Summicron collapsible 50mm

[Moonshine]

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Hi everyone

I'm new to this forum and wanted to get some advice/tips on my first Leica purchase which was a Coll Cron. Yet to buy a M9...still looking for a affordable used one...

First of all I bought it off eBay for $685...is that reasonable?

Secondly any tips on focussing or generally using this lens would be greatly appreciated )

It's primarily for b&w photography...not professionally...just a hobby

Thanks in advance!

[lars_bergquist]

Sorry to say this: The collapsible 50mm Summicron, although a landmark lens in its time (1954) is a collector's piece today, not a serious or practical photographic instrument. Reasons: Mediocre performance off-axis, even worse close up, i.e. closer than c. 3 meters. Also, Leca warns that the lens must not be collapsed, as it could damage the camera body. Here, Leica may simply be covering its corporate ass – some collapsible lenses can be collapsed while on the camera, as long as it is not mounted or dismounted in that state – but it is well worth noticing, especially for those who know that sometime in their life, they have goofed. Those that don't are simply very good at repressing unpleasant memories.

 

So, I think that this lens is the start of a collection, not of a serious photo kit. The body to go with it should be an early (two-stroke, no preview lever) M3 from 1954–55, not a M9.

 

The old man from the Age of the M3 (and even more ancient things)

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[Bensingindo]

I am owning this lens and using on my M8, M3, and Leica III without problem on collapsing the tube.

(This lens should be alright to use on M9 -- IMO, suggest to try this lens on M9 with guidance at shop or service center).

 

I also found no problem on close up to 1 meter with nice bokeh with the lens fully open ( this depends on glass quality of individual lens, as many of this lens are aged)

 

I went through reviews before I bought this lens, and find most of the reviews are helpful and reliable.

Will post the reviews for your reference if I found this.

 

I love this lens very much .. in terms of size, and price point --- IMHOI am owning this lens and using on my M8, M3, and Leica III without problem on collapsing the tube.

(This lens should be alright to use on M9 -- IMO, suggest to try this lens on M9 with guidance at shop or service center).

 

I also found no problem on close up to 1 meter with nice bokeh with the lens fully open ( this depends on glass quality of individual lens, as many of this lens are of ages)

 

I went through reviews before I bought this lens, and find most of the reviews are helpful and reliable.

Will post the reviews for your reference if I found this.

 

I love this lens very much .. in terms of size, and price point --- IMHO

[250swb]

The collapsible Summicron wouldn't have been my first choice, particularly as you want to mate it with an M9. Perhaps a more modern lens would have brought out the resolving power possible with the M9. But its not a bad lens, just one with more character than you may like, and it does collapse on the M9 OK, just don't mount it collapsed or you could scuff the inside of the camera which is a bit tighter for space than a film M.

 

Steve

[Xmas]

Hi

 

Ignore the nay sayers above.

 

The type I cron is an ok lens for the M9 (or M8) as it is single coated and adaptively compresses the tonal range to help preserve specular high lights. Contra jour it uses a lot of compression, sun over shoulder less compression. Nice pastel colors.

It needs a hood the full barn door, cone or inverted cone from Leitz or a 3rd party Ch made one.

 

The coating and the glass are very soft, that is dont use a micro cloth instead stick a MC UV filter on it, never remove the filter, and never clean the lens, again.

 

If you photo brick walls at /5.6 or smaller it is real good...

 

685 $ seems expensive but if it is in perfect condition all the prices are astro today.

 

Noel

[tappan]

So I am awakening this thread if you all don't mind. Does anyone who uses this lens have any further stories about how it performs or what they like about the lens?

Thanks,

Mark

p.s The limitations that I am finding with the lens is that I only shoot it at F4 because it appears to be a little soft using other apertures. Also, it is not as contrasty as I might want on some photos.

[Ecar]

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It's great for portraits, has a unique color rendering, and it's small and easy to focus.

I have found that even a mint sample greatly benefits from a CLA.

It obviously won't match a more recent lens in terms of sharpness, but should not be soft wide open. Contrast is moderate, but can always be tweaked in post.

[spydrxx]

I loved it on my M film bodies - its rendition really suited the portraait and animal shots I used it for. As far as digital goes, I used it for about a year on a micro 4/3 body via an adapter...it was good, but not great on the digital sensor. Perhaps on an M9 it would have shone, but I would encourage you to at least take a look at a newer lens for digital work, particularly if you are shooting wide open or want landscape shots which are sharp corner to corner.

[4X5B&W]

At this age they all pretty much need a cleaning, as some level of fogging is inevitable.

 

The biggest problem though is the very soft coating......especially on the front element.

This can be repaired by re-coating but this now becomes a very costly purchase.

[alandash]

What are the differences in actual use and picture quality between this collapsible m-mount version, and the LTM 50mm Summicron mounted via the correct screw-to-bayonet adapter to an M Leica? Are they similar in resolution, coating softness, etc.? How do they compare to the rigid 50mm lens of the same era?

