F456
Established
Over a few decades (frightening to realize) I have built up what roughly speaking falls into two groups of lenses. These days I only shoot film when using Leica; for digital I look elsewhere.
Broadly speaking the first set is Mandler-era mid 1970s up to end of the 80s: 28/2.8 Elmarit M v3 Ø49 — 35/2 Summicron v4 Ø39 — 50/2 Summicron v4 Ø39 — 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit (late & thin) Ø39. Also, most used and favourite: 35/1.4 Summilux mid-70s and a 75/1.4 Summilux mid-90s. These are all known quantities and I have no questions over them; they have been used entirely with Ilford film and are just great.
The second, newer set has in all honesty hardly been used since I decided to sell my M8s ten years ago (I loved them except for the loud R shutter, a dealbreaker in the end for the distraction if you weren't in a devil-may-care place like Blackpool).
So before I try the second set out for the first time on film on an extended trip I'll list them here and ask a few questions about some of them. They are all first version ASPH and/or Ø46 sizes and fairly early copies i.e. the wides have clip on hoods not screw in, and the serial numbers are mostly 397nnnn - 405nnnn. Apart from the 21mm they are all Ø46, which was part of the attraction.
21/2.8 ASPH — 28/2 ASPH — 35/1.4 ASPH — 50/1.4 ASPH — 90/2.8 — 135/4
Definitely more than I need but they are staying and will now get used increasingly.
My query is about how similar a look this latter group's lenses have to each other. Especially the 35 which while not the original, rare Aspherical is also not the later floating element version. How similar is its look to the 50 listed alongside it, a slightly later release? Were the designers the same? I am unsure for instance what the differences in style are between Kölsch and Karbe, whereas if a lens is Mandler I am used to the effect.
Also the 90/2.8 Elmarit Ø46 listed, which I haven't used in ages but just remember is exceptionally good. Is it closer to the old pre-aspherical 1980s' Summicron or to the modern teles in its signature? I believe it may actually be a Mandler lens, possibly the first of the Ø46 fashion.
Finally, should I expect much difference between the 90 just mentioned and the 135/4 Ø46, which I believe is the original much older formulation Tele-Elmar but without detachable lens module and in a newer style housing?
This will sound a very lazy post as you could just say 'go and shoot and see for yourself', but I have to save my time and avoid test shooting; for now I'd be more than happy to have the benefit of your knowledge while other things get sorted out.
Finally, any observations about the 21 (Ø55) or any of the others (Ø46) are welcome. I don't know for instance how serious the focus shift of the early 35mm Summilux ASPH is with film. My guess is not very but correct me if I'm wrong - I got by on the M8 but almost every shot was wide open or well stopped down. So it's f/2 to f/5.6 I'm wondering about—on film only.
Many thanks if you got through this long post!
Broadly speaking the first set is Mandler-era mid 1970s up to end of the 80s: 28/2.8 Elmarit M v3 Ø49 — 35/2 Summicron v4 Ø39 — 50/2 Summicron v4 Ø39 — 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit (late & thin) Ø39. Also, most used and favourite: 35/1.4 Summilux mid-70s and a 75/1.4 Summilux mid-90s. These are all known quantities and I have no questions over them; they have been used entirely with Ilford film and are just great.
The second, newer set has in all honesty hardly been used since I decided to sell my M8s ten years ago (I loved them except for the loud R shutter, a dealbreaker in the end for the distraction if you weren't in a devil-may-care place like Blackpool).
So before I try the second set out for the first time on film on an extended trip I'll list them here and ask a few questions about some of them. They are all first version ASPH and/or Ø46 sizes and fairly early copies i.e. the wides have clip on hoods not screw in, and the serial numbers are mostly 397nnnn - 405nnnn. Apart from the 21mm they are all Ø46, which was part of the attraction.
21/2.8 ASPH — 28/2 ASPH — 35/1.4 ASPH — 50/1.4 ASPH — 90/2.8 — 135/4
Definitely more than I need but they are staying and will now get used increasingly.
My query is about how similar a look this latter group's lenses have to each other. Especially the 35 which while not the original, rare Aspherical is also not the later floating element version. How similar is its look to the 50 listed alongside it, a slightly later release? Were the designers the same? I am unsure for instance what the differences in style are between Kölsch and Karbe, whereas if a lens is Mandler I am used to the effect.
Also the 90/2.8 Elmarit Ø46 listed, which I haven't used in ages but just remember is exceptionally good. Is it closer to the old pre-aspherical 1980s' Summicron or to the modern teles in its signature? I believe it may actually be a Mandler lens, possibly the first of the Ø46 fashion.
Finally, should I expect much difference between the 90 just mentioned and the 135/4 Ø46, which I believe is the original much older formulation Tele-Elmar but without detachable lens module and in a newer style housing?
This will sound a very lazy post as you could just say 'go and shoot and see for yourself', but I have to save my time and avoid test shooting; for now I'd be more than happy to have the benefit of your knowledge while other things get sorted out.
Finally, any observations about the 21 (Ø55) or any of the others (Ø46) are welcome. I don't know for instance how serious the focus shift of the early 35mm Summilux ASPH is with film. My guess is not very but correct me if I'm wrong - I got by on the M8 but almost every shot was wide open or well stopped down. So it's f/2 to f/5.6 I'm wondering about—on film only.
Many thanks if you got through this long post!
