Breaking out the old 50/2 again?

[enboe]

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So, anyone else besides me going to break out their old 50 summicron to try to fall in love with that focal length and f/stop again. I've been spending a lot of time with the 35 and 28, but now with the new product announcements, I need to see if I can justify ordering the new lens.

 

Speaking of bokeh, I wonder how the APO ASPH will render outside the plane of focus at f/2.0. There's some interesting math involved.

 

Eric

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[andybarton]

I've never put mine away.

[lars_bergquist]

I sold mine in 2005.

 

The old man from the Kodachrome Age

[kokoshawnuff]

I bought mine a couple years ago, but was eagerly awaiting the release of an ASPH version for the last few months to 'upgrade'. Needless to say my plans have changed since the 10th (as a result of my financial inadiquacies) and my 'old' cron is now happily mounted on the M7.

[adrianw]

I am using a 1960s 50/f2 for most of my work and it is stunning. I am flat out finding any post production to do. The 35/f2 is just as good from the same ear.

Adrianw

[JWW]

I already have a 50mm ASPH Summilux but for the last few months, I've really enjoyed using a 4th version (tabbed,chrome) 50mm Summicron on my M9P. Then again my 1957 50mm Rigid creates great images on my M2 and M9, although looking very different from the later Summicron. They all seem to be great.

[erl]

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I've recently had my 20yr old 50 cron serviced and it is magnificent. Without even trying the new one, I suspect I would prefer my current. Whatever, it's not a real choice for me anyway!

[Jager]

I'm fortunate in that 50 has long been my preferred focal length, so no need to fall back in love with it. When I drove over to my dealer yesterday to put my name on the list for the new APO fifty - I'm number one, so with any luck I'll have it before the end of summer - my current Cron was on the camera in the bag beside me. My 50 Lux ASPH and f1 Noct are my number one tandem and get the vast majority of time-on-camera, but my 50 Cron gets frequent cameo appearances.

 

Of my seven Leica lenses, the current non-APO Cron is absolutely the best handling. The focus throw is light, perfectly damped, and smooth as silk. None of the newer, more modern M-lenses come close in that regard. It's the one area I likewise expect the new APO 50 to be well behind the old design.

 

The old Cron also has a uniquely beautiful signature, imparting a lovely combination of high sharpness and detail along with the glow of legend. It is a lens that still holds its head high.

 

It is an easy lens to love.

[wda]

I thought I would sell my V2 50mm Summicron when I bought a new current one. But I didn't. I just love its old-fashioned rendering. I thought I would sell my current version 50mm Summicron when I bought a new Summilux; but I didn't. Each lens has a purpose and place in my lens range.

 

I must say that the current Summicron almost lives on my M8 and is currently giving me some very effective IR pictures. I believe it is a very under-rated lens and is capable of the finest results.

[Michael Hiles]

I never stopped using my 50mm Summicron - don't often use my other 5 lenses.