Older Leica Screw "Low contrast" lenses- used digitally

A few Summar shots on my Lumix G1

SummarwideshotHH1.jpg


SummarmossHH1.jpg


summar2grass.jpg


SummartreebenchHH1.jpg
 
I've used the 35mm Elmar, 90mm Elmar and the Summitar and a no-brand LTM-to-M adapter ring on my Epson R-D1. Don't expect too much glow though 😉

test01.jpg

90mm f/4 Elmar (1946, coated)

normal_35elmar02.jpg

35mm f/3.5 Elmar (uncoated)

GM090427.jpg

50mm f/2 Summitar (1939, 10 blade aperture, coated)
 
I dont't mind Summitar lack of contrast, this is my brand new (well, new for me, it's a 1938 sample 😛)

Roberta by Il conte di Luna, on Flickr

It makes for a perfect daylight lens, the same photo taken with a new 50/2 planar has severely blown hilights
 
I have been experimenting with a Summitar and an Elmar 50 f2.8 both from the 1950s and generally quite like the results. I cannot say that I think they are always suitable. It depends both on the subject and the mood you are going for in the shot.

They are noticably lower in contrast and that can be desirable of course.

But its not all plain sailing. They are mostly single coated so there is more flare to contend with. The color rendition can some times look a little "different" and they may be softer than the modern lens you may be used to.

My Elmar for example is noticably soft when shot full open (by comparison with late lenses) but thats not always a bad thing - when shooting pertraits. I will try to post a few examples.
 
The lower contrast in these old lenses can be improved by removing the haze by a gentle cleaning with appropriate cleanser (I use Zeiss). Both the Summitar and Summar have screw off front element clusters.

The bokeh with the Summitar as in squiza's picture is characteristically swirly, this is one of mine taken just to show this.
summitarbokeh.jpg


Thanks for the comments Frank, the 'wheat' is wild grass and makes a good test subject when in season.
 
I really like all the photos that have been shared in this thread...

It inspired me to look into possibly getting a digital camera that would accept my LTM lenses...

What is a bit disappointing is crop-factor of the M 4/3 cameras, which render a 35mm lens a "standard", and a 50 mm a "short long-focus lens"... (I 've probably oversimplified this a bit
). Thus far, my shooting style seems to be wide-angle, with my 35 Elmar or 35 Canon 1.8 almost never leaving my Leica III.

Are there any full-frame digi-cams that accept LTM lenses ?
 
Luddite Frank said:
Are you folks using an LTM to Leica M bayonet adapter to reconcile the screw-mount lens to the modern digi-cams ?
Click to expand...

I have only two M4/3 adapters: Leica M and Rolleiflex QBM.

I use LTM lenses on the EP-2 with an LTM-M adapter, plus the M adapter for the micro 4/3. It works very well this way,and it is more flexible since I can use M and LTM lenses with one micro 4/3 adapter. I also use this way my Canon FD lenses on the micro 4/3. I have Canon Adapter B (to LTM), and then the other adapters. Same for Minolta SLR lenses. I have a Minolta-LTM adapter.
 
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