Guest Posted December 29, 2020 Share #1 Posted December 29, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) The old elmar looks so beautiful and has the 15 blade aperture but the elmar- m has improved performance and modern coatings. Is it total madness to scan ebay only for the elmar 1957-74 ish model? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 29, 2020 Posted December 29, 2020 Hi Guest, Take a look here 50mm elmar v elmar m. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
shirubadanieru Posted December 30, 2020 Share #2 Posted December 30, 2020 What kind of rendering do you prefer? I’ve had both, and currently only own the Elmar. My opinion below: Elmar: + Better construction for sure + Longer focus throw (which to me feels just right on a 50) + 15 blades & dreamy bokeh (kinda like a painting, not too swirly just the right amount, one of the best amongst old leica lens) - changing the aperture is annoying since it rotates with the lens - not as sharp as the elmar f3.5 wide open but sharper than the collapsible 50mm summicron wide open (and definitely less sharp than modern designs); that being said, def sharp enough Elmar-M: + easy to use, just like any other leica lens changing the aperture is very easy + modern design (if you are into that) so it’s very sharp similar to the summicron V5 50mm, you know you will get very reliable results every time - bokeh is not bad, but it’s nothing too exciting - uglier design / feels cheaper / short focus throw / weird blade number 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2020 Share #3 Posted December 30, 2020 55 minutes ago, shirubadanieru said: What kind of rendering do you prefer? I’ve had both, and currently only own the Elmar. My opinion below: Elmar: + Better construction for sure + Longer focus throw (which to me feels just right on a 50) + 15 blades & dreamy bokeh (kinda like a painting, not too swirly just the right amount, one of the best amongst old leica lens) - changing the aperture is annoying since it rotates with the lens - not as sharp as the elmar f3.5 wide open but sharper than the collapsible 50mm summicron wide open (and definitely less sharp than modern designs); that being said, def sharp enough Elmar-M: + easy to use, just like any other leica lens changing the aperture is very easy + modern design (if you are into that) so it’s very sharp similar to the summicron V5 50mm, you know you will get very reliable results every time - bokeh is not bad, but it’s nothing too exciting - uglier design / feels cheaper / short focus throw / weird blade number Thanks,,,i like both classic and modern rendering to be honest. I have the razor sharp modern zeiss 35mm f1.4 distagon but also a 40 year old 90mm tele-elmarit mandler lens both of which i adore but i lean towards the older version of the elmar 50mm and even more so after your post. Just need to find a decent one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 30, 2020 Share #4 Posted December 30, 2020 1 hour ago, shirubadanieru said: - uglier design / feels cheaper / short focus throw / weird blade number superb design, feels dearer, short focus throw, 5 blades giving a gorgeous bokeh, more contrast and sharpness than the old Elmar, Tessar look at its best, my favorite 50 ever... proof that photography is a matter of taste . 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirubadanieru Posted December 30, 2020 Share #5 Posted December 30, 2020 12 minutes ago, steve 1959 said: Thanks,,,i like both classic and modern rendering to be honest. I have the razor sharp modern zeiss 35mm f1.4 distagon but also a 40 year old 90mm tele-elmarit mandler lens both of which i adore but i lean towards the older version of the elmar 50mm and even more so after your post. Just need to find a decent one. Yeah I love both Elmar the f3.5 red dial and also the f2.8 to a point that I feel I should sell one of them since it doesn’t make too much sense to keep both ahah to be honest, but I’m having trouble picking the one I should part with. Both these lenses provide beautiful rendering and after the Summicron rigid they are my favorite 50mm. The biggest advantage is weight and rendering; I even feel the f2.8 elmar provides better bokeh than the rigid (or any other Summicrons that came after it). If I had to pick between a mint f2.8 and a mint elmar-m f2.8 I’d go with the old version every single time. I should really emphasize how annoying it is to change aperture though ahah so if you do this a lot just have that in mind. I just shot a couple of rolls recently with the f2.8 let me share here with you some shots wide open so that you can have a good picture (please know that the files uploaded here seem much softer than what they really are so just click on them to see the proper file, which is still compressed but better than when posted here). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirubadanieru Posted December 30, 2020 Share #6 Posted December 30, 2020 Shot wide open on ultramax 400 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! 4 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/316529-50mm-elmar-v-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=4108449'>More sharing options...
