jdlaing Posted December 13, 2011 Share #1  Posted December 13, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Does anyone know the specifics of these two lenses? Would they be a good purchase if in very good condition? Are there any disadvantages to them? I did a search with no results.  Thanks.......  Leica Leitz 40mm f/2 Summicron-C M Mount  Leica-M Summarit 50 mm f/1.5 Lens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 13, 2011 Posted December 13, 2011 Hi jdlaing, Take a look here Question on two Leica lenses...... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted December 13, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted December 13, 2011 There is so much on this forum on these lenses... Maybe you made a typing error in the search terms? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 13, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted December 13, 2011 For a starter: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/40mm_f/2_Summicron-C http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Summarit_f%3D_5_cm_1:1.5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 14, 2011 Share #4 Â Posted December 14, 2011 The Summicrin 40 is a little gem of a lens. In rendering similar to the Summicron IV 35, it shows high sharpness over a large part of the image, with a classical fingerprint it is my favorite lens on the M8 but performs equally well on the M9. the Summarit is a special case. A copy design of the pre- war Xenon, it is quite interesting wide open, with a wild bokeh. Very suitable for B&W imo. Stopped down past f4.0 it shows a quite impressive resolving power, tempered by an old-fashioned low contrast. Again, a lens that can be recommende Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted December 14, 2011 Author Share #5 Â Posted December 14, 2011 Thank you. Â I am definitely looking at the 40mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted December 14, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted December 14, 2011 jd, remember that the 40mm C lens is not expected to focus accurately with the M rangefinder. It focuses accurately on some M cameras, but not on all, due to its sloped cam. Â It's a delightful lens, but zone focus is advised. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted December 14, 2011 Author Share #7  Posted December 14, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) jd, remember that the 40mm C lens is not expected to focus accurately with the M rangefinder. It focuses accurately on some M cameras, but not on all, due to its sloped cam. It's a delightful lens, but zone focus is advised.  Thank you. I'll definitely remember that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 14, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted December 14, 2011 Actually, some do ( mine does) and some seem not to. I always focus normally without problem. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 14, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted December 14, 2011 My 3 copies of the 40/2 focus w/o any problem with my M3, M4-2, M6J, M8.2, R-D1 and R-D1s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JATA Posted December 14, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted December 14, 2011 If you're prepared to learn the in's and out's of the older lenses they can produce fantastic results in the right conditions. Some of my personal favourite images have have come from the 50mm summarit f1.5,air bubbles, cleaning marks, slight haze and all! On colour neg that is, not so keen on it on the M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted December 14, 2011 Share #11  Posted December 14, 2011 jd, remember that the 40mm C lens is not expected to focus accurately with the M rangefinder. It focuses accurately on some M cameras, but not on all, due to its sloped cam. It's a delightful lens, but zone focus is advised.  I thought that this was an old wives' tale, put about by Leica to prevent CL sales cannibalising M sales...?  Regards,  Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted December 14, 2011 Share #12 Â Posted December 14, 2011 Just the other way 'round, Bill. You can see enough threads on the topic here on the forum to know better. Â Leica knew people would be trying the Summicron-C on M cameras and wanted to keep people from sending lenses for repair for "not focusing right" on the M. So they explained the reason: Alignment of the focus tracker with the sloped cam. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 14, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted December 14, 2011 I thought that this was an old wives' tale, put about by Leica to prevent CL sales cannibalising M sales...?... I've been thinking this for 30+ years as well. Funny part of this is that one of the only lenses i have had focusing problems with is the Rokkor 40/2 which has no sloping cam contrary to the Summicron-C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 14, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted December 14, 2011 Whatever the truth, fact is that the vast majority focusses just fine. And why shouldn't they?, the CL is a rangefinder as well.. The main problem is that they can be a bit hard to adjust, as it can involve grinding the cam. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted December 14, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted December 14, 2011 Whatever the truth, fact is that the vast majority focusses just fine.... When the 40 Summicron came out, only about 25% of M cameras weren't expected to work properly with it. Â Whether that same 25/75 ratio still holds, I don't know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted December 14, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted December 14, 2011 I've been thinking this for 30+ years as well. ... Don't worry. There are still people who don't believe Obama is a US citizen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 14, 2011 Share #17 Â Posted December 14, 2011 Hehe the Summicron-C has always been made in black coating anyway but how many LUF members have ever complained about this lens actually? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted December 14, 2011 Share #18 Â Posted December 14, 2011 There have been a number of threads from people asking why their lenses don't focus accurately. Â But more people than not have no trouble with it, which makes it hard for them to understand that the limitation is real for some cameras. Â Some folks get all the luck! You say you've got 4 Leicas on which the Summicron-C works fine. I've got 4 on which it doesn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 14, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted December 14, 2011 Let's do a poll. Mine focusses perfectly on M3, M6,M8,M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digbyhp Posted December 14, 2011 Share #20 Â Posted December 14, 2011 Let's do a poll. Mine focusses perfectly on M3, M6,M8,M9. Mine focusses fine on my M7. Have done several shots at f2 that were spot on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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