Picking up a new Elmar 50/f2.8 M!

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marke

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I just won an *bay bid on a black Elmar to use with my M6 TTL. I already have a Summicron 50/f2, but I know I don't have to explain owning ONLY two 50s to you guys! :D I'm curious to see how it will compare, image wise, to the Summicron. I also wanted to make the M6 a bit more pocketable. I also have a Leica IIIf RD with a Summitar 50/f2, and I've started to like the collapsibles. If I end up using the Elmar more than the Summicron, I might sell the latter and eventually pick up a Summilux for when I need that extra speed.

Any thoughts from you guys on my thoughts? Anyone here have both the Summicron and the Elmar and find they use one much more than the other?
 
I personally love the 50 2.8 elmar. To me it gives one of the most beautiful smooth yet sharp pictures out of all the 50mm lenses. Personally my 50s if I had a bit of money lying around would be the zeiss sonnar 50 1.5 and the elmar 50 2.8.

I'd be interested to hear how you like it when you get it!
 
I understand the 50mm obsession, although I recently went in the other direction - the Summicron was my first and I recently added a pre-asph Summilux. Early reports on this are that I really enjoy the softness of the Summilux at large apertures as an alternative to the Summicron's incredible rendering.
 
My first two 50mm Leica lenses were current Summicrons. My third was a current 50/2.8 Elmar-M, which I still have. The Summicrons were sold years ago. Congrats on your new lens! :)
 
Yes, congratulations on the new lens. I too just bought an Elmar-M. Actually, it should be in the mail to me as I write this. Personally, I think that the Elmar-M will make a great companion to the Summicron (I'm pairing mine with a ZM Planar). The Elmar has a more subtle signature than either the Summicron or the Planar. It produces very smooth OOF areas and seems to combine an older look with the punchiness of the modern Summicron and Planar designs. Also, of course, the Elmar is much more compact than either of the other two lenses. Enjoy it.
 
Another vote for the Elmar M. I love the look it gives and find that especially so in colour (though its a good lens for black and white as well). I have other 50s, but find that the Elmar M is the one that spends most of its time on my M3.

...Mike
 
I too just picked up a black Elmar to make my M4-P more compact. The collapsable form really does make for a small package without the hood. I plan to use it for travel as I don't really care how big a lens is when I am walking around town. I haven't shot the Elmar yet though, so when I do, I may find that I leave it on for local use as well. I've finally realized that I am not a speed junky. Most of my shooting is at f4 - f8, so the Elmar is fast enough for my general use.
 
pdx138 said:
I've finally realized that I am not a speed junky. Most of my shooting is at f4 - f8, so the Elmar is fast enough for my general use.
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Funnily enough, I think I am a bit of a speed junkie, so the Elmar M probably isn't fast enough for me. I just find that its other qualities more than make up for that, so its still one of my favourite lenses.

...Mike
 
pdx138 said:
I've finally realized that I am not a speed junky. Most of my shooting is at f4 - f8, so the Elmar is fast enough for my general use.
Click to expand...

That's another reason why I decided to pick one up.Most of what I shoot is at f5.6 or 8.

I'll bet that M4-P makes a nice set up.
 
if i had the money for another 50, this one intrigues me the most.
i think it would be a great partner with the zm 50/1.5 in terms of each rendering a different sort of look.
some of the shots that i have seen posted here have a really beautiful look to them.

joe
 
I got my elmar-M ten years ago together with the new M6. It is a great lens and has been accompanying me for many precious moments since then. Though now I have a pre-asph summilux, I enjoy using the elmar with my M3 more. My GAS is tempting me to get a summicron though.
Anyway congradulations!
Cheerz
:) bm
 
my fifties are the "modern" elmar and the pre-asph lux, after starting out with a DR cron. i use the elmar much more than the lux - as you say, great to carry.
 
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richard_l said:
I have both and use mostly the Elmar.

Richard
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Me too, and I love my summicron. The elmar is a great lens and an excellent performer.

Bob
 
I've got both and use 'em both about equally. I often take the Elmar-M when heading to the city to have the more compact kit. With the hood it's not that much more compact, but the hood isn't really needed, as this is a pretty flare-free lens.
 
The Elmar 50/2.8 has many fans here. Congratulations on the buy.

I have quite a few 50mm lenses, and if I thought of getting yet another 50mm lens one day, it may actually be a 40mm lens! The Sonnar 40mm/2.8 intrigues me.
 
Just bought one in the classified section myself, chrome. It's a very nice lens. Just got it today. Looking forward to seeing some images.

John
 
Hi there, the Elmar-M is my only lens. It renders such clarity and sharpness that I am in no need of another M-lens.

About 2.8 not being fast enough, I disagree. The M-system camera makes it a breeze to shoot even in 1/30th of a second with the Elmar. With that low speed, the 2.8 is plenty fast for indoor shots.

Plus the colapsible form is so sweeet! :D
 
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