New lens day: 50mm Summilux v2 11114

[bdolzani]

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25 minutes ago, adan said:

That may explain how the front came to be loose - a previous owner may have force-fit a 43mm filter (or step-up ring) of the wrong pitch, and torqued loose the front trying to remove it after it jammed.

Interesting point! Definitely could be. My B+W UV filter also fits. I'm thrilled, because I'd like to use that for protection.

25 minutes ago, adan said:

I'm pretty sure B+W ("Biermann+Weber," also a German brand now owned by Schneider-Kreuznach) makes their filters to the same specs as Leica M.

Anyway, congratulations. The only thing that's prevented me using a v.2 50 Summilux all these years is that I really like having the 0.7m close-focus limit in a 50mm, for close portraits.

But having also tried the v.3 with the closer limit, I understand why Leica waited quite a while to try changing that.

Closer than 1m, the pre-ASPH Summilux II/III optics rapidly get quite dreamy and glowy at f/1.4 (although that may appeal to many)

Even the ASPH needs a floating element to keep the light rays under control in the 1m-0.7m range.

Thanks very much @adan. It's my 25th wedding anniversary next month, which is 'silver', and this is my first 'modern' M-mount silver lens, and first Summilux. I think it's a pretty perfect gift :-). I do have other silver lenses but they are Leitz.

Also very interesting on the .7m. I have a Fuji X-Pro 1 with a Mitakon 0.95 lens that shoots at 12" (!) if I wanted to get that close...so far that's been my Summilux wanna be. I love that setup (Pro/Mitakon) but don't use it often lately. 

So far I'm thrilled with the v2. 

 

Edited April 21, 2024 by bdolzani