50mm/35mm summarit 2.5 king of flare

[stump4545]

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are the 50mm and 35mm summarit 2.5 M lenses the best Leica glass at their focal lengths for reducing flare?

[01af]

Are the Summarit-M 50 mm and 35 mm 1:2.5 lenses the best Leica glass at their focal lengths for [avoiding] flare?

The 35 mm—yes, definitely.

 

The 50 mm—yes, I think so. It is not quite as flare-resistant as the 35 mm ... but still very good and, as far as I can tell, better in this regard than any other Leica 50 mm M lens.

[Fgcm]

I agree with Olaf.

I own and use both.

Franco

[250swb]

It's a fair question, just so long as the question of flare is kept in perspective. I agree with the above, both Summarit's are either great or pretty good.

 

But in the context of how often a 50mm Summicron flares, for example, and the added benefits of an extra stop and (I'd say) better overall image quality, then trading one for the other (I'd say) desirability comes down on the side of the Summicron. But there are times when photographers know for sure the lighting they will be working with is very prone to causing flare (for instance theatre or concert photography), in which case go for the Summarit. Just don't read overly critical opinions and think the Summicron flares at the drop of a hat all the time. You can spend a lot of money getting rid of problems that rarely occur, only to regret later.

 

Steve

[stump4545]

is it just me, or does lens flare with black and white digital just look yucky?

 

thanks for all the good info.

[250swb]

For me it's the same as colour, it depends what aperture was used, so how defined the flare is, and how you deal with it in pp. If it accidentally happens on a photo worthy of working on my plan would be to make a bold statement and not try to hide it, or clone it out altogether. Sometimes it doesn't work out because it spoils the composition, or it is just a soft veiling flare that doesn't work, but overall there are many more things that can go wrong before flare makes an intrinsically good photo fit only for the bin.

 

Steve

[stump4545]

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does the Leica hood for the 35/50mm summarit 2.5 reduce the chances of flare?

[tobey bilek]

does the Leica hood for the 35/50mm summarit 2.5 reduce the chances of flare?

 

That is the primary reason for them to exist.

[stump4545]

True Tony.

 

I just heard that the 35mm summarit are so good at suppressing flare that the hoods are more for protecting the front element from scratches.

 

 

and I am also trying to shoot as small and discrete as possible.

[stump4545]

it has been said in a lot of threads that Leica hoods are ineffective.

 

would that statement also be true with the 35mm summarit 2.5 hood?

[01af]

It has been said in a lot of threads that Leica hoods are ineffective.

Please don't contort what has been said! It's the built-in retractable hoods that are patheticly ineffective.

 

The external clamp-on or screw-on Leica hoods usually are fine, and so are those for the Summarit-M lenses. Which is ironic because the Summarits are so flare-resistant they can often get away without hoods ... while other lenses which urgently need an effective hood only got a useless built-in one. Still it's a good idea to use a hood also on a Summarit because (1) even low-flare lenses are not 100 % flare-free, and (2) hoods also provide mechanical protection for the front element against bumps, strokes, and fingerprints.

[stump4545]

are 3rd party hoods better since they don't wiggle around on the 35mm summarit?

[DirkB17]

I own and use a 35 Summarit regularly. Nothing is “wiggling” around. For me it is just plain perfect.

[stump4545]

Dirk, doesnt your Leica lens hood not lock into place?

 

that is the way it is on my 35mm summarit 2.5.

 

i thought it was a design flaw of the 35mm summarit. not true?

[TomB_tx]

The hood on my 35 Summarit doesn't really "lock" - but tightens just as it screws to the stop, with enough friction that is is secure. No wiggle, and is hasn't tended to come loose. Good design.

Now when I bought it used, the hood and whole front body would wiggle, because the retaining ring on at the back that secures the optical unit had loosened. I tightened it, and it has been fine since.