satijntje Posted June 13, 2015 Share #1  Posted June 13, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi,  I would like to equip by black M8 with a chrome lens that was fabricated in 1957 (year of my birth) I have the choice between an 50mm Summicron rigid and a 50mm Summarit f1.5, both manufactured in that year. Both have M mount.  Which one should I take. Prices are nearly identical, around 700 Euro.  Thanks for advising me on this  John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Hi satijntje, Take a look here Which old lens for my M8?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TomB_tx Posted June 13, 2015 Share #2 Â Posted June 13, 2015 I have both, and prefer the Summicron both for image quality and handling. The Summicron was also more highly regarded in 1957, as it was the top 1950s design, while the Summarit was really a coated Xenon design from the 1930s, to be replaced by the Summilux I in 1959. That said, I enjoy the Summarit also, and have had some nice pictures with it. Either could be fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabit Posted June 13, 2015 Share #3 Â Posted June 13, 2015 I would say Summicron, one of the best lenses. Medium contrast but beautiful color and great definition..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted June 13, 2015 Author Share #4 Â Posted June 13, 2015 Thanks for the information. So I will go then got the cron. Â Is there only one type of 50cron, and is this the so called rigid? Â J Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpitt Posted June 13, 2015 Share #5 Â Posted June 13, 2015 They were produced in both collapsble and rigid form. Same optical formula. Try to find one with good front glass if you can find one. It is extremely soft so clean with blower only... I always have a UV filter on mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted June 13, 2015 Share #6 Â Posted June 13, 2015 They were produced in both collapsble and rigid form. Same optical formula. According to Erwin Puts the optical formula for the Rigid had several changes from the collapsible that improvred performance. It also used different glass, and was not as soft as the collapsible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpitt Posted June 14, 2015 Share #7 Â Posted June 14, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) According to Erwin Puts the optical formula for the Rigid had several changes from the collapsible that improvred performance. It also used different glass, and was not as soft as the collapsible. Thanks for the correction. I have both and indeed, the rigid is better overall, but I attributed it to the fact that mine is of later date than my collapsible. Collapsible and rigid have an overlap period of about 4 years when they were both available. After that, only the rigid was produced according to this source: http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-summicron-comparison-table.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted June 14, 2015 Share #8 Â Posted June 14, 2015 Collapsible and rigid have an overlap period of about 4 years when they were both available. After that, only the rigid was produced according to this source: That's correct, but the collapsible was only in screw mount after 1957, when M switched to the rigid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted June 14, 2015 Share #9  Posted June 14, 2015 Well, a good used Summicron is never a mistake, I agree, but I find also that my Summarit is a lens with a special character (a sort of softness and medium contrast) when used at 1,5 / 2... and not so different from "old" Summicron at central closures (I have also a newer black Summicron, which is definitely sharper) : considering that on M8 50mm is a good focals for portraits, the Summarit imho can be a tasty choice : it's more delicate than Summicron, though (it's easy that you find one with little disalignement of f/stop ring, and the front element is very prone to microscratches) , the hood isn't easy (nor cheap) to find, and, finally, the UVIR filter (very important for M8) is a difficult task to manage. Good choice if you plan to do mostly B&W... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted June 16, 2015 Share #10 Â Posted June 16, 2015 According to Erwin Puts the optical formula for the Rigid had several changes from the collapsible that improvred performance. It also used different glass, and was not as soft as the collapsible. Â There were 2 versions of the rigid, Â heavy chrome and satin chrome. Â Different optical formulas. Â Same with the DR. Â Â Caution on DR, the the eyes need to match the lens version and they may not work on the taller M starting with M6 ttl. Â I know the eyes are not interchangeable . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzwave Posted July 5, 2015 Share #11  Posted July 5, 2015 Recommended; 50 rigid for M8, best buy..  I used this lens when travel to Nepal last winter, some pictures from M8+50 Cron Rigid  I shared in this thread:  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/160294-still-loving-the-m8/page-40 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted July 5, 2015 Share #12 Â Posted July 5, 2015 I have the second version rigid Summicron bought new in 1966. It is a lens I will never sell and have used it on my M3, M6, M8, M9 and MP240. I have the current model but the imaging is subtly different. Incidentally the lens unit unscrews from the focusing mount and can be used with bellows or BOWUM copylegs for close up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRIago Posted July 5, 2015 Share #13 Â Posted July 5, 2015 Rigid. Always. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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