johnloumiles Posted August 12, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The Summarit 50mm 1.5 has caught my interest lately. It's a very affordable screw mount option with a wide aperture yet it seems to get little respect. If anyone has experience with it or knowledge of it's history I'd love to hear it. I'm curious why the new line shares the same name even though they have different open stops. I think the only thing holding me back from purchasing one is the fact I have a similar age/design Canon 50 1.5. I actually enjoy that lens quite a bit. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Oh and pictures with the lens would be welcome! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 12, 2011 Posted August 12, 2011 Hi johnloumiles, Take a look here Thoughts on old Summarit 50mm 1.5. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Washington Posted August 12, 2011 Share #2 Posted August 12, 2011 My goodness, I have the f1.5 that came on my M-3 new in ’54. In it’s day it was bad mouthed by the critics something awful. Which is just one reason I pay no attention to these guys. I use mine with my M-9 and I am always happy. By the way, the old ‘’bad mouthing’’ lasted which is why you can get this lens at a reasonable price! You’ll like it. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/159168-thoughts-on-old-summarit-50mm-15/?do=findComment&comment=1763234'>More sharing options...
wda Posted August 12, 2011 Share #3 Posted August 12, 2011 Rip, that's a fine example of a result from a 1950s lens. The unknowing viewer would readily accept that picture as from modern equipment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 12, 2011 Share #4 Posted August 12, 2011 John, I do not have this lens but was impressed with the results shown me by a Leica representative I met at Focus 2011 a few months ago. He was excited at all things Leica but, being realistic, was also exploring the viability of old Leica lenses on his M9. What was important, he used the lens wide open indoors with surprisingly good results. I will email him directing him to your question, because I guess he does not visit the forum as frequently as some members do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted August 12, 2011 Share #5 Posted August 12, 2011 Rip, that's a fine example of a result from a 1950s lens. The unknowing viewer would readily accept that picture as from modern equipment. +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted August 12, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 12, 2011 I have the screw mount version of this lens which I have used on my M9. Mine produces lower contrast images than my summilux ASPH 50 but nevertheless they have a character of their own. Check the example you are interested in for fogging, with a torch. If you are lucky the lens will come with a rectangular hood, made of brass and with that black crackle paint finish. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnloumiles Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted August 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks Guys, As expected there are no bad Leica lenses. Rip, that photo shows the lens can give you everything you need and more. WDA I'd love to hear what the Leica exert has to say so if he replies definitely post it here. I'll be hemming and hawing at my different options all day today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washington Posted August 12, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 12, 2011 Oh, guys: these are available in bayonet mount for the M. The filter is odd at 41mm, but findable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 12, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 12, 2011 Thanks Guys, As expected there are no bad Leica lenses. Rip, that photo shows the lens can give you everything you need and more. WDA I'd love to hear what the Leica exert has to say so if he replies definitely post it here. I'll be hemming and hawing at my different options all day today. John, I have received an automated reply; he is on holiday until 16th August. I will report if I hear from him next week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted August 14, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 14, 2011 I find it to be a very interesting old-style portrait lens. You must use a hood as flare is a serious issue. If you want a new one at a reasonable price and don't mind the Voigtlander logo on the hood cap, Cameraquest sells a nice silver round one with the odd 41mm thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roydonian Posted August 14, 2011 Share #11 Posted August 14, 2011 Having read Marc James Small’s claim in his book on Non-Leitz lenses for the Leica that the performance of the Zeiss 5cm f1.5 Sonnar was not matched by Leitz until the arrival of the second-generation Summilux. I tried comparing my Nikon 5cm F1.4 Nikkor (a recomputed version of the Zeiss Sonnar) with my f1.5 Summarit. A quick assessment (photographing a child’s rag doll