50mm lens buying advice....

[Lukasdp]

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I am recently entering into the world of Leica photography and wish to invest in a 50mm F2 as a starter lens. With so many versions of the Summicron I feel a bit lost as to what one offers over another and wish to seek the advice of the knowledgeable.

please reference to two links at the bottom for two noticeably different lenses currently on ebay. They both look appealing and I wish to know of any obvious differences that may help me to decide which version to focus on. sharpness or bokeh characteristics? what I can expect as a final price? does one perform better wide open? of which would you with your experience recommend? or does it matter? my thanks with any advice you think to give.

the lens will be used on a M8 and yes I am aware of the crop.

thanks!

~L

 

Leica Summicron M 50mm F2 50/2 lens *Mint M8 M9 on eBay.ca (item 280416462229 end time 05-Nov-09 06:00:42 EST)

 

 

Leica M 50mm f2 Summicron Chrome Rigid Lens Mint- on eBay.ca (item 300360862868 end time 04-Nov-09 20:51:16 EST)

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[Michael Hiles]

The black on seems to be a version 3, while the chrome is a version 2 (the first rigid Summicron).

 

I have been using a chrome version 2 forever. It is sharp as a cut throat razor, the contrast is nice, and I would not trade it.

 

The black newer one is probably slightly sharper in a bench test, mainly at f2.

 

If your goal is to take pictures (as opposed to obsessing about lines/mm and MTF graphs) there will be no practical difference.

 

I recently saw a test pitting the chrome Summicron against the current Nikon and Canon normal lenses. The 50 year old Summicron shut them down. The difference at some wide aperatures was remarkable.

 

Either lens will serve you very well indeed, so buy based on condition - this is the critical issue.

[lars_bergquist]

The Leica 50mm Summicron lenses cover half a century of optical technology. There are people around who like old lenses. They like them for their optical aberrations, faults that technicians have spent lots of work to get rid of. This is a purely subjective judgment. There is no arguing about taste -- but we are not forced to embrace all tastes indiscriminately.

 

'Sharpness' (meaning definition, or contrast plus resolution) is not the end-all of photography, just as nice furniture, not planes and chisels and sanders, are the purpose of cabinetmaking. But it is good to have when you need it. Current Leica lenses have a crispness and clarity that the oldtimers lack, and that we have learnt to like. My honest advice is to buy a current version 4 Summicron (there are of course two styles of mounts, the older with a focusing tab and clip-on shade, the newer without, and with a pull-out shade, but the optics are essentially unchanged). Glass condition and mechanical function are of course important. If you are going to use the lens on a digital M, then coding is important. Lenses made before 2006 are not coded. A 50mm Summarit-M, which is of course coded, can also serve you well.

 

I would never buy a lens unseen except from a very reputable dealer that I know I can trust. That does not mean eBay. Such a dealer will also quote a price that is reasonable, and take the lens back if a defect comes to light. Honesty has a price, but dishonesty costs us more.

 

The old man from the Age of the Cooke Triplet

[tobey bilek]

As the optical design progressed, two things happened. Contrast was "inproved" or increased depending how you look at it.

 

Secondly, at F2 and 2.8 the area of sharp definition keeps getting larger. It is perhaps a 12mm circle in the 1952 rigid/DR to almost a whole negative at F2 with the last versions. Models between are comensurately greater.

 

Coatings are hardened starting with the 1969 version .

 

Mechanically, the heavy brass/chrome construction has fallen away to cheaper lighter materials.

 

Optically the quality went up, Mechanically down.

 

At 4 to 11, there is not a lot of resolution difference, just contrast is higher.

 

I know it is silly, but you really have to try and learn. Finding old ones in good condition is difficult. Mine were all purchased 25 years ago and they are not for sale.