pre asph 50mm summicron for MM

[stump4545]

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which version/s should I be looking for to par with the MM?

 

tired of too sharp look of the 50mm asph with the MM and wasnt sure where to start?

 

can I use a screw mount with MM?

 

thank you.

[Ecar]

I do not own an MM, but I like the v2 (aka "rigid") on the M9/M240.

If you are after a more classic look, you may also want to check old Nikkor or Canon rangefinder lenses.

And yes, you can mount screwmount lenses on your MM via an LTM to M adapter ring.

[stump4545]

which is the ideal iteration of the v2 rigid?

 

are there v2 rigid's that come with the regular bayonet mount?

 

thanks for the help.

[stump4545]

I see the rigid comes in a bayonet mount,

 

so is the 50mm v2 "Rigid" w/ bayonet mount the desired iteration or is there something else I should be looking for to pair it with a M9/MM?

[TheMM]

Try to get a russian Jupiter-8. Gives wonderful "living" results on the MM, as you maybe can see in the example below...

 

On The Edge by TheMM, on Flickr

 

The Jupiter is an LTM lens, but works fine on the MM with an adaptor LTM to M.

[stump4545]

thanks for the lead on the Juniper.

 

but do Leica 50mm rigids come in black or only silver?

[jaapv]

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The nicest vintage 50 I've found yet is the Canon 50/1.8 LTM.

[TheMM]

The nicest vintage 50 I've found yet is the Canon 50/1.8 LTM.

 

But it has a hefty price mark compared to the Jupiter... ;-)

[TomB_tx]

"Rigid" normally is used for the 1956-68 7-element design in brass with the infinity-lock focus tab. Chrome plated (sliver) was normal, but some were made in black paint. Black paint examples are usually are priced for collectors. (Note all later Summicron models were non-collapsible, therefore rigid mounts, but are not called "rigid" like the 7-element model.)

The next (v3) Summicron was aluminum body, black anodized, with no infinity lock or focus tab. It was a Mandler design with 6 elements, higher contrast than the earlier lens. Actually produced from 1968 (mine is 68 production) to 1979.

I agree with the comment on the Canon 50 1.8, which I use on my IIIf for film.

[jaapv]

But it has a hefty price mark compared to the Jupiter... ;-)

Well, even an icecream cone has that compared to the Jupiter, but seeing I paid 140 Euro for a mint one iirc, it is not too expensive and considerably cheaper than one of the Leica lenses.

[gjames9142]

Does this mean that t he OP has one of these very expensive and hard-to-find lenses and doesn't like it, or is he tired of the "look" of the lens as posted by others? I agree that the asph has an extreme etched look that I personally don't care for. That said, the regular Summicron is a sharp lens when stopped down. If you want a softer, more classic look, consider the CV 50 heliar, a pretty nickel lens that draws more impressionistically wide open.

[TomB_tx]

If you want a softer, more classic look, consider the CV 50 heliar, a pretty nickel lens that draws more impressionistically wide open.

Yes, the nickel Heliar is a beautiful small lens, and I've had nice results from mine; however the amount of focus shift does bother many people. You can still get great shots, but sometimes will question if you missed focus slightly, or if it was the lens.

Here's a 100% center crop of a snapshot I took of my daughter just to test focus wide open. Under "daylight" fluorescent that gives a blue look, but it was the last picture I took of her, less than 2 weeks before she died of cancer.

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[johnkunstadter]

I see the rigid comes in a bayonet mount,

 

so is the 50mm v2 "Rigid" w/ bayonet mount the desired iteration or is there something else I should be looking for to pair it with a M9/MM?

 

Aside from the other suggestions you might wish to consider a wartime or late 1940s-early 1950s Summitar, which has a softer rendering wide open. You'd need an LTM to M adaptor.

[skinnfell]

I have the pre-asph summicron 50 and i just love it to death on my MM. Fortunately this lens is still available new, leica sells both the pre-asph and the asph. (Latter is like 4 times more expensive!) also know as v4 and v5 (same optics)

 

The "flare issue" is not really an issue in my country. (No sun country)

 

"Rigid" summicron AKA v2 is also popular on MM .

( v3 not so much because of higher contrast but lower sharpness)

 

 

That said, the Monochrom has a way of making almost any lens look good.

[Erik Gunst Lund]

I use an standard aftermarket M39 rangefinder type lens hood for my 50 Summicron latest version, no flare problems. Sharp wide open no issues at all.

[gjames9142]

Yes, the nickel Heliar is a beautiful small lens, and I've had nice results from mine; however the amount of focus shift does bother many people. You can still get great shots, but sometimes will question if you missed focus slightly, or if it was the lens.

Here's a 100% center crop of a snapshot I took of my daughter just to test focus wide open. Under "daylight" fluorescent that gives a blue look, but it was the last picture I took of her, less than 2 weeks before she died of cancer.

 

Tom, that is so sad. It seems to be happening far too often that young people are hit by this terrible disease. Geoffrey James