A Method of Using a Polarizer on Summitar & Other Leica SM Lenses

Putting a polarizer on a Summitar lens once required a special swing-out mount with built-on hood, such as the early Leitz NY FISUM, or the later 13352, both of which clamped onto a 42mm front flange. While these filters were swung out they could be looked through and rotated to the required setting, and then swung back over the lens, the 180 degree rotation maintaining the same setting. But these old polarizers would be difficult to find now in usable shape, the old polarizers being prone to separation, even if once located. The more recent polarizer (introduced in 1998, Lager) was the Leitz 13356 which could be mounted on several lenses by means of one of three intermediate rings screwed into the E39 filter threads of lenses from 28 up to 50mm. But none of them could be used on the Summitar’s unique inset filter thread, so for some time it has been difficult to put a polarizer onto a Summitar.

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50mm Summitar, seen from the side, 12504 hood with VII polarizer mounted, and lmarect finder to see over the hood.

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However one present-day solution is to use the round and vented clip-on hood number 12504, as shown below, if you already have or can find one. It was originally designed for the black version of the 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M (not the ASPH) and the early six-element 35mm f/2 Summicron-M, both of which which had no filter threads, but it also fits the 42mm diameter flanges of all the 50mm Summicron SM and the 35 and 50mm Summicron-M lenses – and, good news! – it also fits a Summitar of any age whether the lens has the later hood-gripping groove around it or not. Even without the groove, the hood’s clips hold it well enough on the illustrated early 1946 version of the lens. The hood consists of a two-piece ring which holds a series VII filter, which can then be clipped onto a lens at any point in rotation. With a polarizer mounted in it, the hood can be held in the hand and rotated in front of the eye to find the best setting, and then be clipped onto the lens in that same position. Of course the hood can also take any filter made in that size – such as a UVA for protection from rain – or any other filters not available in the original Summitar mount. The rule to remember with a polarizer is to allow one and a half stops (factor of 3x) more exposure while it is on the lens.

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A 35mm Elmar, with its black FLQOO hood, onto which is clipped the 12504 with series VII polarizer mounted in it.

This same hood with polarizer can also be clipped onto the proper hoods of the 35mm Elmar or Summaron f/3.5 lenses with A-36 size front flange, since the diameter of the hoods for both lenses is the correct 42mm. The spring-loaded clips will keep the hood from falling off during use, but be careful since it won’t be locked in place well enough for carrying. A little black masking tape around the hood will provide a better grip and prevent scratches. The 12504 hood with filter can be rotated by eye and then clipped onto the hood in the same way as with the Summitar, but with the proviso that the focus of the lens not be changed after the filter is put on, as the rotating lens mount will turn the filter to an incorrect position. This is not usually a problem with 35mm lenses, as their great depth of field needs minimal focus change. And 90 or 135mm lenses can also be used in this way – using the same 35mm hoods on them – but the rotating lens mounts will require some extra care in maintaining focus and polarizer orientation together.

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A Visoflex II with OUBIO tripod adapter, onto which is added a chrome OTZFO focusing mount and black 65mm Elmar. A series VI to VII step-up ring is shown holding the series VII polarizer which can be mounted and rotated directly on the series VI front flange of the 65mm Elmar.

You can even use a polarizer with a Visoflex I or II with several lenses for studio or outdoor work. For instance the same series VII polarizer can be fitted onto the series VI lens flange of the black second version 65mm f/3.5 Elmar-V (the chrome first version having a less usable filter size of E-41) using a step-up ring from series VI to VII and taking the same series VII filter as above. The effect of the filter during rotation can then be seen while viewing the Visoflex screen. 90 and 135mm lenses can also be used with the same 35mm hood and clipped-on 12504 arrangement as above.

These methods of using a series VII polarizer are also very useful with filters of all types, such as correction filters for fluorescent or studio flood lights, or graduated filters for lightening a shaded landscape under a bright sky.