Lens compression before purchasing

[Ishay]

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Hello ,

i own leica M3 and im having a lilte bit of trouble to decide between this 2 lenses :

1. Leica 5cm (50mm) f/2.8 Elmar Ernst Leitz GmbH Wetzlar Collapsible and 

2. Leica 5cm (50mm) f/2 summicorn wetzlar collapsible 

 

Thank you 

ishay 

 

 

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[dpitt]

Very different characters IMO.
The Elmar collapsible is a very good lens, not much distortion or 'character' even wide open. Ideal for outside and if you love architecture and such.

The Summicron wide open is not as 'correct' but draws beautifully. At F2.0 it is sharp enough but can still be used as a portrait lens. When stopped down it reaches the same sharpness as the Elmar, but the character remains more pleasing to me.
It is a very good lens for indoors and low light.
IMO every Leica owner should own at least one Summicron, and this one is the cheapest option.
So if it is your first Leica lens, or if you  have never tried a Summicron, I would very much recommend to choose this one.

[a.noctilux]

Welcome Ishay.

Don't forget the film you use.

With my M3, I'd use Summilux 50mm.

One of these (link)

or one of these future proof

This is sweet spot lens and balance very nicely on M3 (and other M too).

Problem (even future ones 😉) closed.

 

[TomB_tx]

I agree with dpitt - the 5 cm Elmar 2.8 was the first Leica lens I tried back in the 1960s, and it sold me on Leica. But when I bought my M4 i stretched my budget and bought a Summicron instead. I've never regretted it. I now also own a Summilux 50 also, but it sits on my storage shelf - I prefer the Summicron. I used f 2.0 lenses for indoor, available light photos for decades on film, back when I was steady enough to use 1/15 second shutter speeds. I still get good results at 1/30 - which works with fast film indoors.

[spydrxx]

Hi Ishay and welcome to the forum. Can you elaborate on why you are having difficulty deciding between the two lenses? If it is in the rendering, I encourage you to search the forum for discussions of each and look at some of the shots taken with each. How do they mesh with your shooting style and/or subjects. Having owned both, I can only say I enjoyed using each as well as the results they produced.

[Ishay]

On 4/18/2024 at 4:57 AM, a.noctilux said:

Welcome Ishay.

Don't forget the film you use.

With my M3, I'd use Summilux 50mm.

One of these (link)

or one of these future proof

This is sweet spot lens and balance very nicely on M3 (and other M too).

Problem (even future ones 😉) closed.

 

Thank you 

On 4/18/2024 at 4:53 AM, dpitt said:

Very different characters IMO
The Elmar collapsible is a very good lens, not much distortion or 'character' even wide open. Ideal for outside and if you love architecture and such.

The Summicron wide open is not as 'correct' but draws beautifully. At F2.0 it is sharp enough but can still be used as a portrait lens. When stopped down it reaches the same sharpness as the Elmar, but the character remains more pleasing to me.
It is a very good lens for indoors and low light.
IMO every Leica owner should own at least one Summicron, and this one is the cheapest option.
So if it is your first Leica lens, or if you  have never tried a Summicron, I would very much recommend to choose this one.

Thank you 

On 4/18/2024 at 4:53 AM, dpitt said:

Very different characters IMO.
The Elmar collapsible is a very good lens, not much distortion or 'character' even wide open. Ideal for outside and if you love architecture and such.

The Summicron wide open is not as 'correct' but draws beautifully. At F2.0 it is sharp enough but can still be used as a portrait lens. When stopped down it reaches the same sharpness as the Elmar, but the character remains more pleasing to me.
It is a very good lens for indoors and low light.
IMO every Leica owner should own at least one Summicron, and this one is the cheapest option.
So if it is your first Leica lens, or if you  have never tried a Summicron, I would very much recommend to choose this one.

 

[Ishay]

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On 4/18/2024 at 8:15 AM, TomB_tx said:

I agree with dpitt - the 5 cm Elmar 2.8 was the first Leica lens I tried back in the 1960s, and it sold me on Leica. But when I bought my M4 i stretched my budget and bought a Summicron instead. I've never regretted it. I now also own a Summilux 50 also, but it sits on my storage shelf - I prefer the Summicron. I used f 2.0 lenses for indoor, available light photos for decades on film, back when I was steady enough to use 1/15 second shutter speeds. I still get good results at 1/30 - which works with fast film indoors.

Thank you so mucn

[Ishay]

On 4/18/2024 at 1:48 PM, spydrxx said:

Hi Ishay and welcome to the forum. Can you elaborate on why you are having difficulty deciding between the two lenses? If it is in the rendering, I encourage you to search the forum for discussions of each and look at some of the shots taken with each. How do they mesh with your shooting style and/or subjects. Having owned both, I can only say I enjoyed using each as well as the results they produced.

Thank you