gib_robinson Posted February 17, 2012 Share #1 Posted February 17, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I currently own a 50mm f/2.8 Elmar-M and I am wondering what additional image quality I would get from either a Summarit f/2.5 or from the current Summicron. Thanks, --Gib Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 17, 2012 Posted February 17, 2012 Hi gib_robinson, Take a look here Which 50mm?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
01af Posted February 17, 2012 Share #2 Posted February 17, 2012 You wouldn't gain any image quality, just a little lens speed. If it's speed you're after then better go for a Summilux, because half an f-stop (Summarit) or one (Summicron) won't really make any significant difference in real-world usage. But if you do then keep the Elmar-M until you have not used it for at least one year. Most people who sold a Leica lens have regretted it later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted February 17, 2012 Share #3 Posted February 17, 2012 You wouldn't gain any image quality, just a little lens speed. If it's speed you're after then better go for a Summilux, because half an f-stop (Summarit) or one (Summicron) won't really make any significant difference in real-world usage. But if you do then keep the Elmar-M until you have not used it for at least one year. Most people who sold a Leica lens have regretted it later. +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyIII Posted February 17, 2012 Share #4 Posted February 17, 2012 Most people who sold a Leica lens have regretted it later. I know that feeling. Rocky Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 17, 2012 Share #5 Posted February 17, 2012 Hold on, is that the newer style Elmar you have or the original version? If it's the latter then you'll get better wide open performance and more contrasty images from a newer lens. If it's the later version you have then I agree with the above. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted February 17, 2012 Share #6 Posted February 17, 2012 Hold on, is that the newer-style Elmar you have or the original version? He said, Elmar-M, so I understand it's the newer version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
myshkine Posted February 17, 2012 Share #7 Posted February 17, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have had a 50 Summicron for a couple of years now, and have used it very seldom lately, in favor of the Elmarit 28. Actually I am seriously thinking of exchanging it with an Elmar, because of its size. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted February 17, 2012 Share #8 Posted February 17, 2012 Just keep it! It's a superb lens, apart from one stop you won't gain by going for a Summicron, and one stop is a minimal advantage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giacomo.B Posted February 18, 2012 Share #9 Posted February 18, 2012 You wouldn't gain any image quality, just a little lens speed. If it's speed you're after then better go for a Summilux, because half an f-stop (Summarit) or one (Summicron) won't really make any significant difference in real-world usage. But if you do then keep the Elmar-M until you have not used it for at least one year. Most people who sold a Leica lens have regretted it later. +2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freusen Posted February 18, 2012 Share #10 Posted February 18, 2012 +1 for the f2.0/50mm Summicron. Once I had a f2.8/50mm Elmar-M, it's a nice little gem, but when I bought a f2.0/50mm Summicron I didn't use it any more, so I sold it and never looked back. I didn't like the hood of the Elmar-M, I prefer the snap-on hood of my f2.0/50mm Summicron. ____________ FrankR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smb Posted February 18, 2012 Share #11 Posted February 18, 2012 I would not get rid of the elmar-m as it makes a perfect travel lens to sunny climates or summertime use. I like its color rendition and contrast. An alternate is the Zeiss 50mm f1.5 with its Sonnar design. Then, of course, the lens to look int is the new Summilux. But, there is a long waiting list on that item. (I have been waiting 7 months.) A good combination (and here I have no experience but have read) is the elmar-m and the summilux (but I wish I did). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gib_robinson Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted February 18, 2012 Thanks guys for a thoughtful discussion. I had just bought a used Elmar-M and although it has excellent glass (sharp and contrasty) I didn't like it. It was somewhat loose and I didn't like having it slide open part way because it lacks a lock when it's fully collapsed. Of course, it was also not coded, which was just a minor concern. Instead, Right now, I am trying out a Summarit 50. We'll see what those images look like. Would I like a Summilux? Yes. But, for now, I'm going to stick with less expensive options. --Gib Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted February 19, 2012 Share #13 Posted February 19, 2012 Right now, I am trying out a Summarit-M 50 mm. We'll see what those images look like. The Summarit-M 50 mm 1:2.5 is physically longer than the collapsed but shorter than the extended Elmar-M 50 mm, slightly faster, and more rugged (not collapsing). Also the Summarit's hood is more effective than the Elmar's. The only real disadvantage is the minimum focus distance which is 0.8 m rather than the Elmar-M's 0.7 m. At full aperture, the Summarit's far background bokeh has a slight tendency towards double lines but becomes very smooth when stopping down only slightly. The differential focus in the near background and in the foreground is unusually beautiful even at full aperture. The transition areas at the depth-of-field limits where sharpness just starts to change into blur have a particularly natural look, even nicer than with the mightly Summilux-M 50 mm Asph. Moreover, this lens is fairly flare-resistant. Overall, in my opinion the Summarit-M 50 mm is an under-appreciated little gem. When you don't need the speed of a Noctilux or Summilux then I'd prefer this one over both the Summicron-M and Elmar-M 50 mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted February 19, 2012 Share #14 Posted February 19, 2012 You have developed a bad case of GAS. Beware it may cost you dearly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted February 19, 2012 Share #15 Posted February 19, 2012 Hi Gib, When hiking in Death Valley this week I'll take along only my M4 with 2.8 Elmarit. It's the lens that goes hiking with me – and anywhere else where camera & lens might suffer from the environment or my clumsiness. Also we're of 'a certain age' where our contemporaries don't like to see their faces mirrored with a pores-&-stubble ('clinical') lens. IMO the Elmar has just the right balance of precision / gentleness for portraits of friends and children. Also for general 50mm use when the light level isn't too low. For a heavier lens suited to low light, you might consider a pre-aspherical Summilux. This & the Elmar are my 50mm pair. If I wanted just one 50, I guess it would be a Summicron. Regards, Kirk PS, the looseness you mentioned isn't normal. That particular Elmar might like to visit DAG. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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