Elmar 50mm f2.8 V1 or V2?

[Wwin]

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Hello,

 

I’m looking for a Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens for my M6. There are two versions. The older one with 15 blades and 1 meter minimal focus distance and the newer one with 6 blades and 0.7m focus distance. 
 

which one do you prefer and can you tell me why? 

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[farnz]

Both are good lenses but differ significantly.  The version 1 is a 'mild' lens that dates from the 1960's I believe and has lower contrast and more 'character' but is prone to haze so be sure to check.  The version 2 is from the 1990's and is quite contrasty and produces pictures with a sharper, more modern look.

The version 2 proved a little too contrasty for my liking and would readily blow highlights in bright light  and block-up shadows in low light so I 'returned it to the wild'.

YMMV but I hope the above helps.

Pete.

[TomB_tx]

The versions also have different model names: The older is "Elmar" and the newer "Elmar M" as seen around the front of the lens. Just to be a bit confusing, the older "Elmar" f2,8 was available in both ltm (Leica Thread Mount for barnack bodies) and "M" mount for the M series - but both were just named "Elmar". I have both, and enjoy the original Elmar 2.8 more.

[earleygallery]

There is also an M mount Elmar f3.5 which is the legendary LTM Red Scale lens (in M mount) - I would buy one of those if you could find a nice one, it's only a tad slower but, in my experience, a better performer at wider apertures. 

[lct]

Depends also on lenses you expect to use the 50/2.8 with. With lenses from the 50s or 60s, i prefer the Elmar, and i prefer the Elmar-M with lenses from the 70s and later on. Otherwise, the barrel of the Elmar rotates when focusing whereas that of the Elmar-M doesn't. Finally the Elmar is not eligible for 6-bit coding while the Elmar-M is. 

[stray cat]

I have the Elmar from 1965 and it is a lovely little lens on my M6TTL and M2. I also have a V5 50mm Summicron which I expect is closer to the Elmar-M in terms of contrast. I tend to use the older lens for black and white and the newer lens for colour film because I find the characteristic of each lens works better - for me - that way.