jacopo129 Posted February 19, 2023 Share #1 Posted February 19, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello everyone, Kind of a dumb question but I couldn't find many satisfying reviews about this lens; would a well preserved 6 blades summitar (without cleaning marks and clean inside) match the quality of its summicrons successors? I'd be exclusively be shooting people in street environments in b/w and still browsing for my main lens. Skin rendering and overall effect from sample photos look really good to me, however I see it sells relatively cheap and it doesn't have much appeal compared to other Leica 5cm lenses. Are there some downsides for which it shouldn't be a first pick lens or people just prefer newer summicrons? Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 19, 2023 Posted February 19, 2023 Hi jacopo129, Take a look here Summitar 5cm 2 on M3. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dpitt Posted February 19, 2023 Share #2 Posted February 19, 2023 (edited) The Summitar is a real Leica lens. Even the Summar, which is older is used by many for its qualities. Maybe the Summitar will be somewhat softer wide open and have lower contrast compared to a later Summicron. But it can make beautiful pictures. It was kind of the prototype of the later Summicron 50 collapsible. In practical use today there are some things to consider (it might explain somewhat the lack of popularity) It is a screw mount lens, so you need to use an LTM-M adapter. This adds to the cost if you buy a good one. Be careful with cheap chines ones, they can be off. Also you need one for 50-75 mm lenses to bring up the right frames on the M camera's. With a good one you can forget it is there, it just integrates with your lens. This lens has no inner threads for filters and click in caps. It makes using and finding filters for it harder and more expensive. The cap easily comes of and is often lost with theses classics. I normally use click in cheap alternatives, but in this case you need to find a cap that slides on the outer ring. There are some 3D printed ones you could consider. You need a cap with any M lens on a film camera because the cloth of the shutter can easily burn holes when left open in the sun (when you are not using the camera, always put a cap on with these camera's) The digital M's have metal shutters, so are less vulnerable, but still be a little careful in very sunny situations not to leave the camera sitting open with the lens pointing at the sun. Sunhood is old type barn doors type SOOFM. It is beautiful for collectors but the Summicron hoods are more practical and cheaper. Otherwise it is a great lens IMO both for film and digital. Edited February 19, 2023 by dpitt 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirubadanieru Posted February 19, 2023 Share #3 Posted February 19, 2023 (edited) If you want a summicron kind of rendering get the summicron. Summar & Summitars are great, but are nowhere near the rendering of the summicrons. Wide open they have lower contrast, sharp center, dreamy bokeh. From f5.6 onwards they're pretty sharp all over. The only downside of most Summars is the ugly shapped bokeh with its weird shapped blades. If you shoot wide open it doesn't matter, but at any other aperture it is visible & (to my eyes) not pleasing. There are round bladed Summars but not as common. Summitars are apparently a step up from the Summars sharpness wise. Edited February 19, 2023 by shirubadanieru 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacopo129 Posted February 19, 2023 Author Share #4 Posted February 19, 2023 vor 3 Stunden schrieb shirubadanieru: If you want a summicron kind of rendering get the summicron. Summar & Summitars are great, but are nowhere near the rendering of the summicrons. Wide open they have lower contrast, sharp center, dreamy bokeh. From f5.6 onwards they're pretty sharp all over. The only downside of most Summars is the ugly shapped bokeh with its weird shapped blades. If you shoot wide open it doesn't matter, but at any other aperture it is visible & (to my eyes) not pleasing. There are round bladed Summars but not as common. Summitars are apparently a step up from the Summars sharpness wise. I really like summitars’ bookeh which looks kind of a „painting“. Would there be any alternative for that, maybe in M mount? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 19, 2023 Share #5 Posted February 19, 2023 If you want a Summicron don't buy a Summitar. Summitar's are great lenses but they have weird bokeh wide open and are more for fun and the hell of using one nowadays, I have two, which is one too many. They come in coated and uncoated versions (I think 1942 was the crossover date?), the coated version is much better. They have a tapered filter thread and finding the appropriate filters is difficult, but you can get a cheap adapter that allows you to use ordinary 39mm filters, hoods, and lens caps. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 19, 2023 Share #6 Posted February 19, 2023 I agree with Shirubadanieru and Steve; if you want the performance of a Summicron buy a Summicron. Just think about it logically; if the performance of the Summitar was just as 'good' why would Leitz bring out the Summicron at all? Philip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMF Posted February 19, 2023 Share #7 Posted February 19, 2023 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) 50/2 Summitar on M8: 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! Best JM Edited February 19, 2023 by JMF 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Best JM ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367337-summitar-5cm-2-on-m3/?do=findComment&comment=4691945'>More sharing options...
