Difference between early versions and new versions

[Jacobjuul]

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Hi, 

I am sorry for the confusing title. But I was wondering if there are, other than age, any differences between an early version summicron 50 version 5 and an early version summicron version 5. 

For example one made in 2008 and one made in 2016.

 

Regards Jacob

[james.liam]

Optical design has remained unchanged. If there are changes in the lens coatings, Leica isn’t saying. 

[lct]

Summicron 50/2 v5 from 2008 and 2016 have the same code number (11826 in black) and the same specifications (link) so should be the same lens although Leica may introduce modifications without saying as mentioned by james.liam above. I'm not aware of such modifications between 2008 and 2016 but i may be wrong.

[UliWer]

vor einer Stunde schrieb Jacobjuul:

...any differences between an early version summicron 50 version 5 and an early version summicron version 5. 

I am not sure whether you mean the current 1:2/50mm Summicron-M - without aspherical lenses.

There has been a little bit of confusion in the forum how to name the versions of the lens.

There is consent that the collapsible Summicron is the first version, and the first „rigid“ one the second. From 1969-1979 there has been a third version, which is not much talked of.

The current Summicron has been in production since 1979, so it might be called the fourth version. In 1994 it got an inbuilt extensible hood, while the earlier had a separate one. To make a difference between the two „sub-types“ of the lens, the later one with inbuilt hood  is sometimes called the „fifth“ version - though it still has the same optical design as the prior type with separate hood. Sometimes the new Apo-Asph Summicron is called the „fifth“ version - though it is a completely different lens with an extraordinate price incomparable to the „normal“ 50mm Summicron.

So if you look for a lens from 2008 you’ll find no difference to a 2018 example - as long as you do not look for the Apo.Asph, which was  introduced in 2013.

[Jean-Michel]

Photographing the same subject in the same light with my 1966 ‘Rigid’ and with my current version 5 does show a difference. Once processed and printed I would dare  anyone to identify any of the parameters used to make the image. There is a difference between my two lenses, probably more due to the age and aging coating of the Ridgid than anything else.  One 50, any version or type, is plenty!