Summicron 40 or Elmar-M 50

[mustafasoleiman]

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Hello dear forum

 

I would like to ask your advice on the following:   I have access to a Summicron 40 and an Elmar-M 50, both in perfect conditions and to be used with the 50 frames on an M11, primarily when I need to wear a jacket over the camera (very James Bond I know, sorry)... So primarily I would use the M11 in the evening or night.

I am not too worried about the fact that the 50 frames are not perfect for the 40 and also not too worried about the extra stop of the Summicron as the M11 handles high ISO not too bad.

I am more curious to hear whether one is much better than the other or what differences are there between the two... I have briefly played with both and both are lovely lenses.

I do not use filters so no issue with the odd Summicron 40 filter issue.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

Best

 

Alex

[Pyrogallol]

I have had both, the 40mm summicron twice, but could not get used to it. The 50mm Elmar -M felt better to me. You can take the little lenshood off to make it flatter for the pocket

[Stuart Richardson]

I think they are both interesting lenses. I think the difference in focal length, while not dramatic, is indeed significant. I think the 40mm is a bit more versatile as an only lens, both for its faster aperture and wider view. It can easily be cropped to 50mm on the M11. Neither lens is a stunning performer by modern standards, but both have a lovely classic look. I used to own the 40mm and at least my copy did not quite feel as well made as my other M lenses, so that could be a consideration. That said, since it is a solid, compact lens that does not need to be extended, I do think it is a bit more rugged and easy to handle than the Elmar. Personally, I would go with the 40mm, but of course there are reasonable arguments in favor of the 50mm (more accurate framelines, a tighter frame for portraits etc). What wins it for me is the faster aperture and better handling. Not having to fuss with collapsing and extending the barrel, and I believe it is even more compact than the Elmar is retracted, though I could be wrong about that. I also remember liking the bokeh.

[sinjun]

Try them out if you can. The 40mm Summicron has what I consider to be a very pleasant rendering wide open but that's a personal opinion. Also, it's a tiny lens which does not need to be collapsed to be small.

[mustafasoleiman]

Yes, the advantage of the 40 is that it does not have to be extended for use which feels a bit more prone to issues in the long run...  I like the 50 as a lens but as I use the 50 frames I can always crop what extra image has crept in... Size for both (collapsed) is perfect... no lens shade or else.

Many thanks for your help... I cannot really try them beforehand that is why I was asking for image quality and differences.

 

Alex

[TomB_tx]

I agree with the above - prefer the 40 for build & handling. Collapsible is a neat idea, but I prefer "always ready to shoot" and ruggedness of solid build. I've used the 40 on a film CL since the 1970s and love it. I think the 50 Elmar-M has more modern imaging (have tried it some for a couple of years - but have gone to a Summarit 2.5 for the images and handling), but both are very good.

[Pyrogallol]

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When looking for a small lens it doesn’t matter that much as the biggest/heaviest lump is the M camera body. The 40mm Summicron is better suited to the film CL that it was designed for.

[ynp]

The 40mm is my body cap on the M10-r. I use a stepping ring instead of the rubber hood. Works well for me. I usually have an ND filter on the 40mm at daytime and the stepping ring is super convenient for it. I have several 40 mm lenses and my Rokkor is not filed and I use it with the 50 mm frame. 

Sold my Elmar because I have a screw mount Konica Hex 50/2.4 and I prefer it’s modern rendering. 

Edited June 14 by ynp

[lct]

I'm not good at comparing different focal lengths and apertures but i use both lenses on M11 so perhaps my PoV can interest you. Little to say about the famous Elmar-M 50/2.8 except that it is a triplet lens with a similar character as other triplets like Tessars and earlier Elmars with more contrast than the latters. This Elmar-M 50/2.8 is perhaps the best triplet 50/2.8 in my book but this is subjective obviously. The Summicron 40/2 is a 50mm in RF mode and 35mm in LV mode sort of. 50mm because of 50mm framelines and 35mm with a similar character as Summicrons 35 from this era. For portrairs i'd better use the Summicron which has a gentle rendition at f/2 w/o being soft. For landscapes i would rather go for the Elmar but this is subjective again. Happy snaps