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First Impressions of 75mm Summarit


c6gowin

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My first impression of the 75 Summarit is that it is a fantastic little lens. I just picked it up this afternoon and think it would make a great part of a two lens travel set of 21-35mm Hexanon and 75mm Summarit.

 

I had a Summilux 75 before and pretty much hated it - it was big and heavy, with ponderous focusing and unpleasant focus shift as you stopped down. I also had a bad taste in my mouth because Leica's failure to detect its collimation problem with my M8 necessitated months of expensive shipping, repairing, waiting, and repeating. This is like a breath of fresh air - and even though it's 1.5 stops slower, it's sharp (to the limits of my M typ 240), focuses quickly and perfectly wide-open, and takes up little space.

 

What I am not so hot on is the obvious (and) inexplicable cost-cutting. The front ring could easily have been engraved, and there is no reason to have used a natural focusing rubber insert that tends to need TLC not to turn white. The lens cap is inexplicable - why not just use a standard 46mm pinch cap?

 

Dante

 

I love the slip-on cap, and the front ring IS engraved, it just uses a different font than other Leica lenses.

 

I would have preferred knurled metal for the focus grip, but its hardly worth complaining about as thus far it still looks and feels like new, even after almost a year of frequent use and carry outside of the pouch.

 

You are correct that it is outstanding as part of a two-lens kit. When I had my M8.2 I used to carry this and the 28mm Elmarit, while now with the Monochrom I pair it with the 35mm Summarit. When I carry a 50mm I tend to grab the 90mm Summarit (and the 28mm) instead of the 75mm.

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To encourage you to order a Summicron :D

 

Personally I value the small size and light weight of the Summarit more than the additional 2/3 stop of the Summicron. The Cron is often rated as sharper, but even on the Monochrom I can't imagine anything being better at this focal length. Faster yes, but not better. Guess I'm just a fan of a more traditional rendering.

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