semi-ambivalent Posted December 17, 2015 Share #1 Â Posted December 17, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm beginning to justify a 50 Elmar of the same era as my 1959 M3. I'm looking at around 156xxx or later. I see a couple "types" where the rear of the lens is 'squared off' and others where there is a little flaring out in the lens body. Is there any significant difference here to anyone other than a collector in build, parts or repair? Or is this just a cosmetic change? Â Thanks!, s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 17, 2015 Posted December 17, 2015 Hi semi-ambivalent, Take a look here 50mm M mount Elmar build question. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted December 17, 2015 Share #2  Posted December 17, 2015 I'm pretty sure you mean the rear body/mount part of the lens, in which case the 'squared off' ones are actually LTM mount and the flared ones are M mount.  You can of course use an LTM version with the appropriate LTM to M adaptor. The actual lenses are identical.  However, I would suggest looking for the late style 50 f3.5 lens which only came in M mount, and is the same lens as the famous Red Scale Elmar. It's actually a slightly better lens than the f2.8 but usually sells for less! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted December 20, 2015 Share #3 Â Posted December 20, 2015 They all make nice pictures. Â Examine with penlight and if not crystal clear inside, budget for cleaning. Â Â Soft coating from the era make cleaning more difficult. Â Have seller get it done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share #4 Â Posted December 20, 2015 They all make nice pictures. Â Examine with penlight and if not crystal clear inside, budget for cleaning. Â Â Soft coating from the era make cleaning more difficult. Â Have seller get it done. Thanks. I have one, just a year older than the camera, on its way from Tamarkin. It has a very small mark but is otherwise very very clean. I trust their assessment. I didn't think of coatings being soft on a large number of leica lenses of a particular era but have heard of at least one that seems to be well known for it. Maybe it was the Elmar. This one will get the gentlest of touches and then a filter. Â Oh, and this will be my last new lens ever. EVER. Â s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schrödinger's cat Posted December 20, 2015 Share #5  Posted December 20, 2015   Oh, and this will be my last new lens ever. EVER.  s-a Sure.  Right  Said that several times myself Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted December 22, 2015 Share #6  Posted December 22, 2015 Unless you drop dead right after receiving it, you'll probably have another sometime, but having been lucky to have owned lots of Leica 50s in the last 45 years, I think you'll be really pleased with it. I got my first red scale 50 about a year ago and have been thoroughly delighted with it...yes I occasionally look at others which offer one feature or another, with which I'm well acquainted, but I really like almost every feature of this one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted December 22, 2015 Share #7 Â Posted December 22, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks. I have one, just a year older than the camera, on its way from Tamarkin. It has a very small mark but is otherwise very very clean. I trust their assessment. I didn't think of coatings being soft on a large number of leica lenses of a particular era but have heard of at least one that seems to be well known for it. Maybe it was the Elmar. This one will get the gentlest of touches and then a filter. Â Oh, and this will be my last new lens ever. EVER. Â s-a Stan will not sell you a junker. Â Â The images from mine are almost the same a my rigid Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share #8  Posted December 22, 2015 Unless you drop dead right after receiving it, you'll probably have another sometime, Yes, but sometimes I like lying to myself because, you know, they're cheaper than cars.  s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share #9 Â Posted December 22, 2015 Stan will not sell you a junker. Â Â The images from mine are almost the same a my rigid Summicron. Good! That is what I'm after. That and the appearance with an MP. Â s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 22, 2015 Share #10  Posted December 22, 2015 Thanks. I have one, just a year older than the camera, on its way from Tamarkin. It has a very small mark but is otherwise very very clean. I trust their assessment. I didn't think of coatings being soft on a large number of leica lenses of a particular era but have heard of at least one that seems to be well known for it. Maybe it was the Elmar. This one will get the gentlest of touches and then a filter.  Oh, and this will be my last new lens ever. EVER.  s-a  Is it a 2.8 or 3.5?  The glass (not coatings) on most older lenses are soft compared to today and many have suffered from 'cleaning' over the years. The Leica Summar was particularly soft and pristine examples are hard to find! The thing is people try them and refer to them as 'soft' in terms of image quality - of course the fine scratches make for a nice soft focus lens! But a clean one is actually very sharp.  The Elmar has a nice look and I like the collapsible lenses for travelling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share #11  Posted December 22, 2015 Is it a 2.8 or 3.5? ...The Elmar has a nice look and I like the collapsible lenses for travelling. 2.8. The 3.5 was recommended as well, but this is a '58 and my M3 is a '59 so I went with it. You know, a Real Big Shot back then would get the 2.8 because it was faster, right? I also have a history with Tamarkin, and what I was seeing on that auction site was silly, at least for these.  s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted December 22, 2015 Share #12  Posted December 22, 2015 That's good to hear because I have one! It has had the original matching Leica filter on since day one it seems as the front element is perfect. It's a very sharp lens centrally, seeming to match my Summicron type 5. I've not compared it to my old Elmar which I'm also very happy with. Pete  The Leica Summar was particularly soft and pristine examples are hard to find! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted December 23, 2015 Share #13  Posted December 23, 2015  That's good to hear because I have one! It has had the original matching Leica filter on since day one it seems as the front element is perfect. It's a very sharp lens centrally, seeming to match my Summicron type 5. I've not compared it to my old Elmar which I'm also very happy with. Pete   I was mistaken. It's the Summitar I have, not the Summar. Surprisingly sharp wide open. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted December 23, 2015 Share #14 Â Posted December 23, 2015 Yes, the Summitar makes sense to be sharp. I inherited a '48 sample in great shape, and in sharpness on center it compares to Summicron. The differences are in other characteristics. Actually my '34 Summar is quite sharp in center also, but overall image has differences, more flare, glow, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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