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Best 50mm deal for Leica M2?


jsrockit

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Ok, I know this is a subjective thing, but basically I'm open to any suggestions. What would be some of the cheaper 50mm options, while still offering quality, that I could use with my M2. I'm aware of the newer voitlander stuff and a few screw mount lenses that are relatively cheap and could do the job, but am hoping to stumble across some other options from any suggestions you guys / gals can offer.

 

Thanks.

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My concern with the elmars is that they aren't fast enough. The voigtlander f/1.5 is tempting. The Contax f/2.0 is also tempting. However, it would be nice to have a leica lens again.

 

Look for a good copy of the contemporary Summarit 50mm f1.5. I had one on an M2 in the early 1960s and did some good work with it. I'm sorry I sold it.

 

However, please note that you you must use a UV filter with this lens if you are shooting in colour (the glasses used in its construction are extremely transparent to UV light) and it's also best used with the large rectangular lens hood that was designed for it (if you can find one...). At f1.5 it can be somewhat 'soft', but it sharpens up quickly on stopping down.

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Yup, Summarit 1,5 is a very tasty lens... I prefer it to my Summilux un-asph: but a mint example I think is not easy to find nor cheap; but, as the OP says, pity not to have a Leitz... ;): so why not buying the CV 1,5 for the speed, and an Elmar 3,5 screw mount for the "taste" ? Or, if you consider unuseful to have 2 50s... CV 50 1,5 and Elmar 90 : probably less costly than a mint Summarit, 2 lenses, both good for M2 VF...

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At this moment there is a lovely little Summitar on the International Ebay site for 68GBP ($112). That's a bargain price for a great lens. Good center sharpness at F/2, even illumination, optimum at F/5.6 (a full stop sooner than an Elmar), and less expensive than the collapsible Summicron.

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I bought a 50mm rigid chrome Summicron for £90 recently but it has scratched front and rear elements. The lens is now away having the offending elements repolished and recoated which will cost approx. £100. When finished will post some pix. Problem is the technician doing it is very slow or maybe has a big backlog of work. The last lenses I sent there took over two years! Thus hope to have a decent and usable 50mm chrome Summicron for less than £200 - eventually! I'm a patient man but writing this reply reminds me I'd better contact him for a progress report. He said he would give the job some priority this time so do not expect the lens to be away quite as long.

 

Please don't ask me which technician is doing it as I don't wish to upset the chap by naming him here. To be honest I felt sorry for the lens and thought it deserving of a new lease of life regardless of how long the refurbishment might take.

 

Old Summicrons never die - they just need a CLA every 50 years - and recoating if the previous owners have been a bit too heavy with their neck ties.

 

Cheers

 

dunk

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It seems that with the cheaper lens, you need a few to cover your bases... i.e. one for soft wide open stuff or more of a vintage look, and one more modern / sharp. I may pick up one of these older screw mount 50mm Leica lenses and a used newer voigtlander... and for under $500 with adapter. OR, just get Summicron 2/50 and call it a day. I've had that lens in the past and thought it was great, so....

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Ok, I know this is a subjective thing, but basically I'm open to any suggestions. What would be some of the cheaper 50mm options, while still offering quality, that I could use with my M2. I'm aware of the newer voitlander stuff and a few screw mount lenses that are relatively cheap and could do the job, but am hoping to stumble across some other options from any suggestions you guys / gals can offer.

 

Thanks.

 

You need to split the 50's in to two categories. Before the Summicron-DR 2/50 (and Rigid variant of this lens) and after. Everything after the DR/Rigid performs up to modern standards. Most of the older lenses (pre-DR/Rigid) are very good, but have a very classic signature. Some are not up to modern performance standards.

 

Modern:

 

Elmar-M 2.8/50:

This is the last variant of the Elmar. Fully recomputed and as good as a modern Summicron. You can find these between $350 - $700. A very nice lens if you can live with f2.8 as your max aperture.

