 1958 as part of a generational refresh of Leica's 35mm rangefinder line. Between 1956 and 1958 Leica brought out three M-mount 35mm lenses for the M2 and M3, the slower f/3.5 Summaron carried over from the screw-mount era, this new f/2.8 Summaron, and the faster 35mm f/2 Summicron[2]. The f/2.8 was positioned as the affordable wide-angle option below the costlier Summicron and the later 35mm Summilux. Optically it uses a six-element, four-group symmetrical double-Gauss type layout, focuses to 0.65 m on the M3, takes common 39mm filters, and uses a ten-blade diaphragm in a compact chromed-brass barrel weighing about 210 g. Both the Summaron and the contemporary Summicron were offered in two forms, a goggled version for the M3 and a plain version originally intended for the M2. Some goggled examples are seen with a factory-fitted screw-to-bayonet adapter, an indication that the lens was built on the chassis of the LTM screw-mount Summaron (SIMOO / 11006).

For buyers, the key identification points are the attached goggles, the SIMWO designation, and the 11106 model number; the plain (non-goggled) M version carries the separate number 11306. The goggled lens will work on later M bodies, though the 0.65 m close-focus figure is associated with the M3, while use on M2, M4 and similar cameras is generally quoted at 0.70 m. The lens is relatively plentiful, was made in larger numbers than the early Summicron, and prices have risen steadily without a sudden spike.

Optical qualities

Rendering The Summaron is widely described as a well-mannered classic lens rather than a dramatic one. It renders with moderate "classy" character wide open and becomes notably sharp and contrasty when stopped down, performing well as a general-purpose lens, particularly on black-and-white film.

Sharpness Center sharpness is strong, and reviewers comparing it to a modern reference note that by f/5.6 to f/8 it produces crisp, contrasty results well suited to street and daylight shooting; wide open at greater focus distances it loses some sharpness and contrast.

Distortion and vignetting The Summaron is regarded as a strong performer for distortion control, beating comparable contemporaries such as the W-Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 and a modern Voigtlander Color Skopar in side-by-side testing. It is also corrected well for field curvature and chromatic aberration.

Flare resistance It does not flare as readily as some single-coated rivals of its era, and reviewers report it generally avoids heavy flare, contrast loss, or distortion in normal use, though, like most classic lenses, hood use is advised.

History

Development and Launch The f/2.8 Summaron was introduced in 1958, the first time Leica owners could choose among several 35mm lenses, with the Summaron and the Summicron 35mm f/2 reaching the market the same year. It replaced the earlier 35mm f/3.5 Summaron as the standard moderate-speed wide-angle and sat below the faster, more expensive Summicron and, from 1960, the Summilux. After the Summaron was discontinued in 1974, Leica would not offer another M-mount 35mm lens slower than f/2 until the 35mm f/2.5 Summarit of 2007.

Special editions The lens family includes the plain M version (11306) and the goggled M3 version covered here (11106), alongside a screw-mount LTM Summaron and a dual-mount variant supplied with a screw-to-bayonet adapter. No widely documented military or commemorative factory editions of this specific lens are commonly reported beyond these mount and finish variants.

Collector Notes Confirm the goggles are present, intact, and correctly fitted, since they are integral to the 11106's purpose on the M3, and verify the SIMWO designation and 11106 number when buying. The plain 11306 will mount and shoot on an M3 but will not show full 35mm framing in the finder, so do not confuse it with the goggled version. Be aware some examples are built on the screw-mount chassis with a factory adapter, and that a common, generally undesirable modification exists that buyers are advised to avoid. Several period hoods fit the lens, including the metal 12585(H), its plastic 12538 equivalent, the IROOA, the 12504, and the 12526, and the standard 39mm filter thread makes filters easy to source.