Keep one or both? Summicron 5cm f/2 LTM vs Summicron 5cm f/2 M

[Leica_Buddy]

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I have both a Summicron 5cm f/2 LTM (1954) and a Summicron 5cm f/2 M (1960) lenses. I also have a Leica iiia and an M3. Both lenses perform well, but I was thinking of maybe only keeping the LTM version and with an LTM to M adapter use the one lens for both cameras. Is this something that makes sense, or will I be missing something by only keeping the LTM lens? Both lenses perform well, and the only downsides I see is not being able to use both cameras at the same time, and the need to get an adapter (which I already have). 

Edited Friday at 07:28 PM by Leica_Buddy

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[PeLu]

32 minutes ago, Leica_Buddy said:

I have both a Summicron 5cm f/2 LTM (1954) and a Summicron 5cm f/2 M (1960) lenses. I also have a Leica iiia and an M3. Both lenses perform well, but I was thinking of maybe only keeping the LTM version and with an LTM to M adapter use the one lens for both cameras. Is this something that makes sense, or will I be missing something by only keeping the LTM lens? Both lenses perform well, and the only downsides I see is not being able to use both cameras at the same time, and the need to get an adapter (which I already have). 

Leica enthusiast always says ”never sell a Leica lens”.  But that is easy to say if you have the funds. 
 

I would, if I wasn’t in need of the money, keep both. For me it feels god not to separate camera and lens (even if they wasn’t paired from delivery).  That is a pure emotional thing. Would probably be a better deal selling lens and camera separate?

if you need money to buy another lens (or something else) sell it. If you can wait - keep it. An upside is also that the camera looks even better with lens attached when it’s resting on the shelf…

 

 

[earleygallery]

I would say sell the M version or maybe not. 

[luigi bertolotti]

My advice : keep the Summicron BM, sell the LTM and buy another 50 for the IIIa : a good Elmar postwar or a summitar (if you NEED f2): can be you even keep some money in your pockets...

( you haven't said if you have other lenses... of course, this could make my advice not significant)

[TomB_tx]

7 minutes ago, luigi bertolotti said:

My advice : keep the Summicron BM, sell the LTM and buy another 50 for the IIIa : a good Elmar postwar or a summitar (if you NEED f2): can be you even keep some money in your pockets...

( you haven't said if you have other lenses... of course, this could make my advice not significant)

I agree with Luigi. The 1960 M Summicron should be the Rigid which out performs the collapsible ltm from 1954. Both are very good. I use both the ltm Summicron and the ltm 2.8 Elmar on my IIIf & g and love both. The Summicron has the advantage of speed and non rotating barrel, but the Elmar 2.8 is smaller and feels right on a Barnack body. I’ll admit a bias for the 2.8 Elmar as it’s the first Leica lens I used.

[Leica_Buddy]

Oops! According to https://reddotcamera.net/leica/serial-number-tool/  I got the dates wrong. The Summicron M is 1953, the Summicron LTM is 1954. Both are collapsible lenses.

[TomB_tx]

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12 minutes ago, Leica_Buddy said:

Oops! According to https://reddotcamera.net/leica/serial-number-tool/  I got the dates wrong. The Summicron M is 1953, the Summicron LTM is 1954. Both are collapsible lenses.

Thanks for clarifying! I have both versions and find them equivalent - but if you can afford it I'd still keep both. I've never sold a Leica lens in 50+ years

[jc_braconi]

I will keep both

for years I used LTM combo for B&W pictures and M one for color film or dias and you will be more 'runner' to shoot the right pict at the right moment.

[nitroplait]

You are asking in the collectors/historica forum and from that perspective, I would say sell the LTM and get a 50mm closer to the vintage of the IIIa.

Actually, I would never sell a lens I like. Sample variations on old lenses can be quite significant and it is close to impossible to get a lens performing the same again in the future - should you ever regret selling it.

[oldwino]

I use a lot of LTM lenses on my M3. I had a LTM 50mm Summicron V1 that I ended up selling as it just wasn't that great until closed down to f4-f5.6. I now have a M-mount version (from 1956) and it is stellar wide open. But I cannot use it on my III. Lots of variation in older lenses.

[skahde]

I bought a Summicron 2/50 LTM last year, hazy but unscratched. It was easy to clean and now it performs astonishingly well and I owned Summicron M v4 and v5 in the past. If in good shape I would keep the LTM and if possible also its younger brother. 

Edited 12 hours ago by skahde

[Leica_Buddy]

Lots of helpful suggestions, thank you. I just had a bunch of unexpected expenses this month and the thought of selling one of the lenses seemed to make sense at the time. I think I would end up regretting selling a good M-mount copy. I will keep them both 😃!