 

Summicron 2/50: ($250 - $1000)

 

There are four optical versions of the Summicron.

 

v1: Collapsible

v2: Dual Range / Rigid

v3: Summicron

v4: Summicron-M (current)

 

There are some variation in that the latest version v4 will focus down to 70cm, instead of 1 meter.

 

The collapsible was Henri Cartier-Bresson's standard 50 from 1954 until his death. It has a beautiful look, but in terms of performance is the weakest of the four. The ergonomics are also not everyones cup of tea. I have one and love it, but it's not my daily shooter. If you should get one of these be very, very, very careful with the front element. The glass is very soft and so are the coatings. Only clean it with a damp optical tissue and let the weight of the cloth do most of the work.

 

The DR/Rigid is a cross over design. Very high resolution, medium contrast. The signature of this lens has one foot in the past and the other in the present. I have one and it is my favorite 50. It is considered a legend among Leica lenses. If you should get one of these be very careful with the front element. The glass is soft and so are the coatings. Only clean it with a damp optical tissue and let the weight of the cloth do most of the work.

 

 

Version 3 & 4 of the Summicron are modern designs. Extremely sharp, high contrast. V4 is a little better at f2 - f2.8. I have the v4 and it's s stellar performer. Hard coatings.

 

I would recommend a Summicron v3 or v4, unless you want to invest the money and have a DR/Rigid or collapsible cleaned. The collapsible/DR/Rigid tends to haze up after a few decades and will flare, unless it is cleaned. Get someone competent to do the job. DAG, Sherry Krauter, Leica, etc

 

LHSA Repair Services

 

 

Next there is the pre-ASPH Summilux-M 1.4/50. This lens was in production for more than 40 years, yet it still is among the best highspeed lenses you can buy. Leica fiddled with the formula and coatings over the decades and it's a killer lens. I have one. In terms of performance it's a Summicron version #3 that's a stop faster, which means it's very good. There are two optical versions of this lens. V1 was only made for 2 years in the early 1960's. Look for a version 2.

 

Obviously there's also the Summilux 1.4/50 ASPH, but they are very expensive.

 

 

The best performer of the vintage 50's is the collapsible Summicron. The Summitar 2/50 is the runner up.

 

The Elmar 3.5/50 is nice, but keep in mind that it is a 1925 design. It has a beautiful signature, that in b/w looks a little like a pencil rendering. The old Elmar 2.8/50 is a better performer, but not as good as the modern Elmar-M.

 

The Xeon is a curiosity piece at best.

 

The Summarit is a coated version of the Xenon. Nice dreamy look, but I'm not sure if you want that for your every day shooting.

 

The Summar has a very classic and dreamy look. Beautiful stuff, but again, I'm not sure if you want everything to look like it was shot in 1930.

 

The 2.5/50 Hecktor is rare and apparently not a great performer.

 

If you come across an Anastigmat 3.5/50 or Elmax 3.5/50 just mail it to me, because they are junk.

 

The glass and coatings (if there are coatings) of all of these lenses are very soft and you need to be careful cleaning them.

 

 

My recommendations:

 

Elmar-M 2.8/50 (last version)

Summicron 2/50 (version 3 or 4)

Summilux-M 1.4/50 (second version)

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Hi,

Have you considered the Canon F1.8 in LTM. I obtained one about 2 years ago for 60GBP, in ex++ condition, I was suprised how well made it was and its certainly no slouch. I have owned both the new and older Elmars and the Canon is not overshadowed by any of these.

 

Best,

 

normclarke.

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;)... good advice, thrid..., jsrockit, mail to me too in case of...

 

I came across both of them when going through my old photo gear that was in storage, but since you said they were junk, I threw them out... sorry. ;)

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What's wrong with a current 50mm Summarit?

 

The old man from the Age of Kodachrome II

 

Nothing... It slipped my mind.

;-)

 

I would certainly add it to the list. I haven't used one, but by all accounts it appears to be very nice.

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