RayD28 Posted July 3, 2018 Share #1 Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm curious. The Type 4 (11819) and Type 5 (11826) are optically the same yet the former weighs 195g and the later 242g. What structural differences account for the change in weight? Edited July 3, 2018 by RayD28 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 3, 2018 Posted July 3, 2018 Hi RayD28, Take a look here 50mm Summicron Type 4 and Type 5. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted July 3, 2018 Share #2 Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) Slide out hood may count and focus ring in place of tab can be the second difference. as side note: my one Summicron DR (SOMNI) at 304g is heavy plus attached DR device 357g for all only not as heavy as my "LTM Summicron 50mm (1999)" 323g ! those two focus only to 1 meter. Edited July 3, 2018 by a.noctilux 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 3, 2018 Share #3 Posted July 3, 2018 V5 is taller and larger than v4 by a small but not insignificant margin. Main reason is v5's built-in hood i guess but i seem to recall that some v4 users did not like the obligation to use a focus tab on a 50mm lens. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/286222-50mm-summicron-type-4-and-type-5/?do=findComment&comment=3548955'>More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted July 3, 2018 Share #4 Posted July 3, 2018 Small diameter increases add more mass than you might expect - see the photo above Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted July 3, 2018 Share #5 Posted July 3, 2018 v4 has some inner plastic parts for aperture. And they say v4 focus helicoid is very compact. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 3, 2018 Share #6 Posted July 3, 2018 v4 has some inner plastic parts for aperture [...] Plastic in some 35/2 v4 yes but did not know about 50/2 v4. Any link? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayD28 Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted July 3, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) v4 has some inner plastic parts for aperture. And they say v4 focus helicoid is very compact. Plastic in some 35/2 v4 yes but did not know about 50/2 v4. Any link? I did see someone mention in a different forum that the Type 4 has some plastic in its construction while the Type 5 does not, but it was quickly rebuked in the same thread and no one challenged the rebuke. Ko.Fe., in addition to the link, please clarify what you mean when you say "plastic parts for aperture". I've researched lens comparisons and never saw anything indicating the Type 5 is built more rugged or durable. Not that weight is always an indicator of durability, but sometimes it does. lct, since you own both types, what are your thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 3, 2018 Share #8 Posted July 3, 2018 [...] I've researched lens comparisons and never saw anything indicating the Type 5 is built more rugged or durable. Not that weight is always an indicator of durability, but sometimes it does. lct, since you own both types, what are your thoughts? I ignored that my 35/2 v4 had plastic parts for many years so i may be ignorant about my 50/2 v4 as well. Now i have never heard of serious infos about that so far. I would ask on the collectors forum as i'm pretty sure our colleagues there know a lot more than i do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted July 3, 2018 Share #9 Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) Plastic in some 35/2 v4 yes but did not know about 50/2 v4. Any link? I did see someone mention in a different forum that the Type 4 has some plastic in its construction while the Type 5 does not, but it was quickly rebuked in the same thread and no one challenged the rebuke. Ko.Fe., in addition to the link, please clarify what you mean when you say "plastic parts for aperture". I've researched lens comparisons and never saw anything indicating the Type 5 is built more rugged or durable. Not that weight is always an indicator of durability, but sometimes it does. lct, since you own both types, what are your thoughts? I hope this will helps both of you: If you'll have some difficulties to watch this video, click on "show more" to read what I was writing about. I do own same version of Cron 50 v4 (Beaver Tail, here is no Tiger Claw in Ontario, where this ELC lens was made, but beavers and plenty). Edited July 3, 2018 by Ko.Fe. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 3, 2018 Share #10 Posted July 3, 2018 Both my 35/2 v4 and 50/2 v4 have "tiger claw" focus tabs as well and both have plastic parts then. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayD28 Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted July 3, 2018 Ko.Fe., thanks for posting the video!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kengai Posted July 4, 2018 Share #12 Posted July 4, 2018 What are the Leica reference numbers of the two versions? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayD28 Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted July 4, 2018 What are the Leica reference numbers of the two versions? If reference number is the same as model number, see post #1. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayD28 Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share #14 Posted July 4, 2018 OK, the video indicates plastic is used in the aperture mechanism of a Type 4. Does anyone know (or care) if plastic is used for the Type 5 aperture mechanism? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 4, 2018 Share #15 Posted July 4, 2018 OK, the video indicates plastic is used in the aperture mechanism of a Type 4. Does anyone know (or care) if plastic is used for the Type 5 aperture mechanism? No idea but my v4 has been working like a charm since i bought it new in the eighties so i don't worry too much about that. Would be interesting to know though, also if v4 copies made in Germany have the same plastic part as the ones made in Canada. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted July 4, 2018 Share #16 Posted July 4, 2018 No idea but my v4 has been working like a charm since i bought it new in the eighties so i don't worry too much about that. Would be interesting to know though, also if v4 copies made in Germany have the same plastic part as the ones made in Canada. I imagine that when you treat that lens with the necessary care then you will not damage it. And even with the metal ring instead of the plastic part one could break off that tiny screw. Normally plastic parts are frequently used in machinery. And theses parts normally are extremely solid (cogged wheels etc). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 4, 2018 Share #17 Posted July 4, 2018 This kind of damage is hard to imagine on metal parts though (35/2 v4). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/286222-50mm-summicron-type-4-and-type-5/?do=findComment&comment=3549303'>More sharing options...
Hello Posted July 4, 2018 Share #18 Posted July 4, 2018 This kind of damage is hard to imagine on metal parts though (35/2 v4). LeicaM_3520_v4_broken.jpg did that shear off? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 4, 2018 Share #19 Posted July 4, 2018 It is not mine, no idea sorry. Here's my 35/2 v4 with optical cell unscrewed from the focusing mount. No problem to screw it back in BTW. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/286222-50mm-summicron-type-4-and-type-5/?do=findComment&comment=3549395'>More sharing options...
adan Posted July 4, 2018 Share #20 Posted July 4, 2018 It should be noted that the "cheaper" lenses made 1979-19??* in Canada were "cheaper" not because of their origin, but because the M system had nearly died off (in fact, was temporarily killed by Wetzlar after the M5 was not a rousing success). As the primary maker of M lenses, the Canadian factory (which built quite solid lenses generally - R, M, special-contract military) - to save their own livelihood - proposed to Leitz-Germany that they could keep producing M products, at reduced cost (including the M4-2), to maintain some profitable market amidst the much more popular SLRs of the era. It was a question of "make them cheaper - or die." *terminal date complicated because the Canadian factory produced some parts (e.g. glass elements for Noctilux f/1 and the 75 Summilux) even after assembly was moved to Solms in 1986, and even after it was sold to Hughes Aerospace and eventually Raytheon (which still calls the facility ELCAN). 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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