JMF Posted February 19, 2023 Share #8 Posted February 19, 2023 (edited) Shifting from the OP question, a round bladed Summar shot on M3 with Portra 160: 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! Best JM Edited February 19, 2023 by JMF 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Best JM ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367337-summitar-5cm-2-on-m3/?do=findComment&comment=4691949'>More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted February 19, 2023 Share #9 Posted February 19, 2023 Some years ago I was given a 1955 M3 with a 1939 Summitar (un-coated), and also inherited a IIIc with a coated Summitar from around 1948. After a CLA service I've used the 1939 lens on an M9 with very respectable performance. The later coated model is somewhat better, and I could see it as a primary lens, if you like its characteristics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted February 19, 2023 Share #10 Posted February 19, 2023 (edited) If you're looking for Summicron performance get a Summicron and skip the Summitar. OTOH if you're looking for a lens which has its own character, good overall performance, and could do very well in a street shooting environment the Summitar can easily fit the bill. Hell, a ton of street shooters with strong reputations in the past have made do with lesser lenses. Edit: now rhat I think about it, you might do better (if you're looking for a 1950-60s look) than a Summicron of the era with a Canon (Serenar or CanonCamera Co. labeling) 50/1.8 or 50/1.9. They're, IMHO, a better lens than the collapsible Summicrons. Yes, they're screwmount, but an inexpensive LTM->M adapter will fit them on your M3 and they'll work fine. I actually prefer my rigid Canon 50/1.8 to my early Summicron...it is smoother to operate, focuses faster (shorter focus throw), and is slightly sharper. Edited February 19, 2023 by spydrxx Added commentary 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 19, 2023 Share #11 Posted February 19, 2023 1 hour ago, spydrxx said: ...Edit: now rhat I think about it, you might do better......with a Canon (Serenar or CanonCamera Co. labeling) 50/1.8 or 50/1.9. They're, IMHO, a better lens than the collapsible Summicrons......I actually prefer my rigid Canon 50/1.8 to my early Summicron...it is smoother to operate, focuses faster (shorter focus throw), and is slightly sharper... I'm another who absolutely loves the rendering of the Canon 50mm f1.8 and have used one often with my Digi-M bodies as well as my Barnacks. Mine is the 'Canon' branded all silver-chrome (Serenar-style) Rigid-bodied version. They are relatively easy to find with very clean optics and for a very good price. The only (small-ish) downside for someone such as myself who loves to shoot B'n'W using colour-contrast filters is that it features a rather uncommon 40mm filter-thread. Philip. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocean2059 Posted February 19, 2023 Share #12 Posted February 19, 2023 Summitar 50/2 (straight blade, 1952) on M10 Monochrom 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 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/367337-summitar-5cm-2-on-m3/?do=findComment&comment=4692210'>More sharing options...
ocean2059 Posted February 19, 2023 Share #13 Posted February 19, 2023 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! As other have mentioned, it has lower contrast wide open but stop down a bit, it is very sharp. I like mine copy very much and mostly use it on monochrom digital Ms. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! As other have mentioned, it has lower contrast wide open but stop down a bit, it is very sharp. I like mine copy very much and mostly use it on monochrom digital Ms. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367337-summitar-5cm-2-on-m3/?do=findComment&comment=4692221'>More sharing options...
Michael Patrick Ryan Posted February 19, 2023 Share #14 Posted February 19, 2023 I absolutely love mine. It has its own unique personality. I wouldn't call it my every day lens but when I take it out for the day it is an absolute joy to use. I always shoot f/2. Always. To me, that's where it shines. Not talking sharpness per se just the "personality"Here is an image from my front porch. Portraiture is just wonderful as well. The skin is rendered to a beautiful glow. 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! 6 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/367337-summitar-5cm-2-on-m3/?do=findComment&comment=4692376'>More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 19, 2023 Share #15 Posted February 19, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Michael Patrick Ryan said: 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! Beautiful Photograph! Thanks for sharing. Philip. Edited February 19, 2023 by pippy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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