 

This is not a question about the dangers of collapsible lenses on M models, especially the digital ones. Those answers depend somewhat on individual differences between 2 cameras of the same model, or individual differences between 2 lenses of the same model.

 

Alan Dash

[StS]

Some time ago, we did a comparison of the collapsible 5cm Summicron to the current 50mm Summilux. It can be found here. Stopping down helps a lot.

 

In my view, the performance of this lens depends on the application. I like to combine the collapsible 5cm Summicron with a yellow or yellow-green filter and Tri-X for portraits.

 

Stefan

[M. Valdemar]

Many of these collapsible Summicrons are radioactive, and after several days of use their owners have begun to mutate.

 

Once handsome and charming photographers have been turned into grotesque gnomes or even violent Neanderthals, after attaching one of these lenses to an M9.

 

Check yourself carefully in the mirror after handling such a lens. The end will come in a maelstrom of insanity, convulsions and horror.

[james.liam]

Many of these collapsible Summicrons are radioactive, and after several days of use their owners have begun to mutate.

 

Once handsome and charming photographers have been turned into grotesque gnomes or even violent Neanderthals, after attaching one of these lenses to an M9.

 

Check yourself carefully in the mirror after handling such a lens. The end will come in a maelstrom of insanity, convulsions and horror.

 

 

You want something with a bit of character that renders differently than highly corrected modern lenses and doesn't have 65 years of atmospheric accretions deposited within and the invariable soft front element scuffing or gauges.?

 

Try a CV 50/1.5 ASPH in silver and be done with it. Even has a retro look to it.

Edited August 21, 2013 by james.liam

[gradycarter]

Well, I see the last posting was in the year 2013 about the 50mm f2 Collapsible Summicron and it seems that Most comments here are not too encouraging. I bought the Leitz 50mm f2 Collapsible Summicron which was made in 1952, for my Sony A7 camera body. I know, I have blasphemed posting the fact that I am using a Sony A7 instead of a Leitz/Leica body of some kind. So, with that being said, the mirrorless cameras, especially full frame cameras, gave me the opportunity to try out a lens that I got for a hell of a deal for $200 almost mint condition. I was lucky because the person who owned this lens, knew better to clean the lens once and stick a Leitz filter on it to protect the very soft lead front class of this lens. I love the quality of the images from this lens because it has medium contrast, which is perfect for Photoshop Post Work!!! I don't like a lens that is too contrasty. You can always bump up the contrast. It's a whole other story to go the other way because you would have already sacrificed the details in both the highlights and shadow areas of your image. Wide open makes it a perfect portrait lens because of the center sharpness and the more fuzzy sharpness on the edges. It turns into a different lens when stopped down for event or street shooting at f5.6 to f11. Gorgeous colors and Lovely B&W's. Here is a sample of what this lens can do...

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  Edited September 1, 2017 by gradycarter

[gradycarter]

Here is a B&W from the Leitz 50mm f2 Collapsible Summicron which was made in 1952... 

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[gradycarter]

Here is another color composite from the Leitz 50mm f2 Collapsible Summicron which was made in 1952... 

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[david strachan]

Well, I see the last posting was in the year 2013 about the 50mm f2 Collapsible Summicron and it seems that Most comments here are not too encouraging. I bought the Leitz 50mm f2 Collapsible Summicron which was made in 1952, for my Sony A7 camera body. I know, I have blasphemed posting the fact that I am using a Sony A7 instead of a Leitz/Leica body of some kind. So, with that being said, the mirrorless cameras, especially full frame cameras, gave me the opportunity to try out a lens that I got for a hell of a deal for $200 almost mint condition. I was lucky because the person who owned this lens, knew better to clean the lens once and stick a Leitz filter on it to protect the very soft lead front class of this lens. I love the quality of the images from this lens because it has medium contrast, which is perfect for Photoshop Post Work!!! I don't like a lens that is too contrasty. You can always bump up the contrast. It's a whole other story to go the other way because you would have already sacrificed the details in both the highlights and shadow areas of your image. Wide open makes it a perfect portrait lens because of the center sharpness and the more fuzzy sharpens on the edges. It turns into a different lens when stopped down for event or street shooting at f5.6 to f11. Gorgeous colors and Lovely B&W's. Here is a sample of what this lens can do...BDP_062a.jpg

 

 

How refreshing...

I have same age Summicron. It took several tries to find a clean one...but i still had a CLA.

It is trully excellent, without the super contrast of modern lenses. HCB used one through his life for a reason...

 

all best...

[luigi bertolotti]

_{Comments on the collapsible can be various, but there is ONE definitive truth, that is :}

 

_{"THERE EXISTS NOT A BAD SUMMICRON 50"}

 

     

[a.noctilux]

Gradycarter,

Thanks for revival of this lovely ancient lens.

 

From 1952, this is uncommon Summicron of first batch.

May I ask the first 3 digits ( 9xx or 1xx ) of your collapsible.

 

Mine is one year older (1951 ! ... radioactive glass ) but is pretty good performer on film and digital .

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[lct]

Quit tempting me folks