50mm Summilux ASPH Metal Lens Cap

[Letin]

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First of all let me start by saying Hello (new) and thank you (for all the amazing discussions in the forum).

 

I love my legacy lenses that came with push-on metal caps. Been searching and trying everything that are still being produced, nothing works on the 50mm Summilux ASPH with the built-in lens hood.

 

Why

- if you were like me, I don't use clear filters on my lenses to protect my glass

- pinch caps have higher accidental glass-scratch related accidents, especially on the summilux asph

- they don't work for me

 

Wish

- push on style, metal cap, velvet/soft lining

- classic looking

- pulls out with the built-in hood, twist, lock and remove cap (see pictures in sequence)

 

After extensive search and measurements, I found something. This vintage push-on metal cap is anywhere from $30-60 sold on eBay, they are supposedly designed for E52 lenses. The inside diameter is a couple millimetre larger than the 50 summilux asph built-in hood. A simple mod changing the interior lining (rubber/wool/velvet) with superglue will reward you a functional push-on metal cap that works beautifully with this incredible lens!

 

So far it works perfectly!

 

1. pull out by grabbing either the hood or the cap 

2. twist & lock

3. remove cap

 

Or you can simply twist the cap out without pulling the hood. With trials and testings you can adjust how much friction required to open the cap. Took me about 45mins.

 

And no it did not add more length to the lens in place of the pinch cap.

 

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[mdemeyer]

Nice idea! Thanks for sharing.

[Letin]

Nice idea! Thanks for sharing.

 

you're welcome!

[farnz]

Welcome, Letin!

 

A nice idea for that model of 50/1.4 Summilux asph.  My black chrome 50/1.4 Summilux asph is the 'Retro' model with the knurled focus ring and metal screw-on vented hood and it has a very thick and heavy (bullet-proof I suspect) push-on metal hood so I completely understand why you've done this with yours.  I had the same asph as yours previously and the plastic Leica cap didn't quite do it for me (not the reason I changed lenses though).

 

Pete.

[Letin]

A nice idea for that model of 50/1.4 Summilux asph.  My black chrome 50/1.4 Summilux asph is the 'Retro' model with the knurled focus ring and metal screw-on vented hood and it has a very thick and heavy (bullet-proof I suspect) push-on metal hood so I completely understand why you've done this with yours.  I had the same asph as yours previously and the plastic Leica cap didn't quite do it for me (not the reason I changed lenses though).

 

 

Thanks Pete!

 

How do you like the retro black chrome version vs the regular version? in terms of focusing and handling. You're saying there's an OEM push-on cap to mount the 43 outer rim without the hood?

[farnz]

Yes there is a Leica, felt-lined, metal push-on cap that fits snuggly over the E43 lens barrel.

 

I had the 'Mk 1' 50/1.4 Summilux asph for about 10 years from new.  When I bought it the focus ring was noticeably stiff and slightly jerky at points but I was told by the Leica Premier Dealer, Photo Design Studio (now retired and closed), and others that it would wear-in and become smoother so I persevered with it.  Unfortunately over the 10 years that I owned it the focussing never became any smoother or lighter.  

 

At the time I very much liked the pictures taken through it for their 'brightness', colours, contrast, and sharpness (acutance) although as time has passed I've become fonder of lenses with a degree of character.  Perfection and sharpness are wonderful attributes in a lens, and the Mk 1 asph has that in spades and was called the best 50 mm lens ever made by many people and became the lens to aspire to in terms of performance although that changed of course with the release of the 50/2 APO-Summicron asph. Now I find the Mk 1 asph's pictures excellent but a little clinical for my taste; the transition from light to dark is steep and distinct (hence the excellent contrast) whereas I prefer a lower contrast look where the full tonal gradations from light to dark are evident from a gentler transition.  Some call it micro-contrast while others call it aberration ... I just think of it as pleasing to me now.

 

The Retro 50/1.4 Summilux asph, for me in terms of the look of its pictures, occupies a middle ground between the clinical Mk 1 asph and the 50/1 Noctilux (wide open) combining the benefits of both.  I'm very fond of the Noctilux's gentle vignette and the Mk 1 asph's (reduced) E43 filter thread produces a similar but not quite the same vignette although it's similarly effective at leading the eye to the centre of the frame.  The centre when wide open is very sharp as you'd expect from an APO-asph design (even though it's not advertised as such) but the micro-contrast seems gentler than the Mk 1 asph's.

 

The clincher for me was the smoothness of the focussing ring, which has been light and like silk from the outset.  It's not unreasonable to think that smoothness of the focussing ring should be well down in the list of reasons for laying out serious money for a new lens but when you've 'endured' imperfect ergonomics for ten years, which are patently obvious every time you use a lens, then perhaps it carries increased weight.

 

Do I like the retro?  Yes I do, in spades and I'm very happy to have changed from the Mk 1 asph.  I suspect (although I could well be mistaken) that the retro was Leica's first step on the road of rejuvenating 'period' lenses such as the 28/5.6 Summaron, the 90/2.2 Thambar, and the rumoured 75/1.25 Noctilux and I hope they continue to produce these alongside the other ground-breaking lenses.

 

Pete.

[FeralCoton]

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How did you modify the cap? I too would prefer the nice silver slip on cap. My silver 35 cron came with one. My silver lux has the simple black plastic one.

