Favorite Classic lens?

[thrid]

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35:

 

2/35 Summicron-M (last pre-ASPH)

Very sharp, normal contrast, a touch of glow, good bokeh.

Another masterpiece by Dr. Mandler.

 

1.4/35 Summilux (pre-ASPH)

Soft at 1.4, sharp by 2.8, but in black and white it's unbeatable.

Jim Marshall shot most of his work with one of these and M4 bodies.

 

 

50:

 

1.4/50 Summilux-M (pre-ASPH)

In production for over 40 years. The PJ's choice. It's still a great, great lens.

The Lux and Tri-x are a match made in Solms (and Rochester).

 

2/50 Summicron-DR

Very sharp, normal contrast, a touch of glow, good bokeh.

Maybe the classic Leica 50 of the post war era. I also like the collapsible, but in practice the DR/Rigid has the better ergonomics.

 

3.5/50 Elmar

Love this lens. In B/W is renders like a graphite pencil.

 

 

 

Running the risk of being accused of treason:

;-)

 

Nikkor H.C 2/50 (F mount)

I use this one on a vintage 1960 Nikon F. It is a brilliant lens, that produces absolutely beautiful results in black and white. I have three copies of the original chrome and black version. Highly under rated and people are practically giving them away these days.... This is the Nikon equivalent of the 2/50 Summicron collapsible or DR.

[machmaphoto]

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[octo]

Summaron + goggles 2.8/35 1960. Just tested it on a digital M (240) at my photographer's shop by taking a picture of a high flying plane in a blue sky last week. Once zoomed in on his computer we could easily make out the tail détails! No, not the markings, just the vertical and horizontal fins.

As I only shoot analog B&W, I was amazed by the quality of this lens, confirmed on subsequent tests for contrast, wide open, vignetting, rendition of détails at 5.6, bokeh etc. Of course, that was through a digital camera, but it was still quite amazing.

Sorry, the test pictures are in his shop

[StS]

(...)

1.4/35 Summilux (pre-ASPH)

Soft at 1.4, sharp by 2.8, but in black and white it's unbeatable.

Jim Marshall shot most of his work with one of these and M4 bodies.

(...)

 

 

 

Another vote from my side, very compact, distortion free, a nice lens until, say, 2.0. Open the aperture wider, especially with point light sources, and hic sunt dracones.

 

I'd see it as an older 35 Summicron with an adventurous Summilux option.

 

Stefan

Edited April 12, 2015 by StS

[Bodie]

My 35mm Summaron f2.8 made in 1965.

[pico]

The unusual post WWII Summitar with a round aperture and coating.

Leica vacillated in production of late Summitars, even going backwards

to octagonal apertures for a time. As I have written before - no blame

to Leica for making important survival manufacturing decisions in

that terrible time.

 

I looked for the Right One for ten years, and I found it. Very happy.

 

I owe you all images.

[jc_braconi]

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The first 3 lenses I stood for a long time with my first M3

 

Summaron 2.8 35 with goggles

Summicron 2 50 DR

Elmarit 2.8 90

[LCL999]

My first two lenses are still my favourites.

90mm f4.0 Elmar - Good portrait lens (75mm 'lux is better though), but best for documenting objects. One of the few that stops down to f32 - into diffraction softening, but max depth of field. Purchased 2nd hand some months BEFORE I could afford to buy the camera to go with it. (Black paint M4)

 

 

35mm 'lux - the original f1.4 and by far the lightest. Leaves the current overweight and oversized ASPH 35mm 'lux for dead in terms of useability. Purchased with the aforementioned M4.

[f3p5]

My favorite Leica classic lenses are from 50s-60s as following:

 

Leica SA 21/4, SA 21/3.4, Elmarit M 28/2.8 version 1(9-element), Summicron M 35/2 version 1(8-element), Summilux 50/1.4 version 2 (E43), and Summicron 50/2 collaps (SM).  

 

Recently I got a  Summitar 5cm/2 SM lens with clean glasses and l like to play it at f2.

 

Here is a sample picture taken from Leica Summitar 5cm/2 SM using Sony A7 at f2.

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Edited May 30, 2015 by f3p5

[f3p5]

Here is a sample picture taken from my Elmarit M 28/2.8 version 1 (9-element) at f8.

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[f3p5]

I also like my Summaron 35/3.5 or 2.8 lenses.

 

Here is a picture taken by my Summaron 35/3.5 at f11.    

 

This lens has good flare control when using it against light.

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Edited May 30, 2015 by f3p5

[pico]

To emphasize the nature of the swirly bokeh (under corrected spherical aberration) shown in f3p5's roses image, consider how a third generation Summicron 50mm renders. Here.

 

I happen to like the early lens bokeh, or OOF.

[philipus]

Nice to see this thread resurface.

 

Sometimes one is in luck. When I bought my Leica II with an assortment of lenses a 1950 10-blade coated Summitar was included. It is a very nice lens. 

 

Flickr | Concert photographer

Leica II Summitar Provia 400X

 

 

I also like the 50 Summicron III. It seems that until recently it was overlooked by 50mm buyers but prices are on the up. Here's an example:

 

To be or not to be?

M6TTL Summicron 50 (11817) Velvia 100

[jaapv]

It depends. For B&W the Canon 1.8/50 LTM is my absolute favorite. However, for colour the Summarit 5cm/1.5 is an excellent lens (with surprising bokeh though), as the Canon colours shift to pastels.

[f3p5]

Here is the picture taken by my SA 21/4 lens.

[f3p5]

Here is the picture taken by my SA 21/4 lens. 

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