28mm Summicron v1 vs. v2 on an M10-R

[JoshuaR]

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As I wrote in an earlier thread—to which many people posted very helpful replies!—I'm downsizing my lens kit. I'm slowly working my way down to a four-lens setup: 28 Cron, 35 Steel Rim, 50 Lux ASPH, 90 Summarit.

My question now is about the 28 Cron. I have a very beat-up 28mm Summicron v1 that I'm using on an M10-R and M10M. I love the lens, and it's become my everyday choice, but I've also found that my particular copy often seems to back focus. I bought it very cheap, it in "bargain" condition, and it has a loose aperture ring and lots of scuffs. The filter ring is dented and filters only go on part of the way. I'm debating either sending it in for a CLA or replacing it altogether with a 28 Summicron v2.

If I were to replace my v1 with a v2, would I notice any meaningful improvement in image quality on my M10-R and M10M? Reviews of the v2 seem to be divided on this question, and I can't find many that discuss the v2 vs. the v1 on high-resolution Ms like the M10-R. If the improvement is marginal, I'll probably just send my current lens for a CLA. I'm not a landscape photographer, so I don't really care about sharp corners; I think what would persuade me to change my v1 for a v2 would be better performance at wide apertures. A hood I might actually use would be a bonus.

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[robsonj]

I have the v2 (non close focusing version), never used v1, but the v2 is a spectacular lens imho

[lct]

1 hour ago, JoshuaRothman said:

 If the improvement is marginal, I'll probably just send my current lens for a CLA. I'm not a landscape photographer, so I don't really care about sharp corners; I think what would persuade me to change my v1 for a v2 would be better performance at wide apertures. A hood I might actually use would be a bonus.

I own both versions and hardly see significant differences IQ wise at f/2 otherwise than on landcape at infinity but i don't shoot this way usually. The v2's hood is a bonus if screw-in hoods are your cup of tea but if you like the v1 of this lens, my better advice would be to invest on a CLA and a new hood for it. 12466 is a nice (and expensive) hood, but it sits close to the aperture ring and gets somewhat in the way when turning the later. 12589 is smaller, cheaper and easier to find out but its locking ring tends to get in the way as well. 12588 is my favorite hood for this lens but it is difficult to find out and tends to drop more easily.

Edited April 15, 2024 by lct

[Warton]

I don’t have v1 but I own a v2.

Let me say this: I would rather part my spouse than the v2 

[sarav]

On 4/15/2024 at 9:03 PM, lct said:

I own both versions and hardly see significant differences IQ wise at f/2 otherwise than on landcape at infinity but i don't shoot this way usually. The v2's hood is a bonus if screw-in hoods are your cup of tea but if you like the v1 of this lens, my better advice would be to invest on a CLA and a new hood for it. 12466 is a nice (and expensive) hood, but it sits close to the aperture ring and gets somewhat in the way when turning the later. 12589 is smaller, cheaper and easier to find out but its locking ring tends to get in the way as well. 12588 is my favorite hood for this lens but it is difficult to find out and tends to drop more easily.

I normally use the v1 lens (the older one in the market designed by Koelsch) without shade and I rarely saw a problem in my pictures. It's a nice lens, very good designed, very detailed but with its fingerprint, which is a good thing to me. I own several new lenses (designed by Karbe) which are almost perfect in every way but they tend to be too large and with less character than my older ones. So a CLA for v1 is a good idea, definitely.