How many different types of 50mm M-lenses

[jothiratnam]

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Hi everyone, I was asked by a friend who was curious to know, how many different general types of 50 mm M lenses there are, without going into specific varieties of each general type. I've found the following. Any more to add to it, or any emendations to the list?

 

Elmar 50/3,5; 50/2,8

Hektor 50/2,5

Summar 50/2

Summitar 50/2

Summicron 50/2

Summarit 50/1,5; 50/2,5

Summilux 50/1,4

Noctilux 50/1; 50/1,2

 

It might be useful to get peoples' general impressions on each of these lenses too. Jothiratnam

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[Ivar B]

This list looks complete, but remember that there are several different versions of each lens also. For example, there are 4 computations of the Summicron 50, and there were 2 different versions of the Summulux 50mm prior to the ASPH model.

[spydrxx]

Add to that there were some which were rigid mounted, collapsible and dual range

[christer]

black, chrome, gold, titan, etc.

[wizard]

The oldest and the youngest are still missing:

 

Elmax 3.5/50

Summarit 2.5/50

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

 

P.S.: And still another just crossed my mind: Elcan 2/50

P.P.S: To be precise, the Elmax, Hektor, Summar and Summitar were screw mount lenses only

P.P.P.S.: Come to think of it, the oldest of them all must be the Anastigmat 3.5/50. Whether there is any difference to the later Elmax is beyond my knowledge.

[hans_s]

And that is just the ones from Leitz/Leica lenses. Many other manufacturers have made (and still makes) M-lenses.

[jlancasterd]

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Hi everyone, I was asked by a friend who was curious to know, how many different general types of 50 mm M lenses there are, without going into specific varieties of each general type. I've found the following. Any more to add to it, or any emendations to the list?

 

Elmar 50/3,5; 50/2,8

Hektor 50/2,5

Summar 50/2

Summitar 50/2

Summicron 50/2

Summarit 50/1,5; 50/2,5

Summilux 50/1,4

Noctilux 50/1; 50/1,2

 

It might be useful to get peoples' general impressions on each of these lenses too. Jothiratnam

 

There were also the YAROB and DOOIT f3.5 50mm Elmar enlarging lenses which are good for close-up work on the Visoflex II or III, or Bellows II - not to mention the later Focotar f4.5 50mm.

 

If you include 3rd party lenses then there are literally dozens - the list in the back of the 1994 book 'Leica Copies' by 'HPR' runs to almost 2 pages - and several more have appeared since then.

[luigi bertolotti]

Important name missing ! Xenon 1,5 ! Even if the Summarit was very very similar...

 

And the VERY firs Leicas mounted an Anastigmat 50 3,5... but the above quoted Elmax is the same lens.

 

And then there was the Leitz New York lenses... not manufactured by Leitz (Wollensak glass) but sold in USA as regular Leitz items; there was a Wollensak 50 3,5 and (maybe, not so sure) also a cheaper 50 4,5

 

 

P.S. sorry I didn't notice the original question was on M lenses...

[leitz_not_leica]

I've used a Noct', 'lux (still have because it's unusual with a serial no. from '58), DR, 'cron (no tab), Canon 1.2, and a Nikon 1.4 (my main user because it's sooo compact). Nikon used to make lenses for Canon bodies before Canon made lenses, so they knew/know what they are doing.

 

There are a lot of suppliers for Leica cameras.

[abrewer]

The oldest and the youngest are still missing:

 

Elmax 3.5/50

Summarit 2.5/50

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

 

P.S.: And still another just crossed my mind: Elcan 2/50

P.P.S: To be precise, the Elmax, Hektor, Summar and Summitar were screw mount lenses only

P.P.P.S.: Come to think of it, the oldest of them all must be the Anastigmat 3.5/50. Whether there is any difference to the later Elmax is beyond my knowledge.

 

 

Only in Leica-land....

 

Thanks

 

Allan

[lars_bergquist]

Hi everyone, I was asked by a friend who was curious to know, how many different general types of 50 mm M lenses there are, without going into specific varieties of each general type. I've found the following. Any more to add to it, or any emendations to the list?

 

Elmar 50/3,5; 50/2,8

Hektor 50/2,5

Summar 50/2

Summitar 50/2

Summicron 50/2

Summarit 50/1,5; 50/2,5

Summilux 50/1,4

Noctilux 50/1; 50/1,2

 

It might be useful to get peoples' general impressions on each of these lenses too. Jothiratnam

 

The Hektor and the Summar were never M lenses, i.e. issued in M bayonet mount. Throw in a bayonet adapter however, and the question becomes "how many 50mm lenses have Leitz/Leica made since 1925?"

 

Then, much depends on what you mean by different types. There have been four different 50mm Summicron lenses, all of different optical construction, and two entirely different Summiluxes. Different optical layout must surely mean "different general type". Text on the front ring does not a lens type make!

 

The old man from the Age of the Summitar

[Guest tummydoc]

Tand two entirely different Summiluxes.

 

Three. Types I and II, and ASPH. (Type II also underwent a mount-change in 1994 and was permitted to focus 30cm closer although the optical design did not change in any way to account for performance in that range).

[jothiratnam]

Hi everyone, thanks for the answers. I'll pass them along to my friend. Have a good weekend, Jothiratnam