50mm Summicron DR On M8

[andit]

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Hi guys,

 

This question has probably been asked before, but has anyone used or uses a 50mm Summicron with goggles on their M8. From what I have found in the searches, it is a dual range Summicron, with the goggles being mounted for close focus. I know that this is a stupid question, does this lens work as a normal Summicron without the goggles? Has anyone had any experience with this lens?

 

All comments welcome, thank you for your help.

 

Andreas

[Shootist]

Leica M8 Manual, Page 86.

 

Important:

• Cannot be used:

Hologon 15mm f/8,

Summicron 50mm f/2 with close focusing.

Elmar 90mm f/4 with collapsible tube (production

period 1954-1968)

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[carstenw]

There is at least one member here whose 50 DR Cron just works on his M8. Mine works up until about 3m... The trouble is that the mount of the lens sticks out more than on the regular Cron, and it is too fat to fit into the hole left by the 1.3x crop factor. I would love to get mine to work, and have thought about cutting into the plastic a little, but although I am not made of all thumbs, I still haven't got the courage up to do this one.

[andit]

Thanks guys,

 

Problem solved, I was being stupid and should have seen it in the list of incompatible in the user manual. So now I also know why the dealer is selling this lens off so cheap.

 

Thank you

Andreas

[carstenw]

There is no need to sell the lens off cheap. It is a really great piece of glass, and typically commands a premium over the regular 50 Cron. There are all sorts of legends surrounding the 50 DR, such as that Leica took all the best lens elements and used them for the DR, but none have been substantiated. Suffice it to say that it is a great lens. The close-up ability is just icing on the cake. The 50 DR is a great two-lens kit on an M6

[andit]

Hi Carsten,

 

Foto Köster in Germany is selling off a mint 50 DR version for EUR 399-00.

 

Andreas

[carstenw]

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That is cheap. Mine was 500. If I needed another one...

[Shootist]

Thanks guys,

 

Problem solved, I was being stupid and should have seen it in the list of incompatible in the user manual. So now I also know why the dealer is selling this lens off so cheap.

 

Thank you

Andreas

Just because you can't use the lens on a M8 is no reason to sell the lens at a cheap price. There are other problem with the DR 50 f/2 lens. Most if not all will show some hazing. I've had 2 of them and both had hazing on the rear element. Sometimes it is hard to see, you need to shine a light through the lens. But even if you get one that does not have any haze it will at some point. It's just a matter of time.

More then likely this lens has haze so it is worth much less then one that doesn't.

[jpfisher]

I bought a really clean copy of this lens via eBay a few months ago for use on the M8.

 

While the manual precludes it, it is possible to use the lens on the M8 in close focus mode -- without modification. You won't be able to use it beyond 36" focus or so. As I was buying it as an inexpensive alternative to a current 50mm Summicron, I opted to have it modified by DAG.

 

For $180 (modification + CLA), Don machines off the rangefinder coupling for close focus. This allows the lens to be used as a normal lens, with rangefinder coupling from 3.3' or so to infinity.

 

The plus side to all this, is that you can still use the lens in close focus mode in a pinch -- just without coupling. Granted, that makes focusing a matter of trial and error, which is certainly not ideal, but at least you're not wasting film... and if you have enough light to stop the lens down, scale focusing by estimating distance is doable.

 

I was at a flower show this weekend and got this shot -- L1021825.jpg -- with the lens in close focus mode, minus the coupling.

 

In short, if you're looking to use this as a close focus/macro lens, there is absolutely no reason not to use it with the M8. If you want to use it as a standard 50mm lens, you've got to pay to get it modified -- but you do have the bonus of having close focus in a pinch.

 

I've been so happy with this copy that, when the lens budget is refilled, I wouldn't mind picking up a second copy to use for close work. Beats lugging around my SLR & macro lens.