MXP
Established
Does anybody have a link to where I can read MTF's for the newest 50/2.8 Elmar?
I want to compare it to the Summicron to see how close it comes.
I want to compare it to the Summicron to see how close it comes.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Which Summicron? The latest one? The Leica Pocket Book, 7rh edition (Hove Collector's Books), has the MTFs for all Leica lenses, including the latest Elmar and all the Summicrons. The MTFs are shown for wide-open and f/5.6, though, so you can't use them to compare the Elmar at f/2.8 to the Summicron at f/2.8. At f/5.6, the latest Elmar and latest Summicron look just about the same. The Elmar does look a lot better than the collapsible Summicron, and a lot better than the black 11817 Summicron (1969-79), both of which I own. 
The newest Elmar has an excellent reputation for performance, better than the older ones. The older f/2.8 Elmar is not as good, at f/3.5, as the older 3.5 Elmar. Stopped down a bit, it catches up quickly. But until the most recent version, f/2.8 was too much of a stretch for a 4 element triplet. The newest one changes all that.
The newest Elmar has an excellent reputation for performance, better than the older ones. The older f/2.8 Elmar is not as good, at f/3.5, as the older 3.5 Elmar. Stopped down a bit, it catches up quickly. But until the most recent version, f/2.8 was too much of a stretch for a 4 element triplet. The newest one changes all that.MXP
Established
OK!
So it is that good!
I was looking for a Summicron (not decided for which version) but have got a good 50/2.8 offer. The lens is mint so I will consider it. The latest 50/2.8 in chrome will look ok on a chrome M3 I guess. Can the 50/2.8 go past 100 lp/mm at 5.6 at 1:10 or 1:1000?
So it is that good!
I was looking for a Summicron (not decided for which version) but have got a good 50/2.8 offer. The lens is mint so I will consider it. The latest 50/2.8 in chrome will look ok on a chrome M3 I guess. Can the 50/2.8 go past 100 lp/mm at 5.6 at 1:10 or 1:1000?
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
It might very well reach 100 lp/mm in the center of the field. But current test methods, using MTF, don't bother with 100 lp/mm targets. The idea is to see how well the lens preserves contrast at relatively lower resolution figures. The four traces on an MTF plot might be at 5, 10, 20, and 40 lp/mm, the top set of lines being the 5 lp/mm pair. When that set of lines goes right across the top without sagging, it means the lens preserves a sharp rendering of the outlines of the subject, with high contrast, thus creating the impression of good sharpness. That's what the eye responds to. Good performance at higher and higher lp/mm levels means the lens preserves progressively finer and finer detail. For pictorial, rather than scientific photography, it seems the designers have opted, in recent years, for excellent contrast at low to medium and medium-high resolution figures. That's where the Elmar excels.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
I can email you a pdf of the Leica spec sheet. Email me if you want it.
-Bob
-Bob
peter_n
Veteran
The current 50/2.8 Elmar-M has inexplicably been discontinued by Leica. As you have discovered it is a very good lens so if you have a lead on one strongly consider it. I don't understand lens graphs but I can tell you that it produces wonderful images.
MXP
Established
The offer is about $500 for a mint one with an original UV filter. It should be ok?
I was a the Leica homepage and could not fint the 50/2.8.....so that is the reason.....discontinued. It seems the 50/2.5 has taken over. Probably also a good lens. The price is about the same as far as I can see.
I have a coated FED 50/3.5 collapsible. I was surprised how sharp slides this lens can produce.....so an original Leica can't be worse I guess. When you look at the details using a x15 magnifier and you can still not see the all......it is fun.
I was a the Leica homepage and could not fint the 50/2.8.....so that is the reason.....discontinued. It seems the 50/2.5 has taken over. Probably also a good lens. The price is about the same as far as I can see.
I have a coated FED 50/3.5 collapsible. I was surprised how sharp slides this lens can produce.....so an original Leica can't be worse I guess. When you look at the details using a x15 magnifier and you can still not see the all......it is fun.
Al Kaplan
Veteran
Everytime I've traded this lens for that lens for the other one it's cost me money, and in the long run, whether shooting for publication or for exhibition, Whoopie-Do! for sharpness. I find things like the ability to maintain contrast in the highlights, detail in the shadows, flare control in general, and what we now refer to as "good bokeh" to be much more important than lines per mm or MTF graphs. Only other photographers seem to discuss those two.
peter_n
Veteran
MXP
Established
Yes, you are right. But the MTF's could show if the lens had a problem. And I must admit I am a bit technical interested in lp/mm. So i look at my slides using x10, x15 magnifiers and even microscopes just to check how many details the lens is able to resolve.
MXP
Established
It seems that many like the FED 50/3.5 so they must have done something right with this lens. It should be more a Tessar than an Elmar I have read but I really don't know the difference between a Elmar and a Tessar. Both have 4 lenses i 3 groups. The secret in the FED 50/3.5 must the the quality of the raw glass and the coating.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
$500 is a steal for the Elmar-M.
raid
Dad Photographer
I have the old style 50/2.8 Elmar, and I love it.
Yes, the FED 50/3.5 is razor sharp. It is so cheap that it is unrealistic not to own and use one.
Yes, the FED 50/3.5 is razor sharp. It is so cheap that it is unrealistic not to own and use one.