Beyder28 Posted August 15, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 15, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hey, I am looking to purchase a "legendary" Leica 50mm and or 35mm. The reason I use the word "legendary" is because I am looking to buy a vintage lens instead of something new. One of my main reasons for this is that I want a small size lens with a good character that is also fast. For the most part, I think I will save a good amount of money vs. going with a new 50mm summilux. I have looked at the Red Scale Elmar 50mm (not fast but mint versions aren't too hard to get for a good price and its very compact), Summarit 50mm 1.5, Summaron 35mm 2.8 and a few others and just can't make up my mind on what would be the best choice in this field if you consider a mixture of speed, compactness, distinct (good) character. Thanks for any advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 15, 2011 Posted August 15, 2011 Hi Beyder28, Take a look here Need to make a decision on legendary lens!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jc_braconi Posted August 15, 2011 Share #2 Posted August 15, 2011 what would be the best choice in this field if you consider a mixture of speed, compactness, distinct (good) character. Thanks for any advice. Summaron 35mm 2.8 fits well in Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted August 15, 2011 Share #3 Posted August 15, 2011 :cool:All Leica lens are "legendary" for somebody. The Noctilux (1.2 or 1.0 are...), the new Summilux Asph. 50 and 35 (I and II) are... Summaron 35 (3.5 and 2.8 are ...) and so on ... It depend on what you use it for... To help you... I use some (really many...) 35mm and 50mm Leica M and LTM for sometime and I just can not tell the "best lens" or "the best legendary lens". Summicron 50mm (I use some made beetween 1951 and 2006)) are so different. If I must keep the only one, maybe (yellow, collapsible SOOIC) Summicron 5cm LTM from 1951. And for same idea, on 35mm, it's the really small but with character Summaron 3.5/3.5cm which I prefer to 35mm Summilux-M Asph. or Summicron-M 35 IV (king of b...). Arnaud Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 15, 2011 Share #4 Posted August 15, 2011 A not secondary point is... which camera do you intend to use it on ? I point this because my opinion is that a good Elmar Red Scale is always a "nice to have"... but on M8 (my digital body, presently), 50 is a "so-so" focal, and the need of the UVIR filter makes the Elmar not so fine to use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted August 15, 2011 A not secondary point is... which camera do you intend to use it on ? I point this because my opinion is that a good Elmar Red Scale is always a "nice to have"... but on M8 (my digital body, presently), 50 is a "so-so" focal, and the need of the UVIR filter makes the Elmar not so fine to use. Thats a good point, I just forgot to mention that I am looking for these lenses to go with my M9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted August 15, 2011 A not secondary point is... which camera do you intend to use it on ? I point this because my opinion is that a good Elmar Red Scale is always a "nice to have"... but on M8 (my digital body, presently), 50 is a "so-so" focal, and the need of the UVIR filter makes the Elmar not so fine to use. Can you collapse the elmar 50 into the M9? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 15, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 15, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Can you collapse the elmar 50 into the M9? Yes, no problem. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted August 15, 2011 What are your thoughts on the f1.5 Summarit? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 15, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 15, 2011 Summarit 1,5... personally, I have it and like it A LOT... : expecially in B&W I even prefer it to the Summilux... but is a lens that is not easy to find in really good conditions : has a delicate front element and a coating that can easily get worn : I know this by personal experience for I have one in bayonet mount and one in screw mount (with "Taylor-Hobson" engraving) : the latter is older but with a splendid glass and the difference is very noticeable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted August 15, 2011 Summarit 1,5... personally, I have it and like it A LOT... : expecially in B&W I even prefer it to the Summilux... but is a lens that is not easy to find in really good conditions : has a delicate front element and a coating that can easily get worn : I know this by personal experience for I have one in bayonet mount and one in screw mount (with "Taylor-Hobson" engraving) : the latter is older but with a splendid glass and the difference is very noticeable. So you're saying the Bayonet is better? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 15, 2011 Share #11 Posted August 15, 2011 So you're saying the Bayonet is better? No, in my case the screw mount (older) is much better, but is a matter of conditions: optically, the two versions are identical. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_parker Posted August 15, 2011 Share #12 Posted August 15, 2011 35mm 8 Element Summicron in Bayonet mount might be nice... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted August 16, 2011 35mm 8 Element Summicron in Bayonet mount might be nice... Its definitely a nice lens but do you think its worth the money? a good condition copy is going for "Noctilux" money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted August 16, 2011 Anyone have any experience with any Focotars? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted August 16, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 16, 2011 Anyone have any experience with any Focotars? Lots, but not on a camera! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted August 17, 2011 One of the lenses I am considering is a mint condition 50mm f2.8 Type I Red Feet Elmar. Don't have much relevant info on it other than its the last of the collapsible 50mm 2.8 Elmars. Does anyone have any further info about character, quality, how rare it really is, etc.? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted August 17, 2011 Share #17 Posted August 17, 2011 I don't mind idiosyncracies in lenses (so long as I have an alternative option) but you realize all these older lenses are 'characterful' don't you? Meaning they are often very soft wide open and have a narrow band where they are truly sharp. If you want a characterful lens for your M9 I would suggest the 50mm Summitar (which can be collapsed), but if you just want an alternative 50mm with modern characteristics, such as sharp at all the apertures and nice contrast and easy to use, then the 50mm Elmar M is a bargain and blows the earlier Elmars out the water. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodor Heinrichsohn Posted August 17, 2011 Share #18 Posted August 17, 2011 Summaron 35mm 2.8 fits well in Agree completely. The M 35/2.8 Summaron is better (in my non technical opinion) than the Summicron 35/2 of the same age. Have you thought about the 40mm Summicron f2 or tried it out? I like the little lens very much. Teddy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted August 17, 2011 Share #19 Posted August 17, 2011 One of the lenses I am considering is a mint condition 50mm f2.8 Type I Red Feet Elmar. Don't have much relevant info on it other than its the last of the collapsible 50mm 2.8 Elmars. Does anyone have any further info about character, quality, how rare it really is, etc.? Is this a screw mount or M mount version? It's more practical than the earlier f3.5 lens because of the 39mm filter thread and aperture ring, and results are fine, a tad soft wide open but better at f3.5-f8. It's certainly not a rare lens in either guise. I have one myself but after testing side by side with an f3.5 lens, I thought the 3.5 was actually very slightly sharper until about f5.6. You can find the same lens as your 2.8 in the 3.5 version, which is the same lens as the earlier LTM Red Scale Elmar. So, I think you would be pleased with the f2.8 Elmar but personally I would say the f3.5 is a better lens (and usually less expensive because it's slower!). However, condition is more important, so if you have found a really nice 2.8 buy it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted August 17, 2011 Share #20 Posted August 17, 2011 Go and look for a good (both optically and mechanically) Summicron 50 collapsible in M-mount. It is compact, legendary (as it is considered to have started a new era of lens computing using new optical glasses), compact and reasonably fast. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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