shaozhuohong Posted March 11, 2009 Share #1 Posted March 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, There are six versions of summicron-m 50mm. which version has the best perfromance? (I unserstand all the Red Dot lenses are built with very high standard:D) Thanks! 1954-1987 chrome 1956-1968 Rigid 1956-1968 DR 1969-1979 black 1980-1995 black 1995- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 Hi shaozhuohong, Take a look here which version of summicron-m 50mm is the best?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
NZDavid Posted March 11, 2009 Share #2 Posted March 11, 2009 There are many posts on this topic as well as examples of images produced by the various 50mm lenses. Check out Erwin Putts: Summicron 2/50mm, and Leica M Lens Users Guide All 50mm lenses are fine performers. All have very high resolution. Generally speaking, the older ones were optimized more for B+W than color, and have slightly lower contrast. But in practice that may make little difference. The rigid Summicron, for example, still produces excellent color pictures despite being 50 years old. (The designation Summicron-M actually came in from the next model.) People will also rave about "bokeh", or the pleasingly soft out-of-focus areas some older lenses produce in comparison with the latest lenses which are uncompromisingly sharp. Older 50s can be a bargain (for Leica), but if you choose one be careful it is in good condition and is not fogged. Black versus chrome doesn't affect the image quality, naturally, but chrome lenses are slightly heavier because of their all-metal construction. Hope this helps! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted March 11, 2009 Share #3 Posted March 11, 2009 Hi, There are six versions of summicron-m 50mm. which version has the best perfromance? (I unserstand all the Red Dot lenses are built with very high standard:D) Thanks! 1954-1987 chrome 1956-1968 Rigid 1956-1968 DR 1969-1979 black 1980-1995 black 1995- There are only 4 versions when it comes to optical design. The Rigid and the DR are optically identical, as are the 1980/95 versions. There is no question that the current version is technically the best lens, but many users like the somewhat softer and less contrasty rendition of the older models. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted March 12, 2009 Share #4 Posted March 12, 2009 Sorry, but I only list 5 major versions 1954 - 1968 = 1st Optical Design (7 Elements) 1969 - 1979 = 2nd Optical Design (7 Elements, Later 6 Elements) 1980 - 1995 = Summicron IV (6 Elements) 1995 - Present = Summicron V (6 Elements, same optical cell as IV version) 1956 - 1968 = Dual Range, near focus model (can not be used on M8 without modification) The optical cell has not changed since 1980. The version IV and version V are identical designs, with the version V having the built-in lens hood. They are all excellent lenses and deliver outstanding image results. In much the same way as the 35mm Summicron, there are many forum users (myself included) that feel the Summicron IV (product code 11819 Black / 11825 Chrome) delivers the best results. If you do go for the Summicron IV, make sure that the lens hood is included with the lens. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted March 12, 2009 Share #5 Posted March 12, 2009 My 2 cents: Any 50 'cron M from 1979 on (ser. no. 2909101) is identical for optical purposes. There are some with focusing tabs on the focus ring, and some without, and some with a separate hood, and the recent ones have the hood built in. Black, chrome, made in Canada, made in Germany. Take your pick - they will all perform the same. Which is extremely well. I had a very early one, and it had a slightly longer close focus limit. It stopped dead on 0.7 meters, whereas the newer ones focus a couple of inches closer (a couple of mms of ring movement past .7 meters) The prior version 1969-1979 (from ser. no. 2269251) has the same resolution with a bit less contrast. Personally I would pick it as the "best" optically because I prefer a bit less contrast - but the difference is much too small to worry about if you have practical considerations such as built-in hood or slightly closer minimum focus. The Dual-range/rigid lenses of 1957-69 (the same optics) have perhaps a bit more absolute resolution than the later lenses, but even lower contrast. The ones I've seen are also distinctly yellower color rendition (I don't know if that is partly aging, or if they were always yellower). Their mechanical build is completely different - heavy chromed and machined brass that is a whole world and time away from the later lenses (if you like that sort of thing). I have no useful experience with the collapsible 50 f/2 - the first in the line from 1953 on. I've gone off 50s for the moment - but if I got another, it would be the current f/2 lens: built-in shade, no focus tab, focuses a touch closer. And I would have no worries about its performance compared to the older designs. Serial nos./dates from E. Puts book Leica Lens Compendium Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted March 12, 2009 Share #6 Posted March 12, 2009 Sorry, but I only list 5 major versions 1954 - 1968 = 1st Optical Design (7 Elements) 1969 - 1979 = 2nd Optical Design (7 Elements, Later 6 Elements) 1980 - 1995 = Summicron IV (6 Elements) 1995 - Present = Summicron V (6 Elements, same optical cell as IV version) 1956 - 1968 = Dual Range, near focus model (can not be used on M8 without modification) The optical cell has not changed since 1980. The version IV and version V are identical designs, with the version V having the built-in lens hood. They are all excellent lenses and deliver outstanding image results. In much the same way as the 35mm Summicron, there are many forum users (myself included) that feel the Summicron IV (product code 11819 Black / 11825 Chrome) delivers the best results. If you do go for the Summicron IV, make sure that the lens hood is included with the lens. Andreas This is not quite precise as what you refer to as the 2nd is the 3rd design. The first design was only around between 1954 - 1957 and was replaced by the 2nd version (Two mounts - DR and Rigid) in 1956-57. Still 7 elements but different optical layout as becomes apparent if one looks at the design. Erwin Puts has tested them and desctibed the differences. The 2nd version was replaced by the 6-element 3rd version in 1968/69 and in 1979 the 4th and current optical version was launced. Of course the current version has also been around in two mounts, if you disregard the special versions. The 2004 50 years jubilee edition has the mount of the rigid but current optical design. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
waileong Posted March 16, 2009 Share #7 Posted March 16, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, There are six versions of summicron-m 50mm. which version has the best perfromance? (I unserstand all the Red Dot lenses are built with very high standard:D) Thanks! 1954-1987 chrome 1956-1968 Rigid 1956-1968 DR 1969-1979 black 1980-1995 black 1995- What does "best" mean? Without defining it is meaningless to talk about performance. Best can mean in terms of contrast, flare resistance, weight/compactness, bang for buck, lpm, bokeh, colour rendition, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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