Substance of late production lenses

[Guest JoanMarianne]

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I have just acquired a 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-M, 4th version (pre-Asph) made in 1992. Up until now, my Leica M lenses have been a 50mm Summicron made in 1956, a 50mm Summitar made in 1950 and a 1956 Summarit, as well as a 1940 Elmar 35mm f3.5 and a 1939 Elmar 50mm f3.5.

 

The 28mm Elmarit-M seems to lack the substantial feel of the older lenses; and the white markings on black look quite garish as compared with the discrete engravings of the earlier models. Am I being reactionary in missing the "heft" of the older lenses? Is the 1992 example really quite soundly made, using later technology? People say it does not really matter what equipment you use but I do feel that the substance of the earlier lenses contribute to the creative process. In a way, I hope I am wrong to have doubts about my 28mm Elmarit. Any advice will be much appreciated.

[Xmas]

Hi

You would have the same (or worse) problem buying a MP after using a M3. Leitz used to lavish more care in the mechanical design of lenses, than microscopes.

Noel

P.S. The subjective thing can be a problem for lots of people, if I needed a TypeIV, I buy yours but I've got three more compact ones, Orion 15, CV f/3.5, and asph f/2.8, which I use, the only difference is the Orion will flare spot more frequently, the Orion looks disgusting, but will still cut a nice 24x36mm, it is light and compact.

[Maarten]

Hi, just open your lens to F4.0 or F2.8, take some pictures and admire the new world that enfolds in front of your eyes. The Elmarit 28 (IV) is a much under-estimated lens to my opinion. That's where the substance is for me! Best regards, Maarten

[adan]

From Back to the Future, part II:

 

Marty McFly: There he is, Doc! Let's land on him - we'll cripple his car.

Doc: Marty, he's in a '46 Ford, we're in a DeLorean. He'd rip through us like we were tin foil.

 

Generally speaking, up until about 1965 Leitz used brass for the majority of lens parts, and then silver-chromed the brass (matte chrome except for sliding surfaces like the tubes of your Elmars, which were shiny car-bumper chrome for smooth sliding). Or occasionally used black paint on brass for black lenses.

 

Beginning roughly in 1965, and roughly with the first Elmarit 28mm, Leitz began a transition to using aluminum for the outer layer of the lenses. And, since aluminum doesn't take chrome plating easily, shifted to black anodized surfaces instead of silver chrome or paint.

 

Why, I don't know. Less weight? Lower cost? A more modern "industrial" look? Nikon's F lenses had shown that aluminum was durable "enough" for fairly hard usage by photojournalists.

 

By around 1970 the transition was complete, and the standard for Leitz (and then Leica) lenses (SLR and RF) was black anodized composite brass-aluminum with yellow/white markings. And a simpler, slightly "looser" construction that was probably more cost-effective.

 

The yellow/white markings may be garish, but "garish" also translates as "high-visibility" or "easy to read". Especially if a lens gets heavy use and grime begins to get into the engravings. Canon really kicked off the trend with their "day-glo" orange/white markings on their later RF lenses http://www.kuroneko-camera.com/cameras/canon_p.html - which was continued throughout the line of FD-BL SLR lenses. http://www.fdreview.com/pictures/lenses/large/canon-fd-135mm-f2.5.jpg And also picked up by Kyocera for the Contax lenses. http://slrlensreview.com/web/components/com_fpss/images/contax_16f28.jpg

 

If you really want the identical look and feel of your pre-1960 Leica lenses, you'd need to find a pre-1960 28mm Summaron (limited to f/5.6 in aperture): Leica rangefinder SM Ernst Leitz Wetzlar 1:5.6 F=2.8CM SUMMARON wideangle lens - MIR Image Library

 

or - in a fast modern lens with some of the cosmetics of the pre-1965 Leitz lenses - the chrome version of the 28 Summicron ASPH: Leica Camera AG - Photography - LEICA SUMMICRON-M 28 mm f/2 ASPH.

 

For some reason, while Leica revived the chrome-on-brass finish and red/black numbers (but not the original Wetzlar build) as an option for many lenses in the 1990's, they never offered any modern 28 with this option, UNTIL the Summicron. Only standard black.

[Guest JoanMarianne]

My goodness; that's a blockbuster of a response! I am suitably admonished and will shut up and go and take some photographs.

[luigi bertolotti]

There are some new lenses that still have the feel of old ones (unless one is too in love with the old "non - capital" fonts... )

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For the 28 it's a little costly, for there is no alternative to the Summicron... ; but be sure that your Elmarit 28 is a very good lens to use, and this is what does matter...