collapsable vs rigid summicron 50's

[Atracksler]

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I bought a voightlander 40 nokton, which is nice, and then bought a 135 elamrit. The leica lens is actually much nicer than the voigtlander, IMHO. I am looking a summicron 50/2. I see that there are 2 versions, the collapsable and the rigid...

 

Other than collapsing, is there an advantage to one over the other?

 

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[tappan]

Hello. The collapsible 50mm summicron is a nice lens. Make sure you get a "clean" one if you are going to get one. They have very soft glass on the front element. They scratch easy. They are usually called "cleaning marks." The rigid is supposed to be sharper, while the collapsible is very sharp at F4 but not so sharp at F2. If you have an M8 or an M9 you CAN use that on your camera just be very careful when you affix the lens on the camera. And you should never affix the lens on the camera when it's collapsed.

Good luck,

Mark

[Ecar]

There are actually more than 2 versions.

Only the 1st version was collapsible, all the following ones were rigid.

If you had to buy only one, the first version of the rigid (aka v2) is the one to get IMO. It's more expensive, but it's much easier to find in good condition.

[luigi bertolotti]

The collapsible is an old lens for "special taste" ... if it is in VERY fine conditions (and, maybe, even with "under 1 Million s/n" and "yellow-radioactive coating") it is a nice (and no cheap) collectible, if it is, as many, with some scratches on glass and heavily used mechanics... it is not so fine as a user item : moreover, if you use Digital Ms, the collapse facility must be used with care (Leica manual makes warnings about its usage).

To go safe, find a good rigid one, Version II (7 elements) or Version III (6 elements) : there are a lot availble in the market, wide range of prices, wide range of finishing (you can choose between chrome / black, with or without focusing knob or lever, 1 or 0,7 mtr minimum focus etc...) ; the ones of the very last version (Summicron - M) are generally more costly (also being, of course, meanly less old) but have also the built in hood, which can be a plus. When glass and mech are fine, any rigid Summicron is a sure buy and an excellent user 50.

[Atracksler]

will the dual range 50 work on a M8? I seem to read conflicting advice about it, some say yes, some say no.. some say sorta...

[luigi bertolotti]

No, the DR doesn't work, AS IS, on M8 (nor on M9 and M) : there are two ways to use it anyway :

1) Have it modified by specialized labs : a delicate mechanical work which makes it usable in its full focusing range, at a price and disrupting its originality.

2) Use its lenshead only with the SOMKY+UOORF accessory set, which allows to have the same short-focus range, with an identical "goggle unit" (the SOMKY) : I regularly use mine like this on my M8