lens suggestion for M3

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msheppler

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Hello all,

I own a M3 with a 50MM collapsible Summicron. I am going to be scanning color slide film and would like to hear any suggestion for another 50mm lens choice which would compliment my collapsible. I assume if would probably be a lens of higher contrast.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
I use a DR 'cron on an M3 for probably half of my 35mm photography, and optically it's never given me any reason to look for another lens. It is a heavy combo, though, and I don't often use the close focus range, so I'm casually looking for another 50 to use with it. I'm considering a collapsable lens- possibly the Summicron- to use as a compliment to the DR for when I want a smaller/lighter weight outfit. You could do a lot worse than this pair.

OTOH, my low-light lens is the Canon 50 f1.2, which is another fine choice for an alternate 50mm lens.
 
The contrast on the DR and Type I rigid Summicron is about the same as the Collapsible. It might be a hair sharper, but not so much to differentiate the two.

The Type 2 and newer Summicrons have more contrast.

But, a Canon 50/1.8 or Nikkor 5cm F2 would give more contrast and a different look than the Summicrons. A Canon 50/1.4 would give more speed and more contrast. The Canon 50/1.8 is comparatively inexpensive, $100~$150.
 
Does it have to be Leica? if not, have you considered the Zeiss ZM 50/1.5 Sonnar?

Edit: Brian is right. The 50/1.8 is probably the single highest bang for buck of any Leica compatable lens. I need another, alas...

William
 
What Brian said. If you want more contrast, go with a 6-element Summicron instead of the DR. The 11817, made from 1969 to 1979, will meet your needs better. Of course, also consider lenses from Zeiss and Cosina.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
The contrast on the DR and Type I rigid Summicron is about the same as the Collapsible. It might be a hair sharper, but not so much to differentiate the two.

The Type 2 and newer Summicrons have more contrast.

But, a Canon 50/1.8 or Nikkor 5cm F2 would give more contrast and a different look than the Summicrons. A Canon 50/1.4 would give more speed and more contrast. The Canon 50/1.8 is comparatively inexpensive, $100~$150.
Click to expand...
The Collapsible Summicron is different, the rigid is a improved optical glass (LaK9) in four of the seven glasses and has a differt optical cell.
I think the problem is the fog in most of this lenses now!..if you find a clean one, you will be surprised...😱

Sorry for my english..😱

Regards,
Jan

....this was my first posting here..so wellcome to everyone..🙂.....I just see BILL is in...i feel like home..
 
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A high quality relatively low cost option is either of the Canon standbys in screw mount - with adapter, of course. Both the black/ chrome 50mm f1.4 and the black / chrome 50mm f1.8 are excellent choices speaking from personal experience. They have quite good contrast and handle both black and white and color well. They are well made and of high quality.
 
I have a collapsible and a DR. I find the DR to be much sharper and more flare resistant. But if I could, I'd swap it for a nice comparable Rigid, which is the same optical cell, but no near focus and much lighter (I'm told.) Also the Rigid has the focusing tab like the collapsible has, while the DR does not. I love the collapsible in some situations. I think it has a very nice "old glass" kind of signature, especially at the wider apertures.
Best, Vic
 
I CLA'd my best collapsible Summicron myself, and replaced the front element with one that is near perfect. My Type I Rigid Summicron was professionally cleaned and is close to perfect. Neither lens has any internal haze.

Collapsible Summicron, wide-open at F2:

a01356859c574611286cf7da51c790ddf6d7a26.jpg


Type I Rigid Summicron, wide-open:

4453506a9d954f9c202cf7185d1eea7b00eac5e.jpg


Collapsible, Wide-Open

e1515d934e2bf1502f42db9a5d44d0cd8388e53.jpg


Type I Rigid Summicron, wide-open.


750255e90b457228f9c5245a4070dc0dd4f4a38.jpg



The Rigid is sharper, and slightly more contrast. But it is not the "big Difference" that I would want if selecting a second 50mm lens to complement it.

Canon 50mm F1.8, wide-open

d2a353d89bf94fe42431f0775df37ea25e28394.jpg


Tight Crop:

d5d151984826f35d905408b604efc1c2016f2c2.jpg


Stopped down to F4:

fad158994420f656cb6adbc1db77a50df415a93.jpg



The Canon was $75.

Nikkor 5cm F2, wide-open:

5f725089ae433203f2a5ffa1a789518b63eb42a.jpg


Tight Crop:

afe25f792c4bf265fca5a1100e0b59a9558bdc3.jpg


The Nikkor was 3x the cost of the Canon. It is a Sonnar formula lens, the Canon 50/1.8 is a Planar formula lens. Very different designs from each other. The Summicrons shown are variants of the Planar.
 
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Brian,
Thanks for posting those pictures! Like everyone else I really love the leica bokeh but
I really am after a different look for my second lens so the nikon and canon pictures were very helpful.
 
The contrast on the DR and Type I rigid Summicron is about the same as the Collapsible. It might be a hair sharper, but not so much to differentiate the two
Click to expand...

I own a collapsible and a DR. I'd point out that in terms of ergonomics (focusing ring and aperture ring), the DR is in my opinion much better than the collapsible, and that the rigid is better than either. IMO, FWIW, etc.
 
This is of special interest to me as I am soon to get a collapsible Summicron. Perhaps, when I have it, I shall not pine for the Summitar I sold some months back.
 
Summitar... Another lens that I like. But more for black and white. And finding those filters was dumb-luck. $10 at a camera show for a set of those crazy fluted-filters.

How many lenses don't I like...hard question.
 
I'm using an Epson 3170, several years old now. It is good for "batch scanning", and can do 12 negatives at once. It does a "decent enough' job, but I will be picking up something better. A Coolscan is a much better way to go.
 
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