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75mm Summarit--First Light


Jared

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I bought a used 75mm Summarit the other day at my local ship. I already own a 90 'cron--a focal length I generally prefer over 75mm--but I have been unable to consistently achieve critical focus at f/2.8 or wider with it, so I thought I would give the 75mm a try just to see if it is a more practical lens for me for most everyday. The relatively low price and the compactness appealed to me.

 

First impressions are very nice. No, the build quality isn't up to the level of the more expensive Leica lens lines, but I do like the way it draws, and it is certainly sharp enough even wide open.

 

Here is a quick grab of my son this morning: f/2.5, ISO 1250, 1/60s handheld on an M9. Distance was around 1.2m.

 

Don't let the low (by Leica standards) prices on the Summarits fool you. If you don't need the extra speed, then this lens is very nice. Much easier to focus accurately than my 90mm, light weight, and not much bigger than a 50mm 'lux.

 

I can't speak for the other lenses in the Summarit line--only tried out the 75.

 

- Jared

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Jared, I bought this lens when I bought my M8 and share your opinions on price and performance. When I added an M9 I thought the 75 would be redundant, generally preferring my 90 Elmarit. But I find for certain 'trips', the 75 is a good partner to the 35 or 28, giving a flexible two-lens combination. So I am definitely keeping the 75. I enjoy its relative compactness, weight and lovely performance.

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The Summarits are all top performers whilst not quite having the silky smooth mechanics of the more expensive Leica lenses.

Well ... as a matter of fact, the Summarit-M 75 mm focuses significantly smoother than the Apo-Summicron-M 75 mm Asph.

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..whilst not quite having the silky smooth mechanics of the more expensive Leica lenses

 

I don't agree.. I find the mechanicals of the Summarit just as good as more expensive Leica glass.. slower yes but very smooth focusing, aperture adjustment is fine, and image quality on the same level as the 'cron / 'lux.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well, thank you folks. This thread and similar comments made me get the 75 Summarit during a short trip to Berlin last weekend. And first results (see pics 2, 4 & 5 here) have confirmed your positive views about it.

 

Regards, Holger

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Where is the Summarit in size and weight when compared to the cron?

 

Clearly lighter, slightly smaller (though the hood adds about an inch of length) and much nicer to focus (silkier action than my Summicron). I sold the latter after using the Summarit.

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I have been lucky enough to own quite a lot of Leica, Zeiss and CV lenses for my M8 and M9. Although the 75 Summarit has become one of my "keeper" lenses it is also the only one which has ever failed. The aperture ring recently stopped working necessitating a trip back to Solms to get it mended when it was only 30 months old. So it may be that there is a trade-off in durability against the lower price.

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Although the 75 Summarit has become one of my "keeper" lenses it is also the only one which has ever failed. The aperture ring recently stopped working necessitating a trip back to Solms to get it mended when it was only 30 months old.

Same here.

Kept it but needed to go to Solms for a loose aperture ring after about a year (under warranty). Seems to be a common issue. Has been fine since then.

Great lens. To my eyes, I couldn't see any IQ difference that would have justified buying the Summicron. The Lux 75 is an entirely different story.

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I have been lucky enough to own quite a lot of Leica, Zeiss and CV lenses for my M8 and M9. Although the 75 Summarit has become one of my "keeper" lenses it is also the only one which has ever failed. The aperture ring recently stopped working necessitating a trip back to Solms to get it mended when it was only 30 months old. So it may be that there is a trade-off in durability against the lower price.

 

In my case the other way around- my 35 and 75 Summarits are the ones out of 11 which havent gone for focus calibration.

The 35luxasph as well as the 50 had to go, and some other lenses as well.

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