 

 

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Edited October 31, 2017 by FeralCoton

[Letin]

Pete,

 

Wow. Thanks for the in-depth analytical comparison between the regular 50mm lux ash and the retro version. I have done months of research before purchasing this lens over the summicron but I don't recall reading any reviews as insightful as yours. This is amazing stuff. Thank you. My copy is made in 2017 and I'm not sure if there's an "mk ii" or it's built the same way as your previous one. So far I find the focus ring a tad loose but everything else is butter, in my life I have never used any lens with this level of quality both in its build and optical quality. The lights "absorbed" through this lens is different from most other lenses I have used in the past.

 

And yes I'm very excited of the recent reintroduction of legacy glasses including yours and the upcoming 90/2.2 & 28 summaron. Too bad I don't have any local dealers who'd have the retro 50 to compare with before I made my purchase but I'm really happy with the touch of silver brass.

[Letin]

How did you modify the cap? I too would prefer the nice silver slip on cap. My silver 35 cron came with one. My silver lux has the simple black plastic one.

 

Sorry I don't have photos handy to show you at the moment but it's really easy let me walk you through.

 

1. if the cap is a little too large (a couple mm in my case)

2. remove the original velvet lining 

3. use the original lignin to measure, find an old shoe insert (insole)

4. cut out to the length of the original lining

5. trim to the thickness of your choice, test it by wrapping it around the outer rim of your lens where the cap would fit

6. if both ends of the cut out piece would meet with a little pressure, it's perfect

7. superglue it to the interior of the cap

8. Done!

 

took me about 45mins and a couple trials to find the right length and pressure. it's rather an easy project. Let me know how it goes

[farnz]

Pete,

 

Wow. Thanks for the in-depth analytical comparison between the regular 50mm lux ash and the retro version. I have done months of research before purchasing this lens over the summicron but I don't recall reading any reviews as insightful as yours. This is amazing stuff. Thank you. My copy is made in 2017 and I'm not sure if there's an "mk ii" or it's built the same way as your previous one. So far I find the focus ring a tad loose but everything else is butter, in my life I have never used any lens with this level of quality both in its build and optical quality. The lights "absorbed" through this lens is different from most other lenses I have used in the past.

 

And yes I'm very excited of the recent reintroduction of legacy glasses including yours and the upcoming 90/2.2 & 28 summaron. Too bad I don't have any local dealers who'd have the retro 50 to compare with before I made my purchase but I'm really happy with the touch of silver brass.

 

Letin,

 

The Retro was a limited edition of 500 pieces so local dealers are unlikely to have them.  I notice that B&H is advertising one for sale on back-order at the moment (in the spirit of full disclosure I have no connection whatsoever to B&H).

 

Pete.

[Letin]

Pete,

 

you're probably right there isn't many retro chrome version produced, I bet their value would go up in a few year. I notice your location is London, do you have many local Leica stores with stock to try before buying? to people living in Canada we pretty much just order online and return if we don't like them.

[farnz]

Pete,

 

you're probably right there isn't many retro chrome version produced, I bet their value would go up in a few year. I notice your location is London, do you have many local Leica stores with stock to try before buying? to people living in Canada we pretty much just order online and return if we don't like them.

 

Letin,

 

The London dealers (Red Dot Cameras, Richard Caplan, and Leica Mayfair) have no used Retro Summiluxes for sale and none of them even list the lens under new lenses either unfortunately.  It's the curse of the short-run item: you need to buy it when it's available

 

I don't think any 'Retro' silver chrome lenses were produced or I would have gone for one from preference.

 

Pete.

[BBHewee]

That’s the LHSA 50 Lux ASPH? Although quite dear to be fair.

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801251774-USE/leica_normal_50mm_f_1_4_summilux.html

[farnz]

Agreed the LHSA Summilux asph was silver chrome but I was meaning the edition that was released last year.  I would have loved to have had a LHSA Summilux asph but ,as you say, they're very expensive even assuming one can be found that's been split from its LHSA MP3.

 

Pete.

[Letin]

I remember having read somewhere before the silver chrome version was going for astronomical price. Pete maybe yours will too in a few years. Is the optics different from current asph black chrome version?

[farnz]

Perhaps it's value will increase - the value of most Leica lenses do in my experience - but I bought it to use not as an investment.  The current 50/1.4 Summilux asph, the silver chrome LHSA, and the black chrome Retro all have the same optical design, elements and groups (so they're actually all 50 APO-Summilux asph although they're not called such).  The Retro and (I believe) the LHSA have a 43mm filter thread but the current has 46 mm.

 

Pete.

[rrdiaz30]

Leica does make a metal lens cap for the 50mm Summilux ASPH E46 lens.  They were included in the limited editions for the Film MP blue stain and the M Monochrom blue stain cameras.  I'm sure the  lens caps were probably limited editions as well...shame.

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[ropo54]

I know there are metal caps available to fit the Leica Noctilux 0.95. But, it's a 60mm filter size. I'd suggest checking B&H. 

Edited October 20, 2019 by ropo54

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Hallo,

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[lct]

The 14475 lens cap for Summarit 75/2.5 & 90/2.5 is slightly too small but the 14477 hood cap for same could fit possibly. I have no experience with it though.

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[rrdiaz30]

Anyone know the OD outside diameter of the Summarit 75/2.5 & 90/2.5 lens hoods?  The 50mm Summilux-M ASPH hood outer diameter is approximately 53.5mm.

Cheers...Rick