Summicron 50 vs. Summicron 50 "50th Annyversary"

[DFV]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I must admit I took quite some time to make this test...

 

Chapter 1:

 

Several months ago I read somewhere (can't find it anymore) that the sharpest lens "he" ever used was a Summicron 50 "50th Anniversary", even sharper than its regular productions sibling. This comment struck me as odd since in theory both should be the same lenses except for the exterior design. I did not really pay much attention and simply discarded this phenomenon as to him having a slightly better 50th Anniversary out of the production line than the others...

 

Anyway, back in January and once it was clear to me that my LUX 50 was defective and would need a trip back to its birthplace, I decided to buy a CRON 50 to substitute for the missing LUX 50. At that point I had the option of a new CRON 50 in black or a used in silver (could not find any new in silver anymore). I was going to go for a used in silver and while surfing eBay I came across a Summicron 50th Anniversary. I thought; What the hell! Let's go for it. It looks cool, it is a momentary substitute and even it it is a bit more than a regular CRON 50 it "might" be even collectable and easier to sell after I get my LUX 50 back.

 

Several months later after using it (and loving it!) my LUX 50 was exchanged and the proper order of the cosmos was restored (... or so I thought ) My LUX 50 Asph. is magical as I have pointed out many times yet the edge-to-edge sharpness of the CRON 50 is simply beyond anything I have personally used.

 

For some inexplicable reason, I went ahead and bought a standard CRON 50 so that I would not use the "maybe" collectable CRON 50 and use the new one as a daylight 50 instead... Retarded, I know, just don't ask me why.

 

Chapter 2:

 

I have since been reading several posts (manly here) and realized that there is a somewhat "war" between the CRON and the LUX people (don't understand why since if you have the chance to have used both, the only thing they share in common is the focal length). One of the comments was that fully open the LUX was sharper at the center than the CRON. Fair enough, but mine at least did not seem like that when I compared both (my LUX and the Anniversary). Did not pay much attention to this since it could always be that my LUX is not sooo good and my CRON is exceptional, so a comparison between both models could not be really of any benefit. I was/am happy with both anyway.

 

Now being bored out of my mind (Holidays do that...). I remembered all these comments and decided to test for myself. The results where very surprising yet not completely unexpected. When I tested the CRON and the LUX (both standard production models). The result was just as described by most users in this forum; The center of the LUX 50 is very sharp at full aperture, even more than the standard CRON 50. As expected, you could say. Now, since I have everithing setup, tripod and all, let's test the curent LUX 50 and the 50th Anniversary... WOW ! I can't believe the results! In theory they should both be the same, but here-here, they are not. The 50th Anniversary is just incredibly sharp, and much more then the previous both at any aperture, in any place around the frame. Just incredible.

 

Here is a 1:1 crop. The aperture was at f2.8 and 1/4000 (too much light for f2) mounted on a tripod, DNG and WB set to manual "daylight". Tested both lenses for focus shift and they are spot on. Tested twice again to make sure it was not my focusing (just in case).

 

Summicron 50mm "current version":

 

Summicron 50mm "50th Anniversary":

 

By chance, does anybody here have both? If anybody does, can you test to confirm this?

[lct]

Your first pic is too soft for any Summicron. Focussing issue perhaps.

[DFV]

Your first pic is too soft for any Summicron. Focussing issue perhaps.

 

Nope, checked twice. Will focus bracket tomorrow to be 100% sure... In any case, the top might not seem sharp if compared to the bottom. If you look at it alone it is not bad at all.

[DFV]

To the administrator; Forgot to mention these tests are made on the M9... Sorry

 

Just posted this on the M9 forum because of the differences between these lenses when used with the M8 or M9.

 

If it makes more sense, please put it back on the M9 forum. If not, just never mind...

[lct]

...In any case, the top might not seem sharp if compared to the bottom. If you look at it alone it is not bad at all.

Any 'cron 50 is almost at its maximum sharpness at f/2.8, in the center at least. In what part of your pic did you take your crop?

[DFV]

Your first pic is too soft for any Summicron. Focussing issue perhaps.

 

Just did a quick test for focus-shift. Could not find any with the CRON 50.

 

Here is a sample (handheld) at about 2 meters... My other tests where all done on a tripod. In any case I have been focusing Ms for over 20 years so it is unlikely it is a focus problem (not bragging, just unlikely) and the M9 has been re-calibrated and since seems to be spot on.

 

[DFV]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Any 'cron 50 is almost at its maximum sharpness at f/2.8, in the center at least. In what part of your pic did you take your crop?

 

Dead center...

 

The sides and corners are perfect though. It is just a tad softer in the center to the LUX 50 at this aperture and as you can see it is much softer than the Anniversary edition (but only in the center). In the corners and sides both are very similar.

[el.nino]

Summicron 2/50mm

[DFV]

Summicron 2/50mm

 

Yes, read that too and this is what I believed to be the case. That is why I am a bit surprised at the results.

[el.nino]

i think there is sth wrong with your "regular" summicron.

[lct]

...The sides and corners are perfect though. It is just a tad softer in the center to the LUX 50 at this aperture and as you can see it is much softer than the Anniversary edition (but only in the center). In the corners and sides both are very similar.

Did you use a tripod for your soft pic above? If so there must be a problem with your regular Summicron. You'd get better sharpness with a $100 lens like the Nikkor 50/1.8 easily.

[DFV]

Did you use a tripod for your soft pic above? If so there must be a problem with your regular Summicron. You'd get better sharpness with a $100 lens like the Nikkor 50/1.8 easily.

 

Yes, used a tripod for both. I now need to find somebody with a Summicron to test against mine.

 

The last time I used the Nikkor 50 1,8 (over 15 years ago on my F4... What a great camera it was!) I remember it one of the sharpest lenses in my Nikon setup. Great little lens. Is it still as good on digital?

[lct]

Yes but it has quite an ugly bokeh...

[JPH1962]

I bought a new cron 50 some months ago - out of the box, focus was a bit behind the intended plane of sharpness. Since it has been adjusted together with my M9 and some other lenses to match, everything is perfect.

 

So, may be you new cron is just ab bit of as was mine.

 

rgds

 

JPH

[DFV]

Yes but it has quite an ugly bokeh...

 

Don't really remember... I guess back then I was not really concerned that much about bokeh on this type of lens. I do remember it was light, cheap, sharp but slow to focus.