shirubadanieru Posted December 30, 2020 Share #7 Posted December 30, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Same as above ; hope these are useful 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! 4 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/316529-50mm-elmar-v-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=4108450'>More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted December 30, 2020 Share #8 Posted December 30, 2020 1 hour ago, steve 1959 said: Is it total madness to scan ebay only for the elmar 1957-74 ish model? Not at all Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 30, 2020 Share #9 Posted December 30, 2020 Forgot to say that the Elmar flares a lot. Used to be a good lens in the sixties though. Couple of Elmar-M pics below. 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! 2 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/316529-50mm-elmar-v-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=4108457'>More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted December 30, 2020 Share #10 Posted December 30, 2020 If it was a good lens in the 60’s it’s good now. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 30, 2020 Share #11 Posted December 30, 2020 Works fine on closeups too. Elmar-M + Leica macro adapter. 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! 2 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/316529-50mm-elmar-v-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=4108464'>More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted December 30, 2020 Share #12 Posted December 30, 2020 PS: Lenses flare because photographers cause them to. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 30, 2020 Share #13 Posted December 30, 2020 5 minutes ago, jdlaing said: If it was a good lens in the 60’s it’s good now. Let's say good enough . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted December 30, 2020 Share #14 Posted December 30, 2020 Gooder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted December 30, 2020 Share #15 Posted December 30, 2020 (edited) I purchased M version while they were affordable, including on e-bay. I used it on M4-2 with BW film only. It was giving results in the same classic league of collapsible Cron, maybe slightly more contrast. I didn't went for old version, because old Leitz lens might be problematic due to its age. I sold it mostly because it was nowhere near to be compact lens if ready to shoot and with filter and its original hood. It was too long for my taste for such slow lens. Recently I was thinking about CV Heliar 50 3.5 (current version), but it is monster lens for such small aperture. I'm just too spoiled with tiny and fast Jupiter-3. But it is not in punching sharp lens category. As Elmar-M and CV Heliar 50 3.5. Edited December 30, 2020 by Ko.Fe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirubadanieru Posted December 30, 2020 Share #16 Posted December 30, 2020 (edited) Flare wise I’d say that both Elmars (3.5 and 2.8) flare way less than Summicrons of similar age, but of course lose to the more modern coatings. That being said, even the modern summicron 50mm is not known to be that resistant to flare and when it does flare it just looks ugly whereas the elmars and older lens when they flare sometimes it gives it a lovely and unique flare As an example, not the 2.8 sorry but 3.5 (which has the same design just uses different glass) shot against the sun without a hood (the summicron 50mm v5 in this situation would most likely give me an ugly flare shape) 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! Edited December 30, 2020 by shirubadanieru 3 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/316529-50mm-elmar-v-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=4108474'>More sharing options...
cboy Posted December 30, 2020 Share #17 Posted December 30, 2020 I was tempted to sell my Elmar-m before but lucky i didnt go through with it. Just something about the rendering which is very special unlike all lenses ive used previously; i like it much more than my cron v5. I understand why the op is in search for one. Good luck. All the best! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwino Posted December 30, 2020 Share #18 Posted December 30, 2020 I think the old Elmars are terrific lenses. The 3.5 is great in film and digital. I liked my 2.8 better on digital than film (probably because my Summar is so great on both). The newer M is very contrasty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted December 30, 2020 Share #19 Posted December 30, 2020 It was a borrowed M2 with 50 2.8 Elmar in 1967 that sold me on Leica. The mechanical precision of both the body and lens was unlike any camera I had tried. I still enjoy the combination. When I use the Elmar on M10 the results are special. I also have the Elmar-M, which gives great images - but I prefer using the old Elmar. (Still, it's a Summarit 2.5 that is used most.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted December 30, 2020 Share #20 Posted December 30, 2020 13 hours ago, lct said: superb design, feels dearer, short focus throw, 5 blades giving a gorgeous bokeh, more contrast and sharpness than the old Elmar, Tessar look at its best, my favorite 50 ever... proof that photography is a matter of taste . Ha! Horses for courses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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