Summicron 1:2/50

[Nate68]

summicron 1:2/50
I am new to rangefinder photography and have come across this lens for a very cheap price. I have not tried it out yet and I am wondering about it's capability and value. The serial number is 2228741 if that helps at all. I thank you in advance for any information you have.
-Nate

[ragc]

I am new to the Summicron 50 too, but can tell you that if yours is the collapsible version like mine it will give you a very vintage, low contrast look. It tends to flare with bright highlight areas, but is sharp. Definitely a lens for special shots, not for a modern look,

[lars_bergquist]

The serial number says the lens was manufactured in 1966. This means that it is a version II (rigid) Summicron, and in M bayonet mount. This lens is still popular with some M photographers (including M8 users) who like a slightly old-fashioned, medium contrast lens. The outer areas of the full 35mm format go progressively somewhat soft when the lens is wide open, but stopping down 2–3 f-stops gives you an image of a very high order.

Later versions (III 1969–1979, IV 1979 and current) are optically 'better' especially at large apertures, but the old Rigid Summicron was a superb piece of opto-mechanical engineering, and is well worth using if in good optical shape.

If the lens has a flat platform immediately in front of the bayonet, with a small rounded pin protruding, it is a 'Dual Range' or 'Near Focus' Summicron. This is a bit special.

The old man from the Age of the M3

[luigi bertolotti]

Lars is correct, is a rigid version, whose glass is better than the collapsible (even if the basic design is the same), less prone to scratches and with better coating. Abou your question on its "capability".. well, I can tell you that mine is a bit OLDER (1.986.xxx) and I use it regularly on my M8, after 15 years or so of use on M4... if the glass is clean, it's still an excellent lens... to give an idea, the attached pic has been made with it.

,Roses6_wettra.jpg

[dennersten]

I love it, here is my personal favourite taken with it.

Selma

[cbretteville]

Excellent shot Håkan.
- Carl

[biglouis]

Luigi

Luscious, hmm, makes me want to get a summicron again (why oh why did I sell my last one?????)

LouisB

[jimmy pro]

All that type have softer coating than the one's that followed. You prolly won't ever find a perfect one unless someone always used a protector filter which wasn't popular back in those days. But if it has a mass of scratches and/or the coating is wore off in the middle, while it won't effect sharpness it will effect contrast and it will increase flair, which is already a problem with those lenses. Ditto if you shine a flashlight thru it and see fogging or hazing. Another thing about that lens is the goddamn infinity lock. Stupidest moronic idea in the world. There might've been a reason for it on a screwmount lens but not on a bayonet. But smarts take a long time to sink in at Leica. FWIW unless your primary concern is a beautiful chrome lens for an old Leica, I would look for the next version, the 1969-79 kind. It doesn't suffer from the earlier issues and it's usually a whole lot less overpriced than the most recent kind, especially the one with the finger rest on it.

Jim Provenzano

[brianv]

Grab it at a good price. A very good lens. Mid-60's should have better coatings than the lenses in the 40s and 50s.

Some examples of various 50/2 lenses on this thread at RFF:

Comparison of 50mm F2 lenses for the Leica: Warning Too Boring For Words. - Rangefinderforum.com

Includes 6 Summicrons.