from a range of about eight feet) showed that the Nikkor produced a most contrasty image – which is what I expected – but the difference between the two lenses in terms of contrast was minimal once I’d selected the optimum white and black points for both images in Photoshop. While the Nikkor image was sharper in the centre of the field, the Summarit maintained its slightly lower sharpness right to the edge of the frame. This matches what Dick Gilcreast wrote in his 1996 article ‘Legendary Leica Lenses: The 50mm f/1.5 Summarit” in Vol 29 No 1 of the LHSA magazine ‘Viewfinder’: “Even at full aperture, the somewhat flatter negatives at the largest apertures (due to residual veiling flare) had relatively uniform sharpness across the frame, and could be printed on more contrasty paper to bring contrast up to match that of the smaller apertures, giving quite good performance in the closer ranges when needed. Contrast and sharpness in the lens improved at each aperture down to f/4 due to the reduction of coma and spherical aberrations at each step. This set of corrections made an excellent all-around performer of the Summarit”. Best regards, Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnloumiles Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted August 15, 2011 Thank you for your detailed replies. I really enjoy reading facts and tidbits people glean from sources I would not be able to acquire on my own. The funny thing is after hearing that feedback it really sounds exactly like my Canon 1.5 which is of the same ilk in terms of design. I bought the lens for $100 in Tokyo and actually cleaned the haze out myself, restoring it to good working order. Obviously I'm now a little attached to it so as much as I'm interested in the Summarit I think I'll wait till the right moment arrives to purchase one. Speaking of CameraQuest I just bought a 40mm Summicron from them and I look forward to shooting with it. I've heard good things. I also saw the Summarit you were talking about. Bruce at CameraQuest is a pleasure to work with. Now its just a matter of waiting for my M8 to return from repair. I was just told today it will be 4-5 weeks to get it back. Thanks again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 15, 2011 Share #13 Posted August 15, 2011 Summarit 50 (if in good conditions) can be a very pleasant portrait lens on M8... this was taken at f 2,8 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/159168-thoughts-on-old-summarit-50mm-15/?do=findComment&comment=1766749'>More sharing options...
dcoombs Posted August 15, 2011 Share #14 Posted August 15, 2011 Luigi, what a great picture! It's a treasure that she, and you, will hold onto for years. Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlancasterd Posted August 16, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 16, 2011 I had a Summarit f1.5 50mm for several years in the 1960s as my only lens on an M2. I got it brand new, at a discount (for £50) when the new Summilux was introduced! I got some great results with it – it was particularly useful for winter photography, in an era when a 'fast' colour film was ISO160. It did tend to flare if bright lights were within, or just out of the picture, and there was some coma but it isn't the only good lens from that period to have those faults, by any means. If you do buy one, also try to find the dedicated rectangular metal hood as well as a Leica 41mm UV filter. The hood is big and very effective. Unfortunatelyt, I believe, it's rather difficult to find these days., Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlancasterd Posted August 16, 2011 Share #16 Posted August 16, 2011 I had a Summarit f1.5 50mm for several years in the 1960s as my only lens on an M2. I got it brand new, at a discount (for £50!) when the new Summilux was introduced. I got some great results with it – it was particularly useful for winter photography, in an era when a 'fast' colour film was ISO160. It did tend to flare if bright lights were within, or just out of the picture, and there was some coma but it isn't the only good lens from that period to have those faults, by any means. If you do buy one, also try to find the dedicated rectangular metal hood as well as a Leica 41mm UV filter. The hood is big and very effective. Unfortunately, I believe, it's rather difficult to find these days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted August 16, 2011 Share #17 Posted August 16, 2011 A fine lens if you can fine a good one. Very delicate coating. Look at it wrong and it is damages so be careful. Fine the proper shade because it flares. Mine came with an E43 UV filter and I paid plenty for shade. I see nothing wrong with it, but I suspect it much like the Canon. I have use it inside at 2.0 and below it lacks contrast. 2.8 it get better never reaching modern standards. Bokeh can be swirly rather than smooth under some conditions. I have done some beautiful pics with mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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