Moonshine Posted August 22, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 22, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sorry i meant summicron Rigid or lux. Can't decide which one of these to get. It's primarily for b&w photography on the street. Any advice? Thanks in advance Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 22, 2011 Posted August 22, 2011 Hi Moonshine, Take a look here 50 summilux v1 or 50 planar?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Moonshine Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted August 22, 2011 Sorry I meant summilux vs Summicron rigid! Not planar Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 22, 2011 Share #3 Posted August 22, 2011 All right. You mean the v.2 ('rigid') Summicron, 1956–1968. But which Summilux? V.1 (1959–61), v.2 (1962–2004) or ASPH (current)? They are very different beasts. V.1 is a very low contrast and soft lens which was discontinued when the Japanese blew it out of the water. V.2 is much better. Early v.2 lenses are difficult to separate from v.1, as the mounts are nearly identical, but # 1844001 or later is v.2. ASPH lenses are at present about as readily obtainable as hen's teeth. And what camera are you going to use it on? Film or digital? I also wonder why you would want such an old lens as the Rigid Summicron for street photography, unless you want to imitate Henri Cartier-Bresson, who is excused because that was the 50mm Summicron that existed in his time. My advice, for any modern camera, would be a 50mm Summarit which is sharp, fast enough for street photography (Cartier-Bresson always stopped down to f:5.6 ot 8) and readily available. If you must have f:2, do buy a Planar. It is by all reports a very good lens. The old man from the Age Before the M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted August 22, 2011 Yes I meant v1 lux I'm using a M9 my first and only leica camera! I was looking at the summ rigid as I saw beautiful pics by it on flickr. The reason I was looking at these vintage lenses is because I like the low contrasty, grayish, and details in the shadows look. HCB pics are great but I don't think I could ever photograph like that even if I tried! I have a Summarit 50mm which has a very modern look. Wanted to experiment with a more vintage look if that's possible on the M9! Which lens would u suggest? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted August 22, 2011 Share #5 Posted August 22, 2011 All Summicrons are contrasty at medium and small apertures, say at f/4 and on. Only significant differences are at f/2 and f/2.8 where vintage models are softer on edges and corners. If you want to shoot like HCB try its favorite lens, the Summicron 50/2 collapsible. But it is yet a contrasty lens at f/4 and on as well. To get less contrast, a Summilux 50/1.4 v1 would be certainly a better idea, or a Summarit 50/1.5 which flares more than the latter though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted August 23, 2011 Do you have any experience with the summ rigid? It's twice or more the price of a coll cron... Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 23, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 23, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes I meant v1 lux I'm using a M9 my first and only leica camera! I was looking at the summ rigid as I saw beautiful pics by it on flickr. The reason I was looking at these vintage lenses is because I like the low contrasty, grayish, and details in the shadows look. HCB pics are great but I don't think I could ever photograph like that even if I tried! I have a Summarit 50mm which has a very modern look. Wanted to experiment with a more vintage look if that's possible on the M9! Which lens would u suggest? Welcome to the M-world. And congratulations to you because of your M9 and the 50mm Summarit, an excellent choice for general picture-taking. It is of course interesting and instructive to play around with older lenses, comparing them to modern glass. The 'grayer' shadows that you often see with them are caused by large amounts of flare. This is especially prominent with many old un-coated lenses (though the classical 5cm Elmar 1:3.5 is remarkably flare-free). I do occasionally use a collapsible Elmar 1:2.8 (1957–72). Wide open, it draws nicely but with quite a bit of old-time 'Leica glow'. Good for nostalgic portraits. As you stop it down, it gets more matter-of-fact until it looks like a Rigid Summicron at mid-apertures, sharp but with a vintage accent. The lens btw can be safely collapsed on a M9, but do not attach or remove the lens when collapsed. The lens is not very expensive even in good condition. Have fun. The same old man Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted August 23, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 23, 2011 Do you have any experience with the summ rigid? It's twice or more the price of a coll cron... I have used a rigid many years ago but i've never owned one as i preferred the v3's and v4's bokeh. Now the rigid is probably one of the sharpest Summicrons ever. Not sure if it is what you are after. You might wish to order this e-book to compare it to the collapsible on the M9. It is written in French but the graphs are self explanatory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted August 23, 2011 Thanks I will look at your link @Lars: I never knew the Elmar was safe to collapse on the M9! I thought it was just the coll cron based on what I read on Ken Rockwell's website. Thanks again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 23, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 23, 2011 Do you have any experience with the summ rigid? It's twice or more the price of a coll cron...Thanks summ?? coll cron?? from bad to worse.... I think I know my lenses, but this made me pause. Please, guys and gals, Leica gave them real names - cellphone SMS talk grates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted August 23, 2011 sorry I'm a slow typer and tend to abbreviate! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.