50mm Summicron: rigid vs v3

[bert26]

Got a v3 recently. Have been shooting 35mm forever so switching it up has been nice. But man, I'm wondering if I should sell it and get a rigid. The main issue is that the lens seems way too contrasty for black and white which is all I shoot. Would I notice a huge difference in that respect with a rigid? And the focus throw is so long, taking a bit of getting used to. I dunno, what do you guys think? There's a DR on craigs with goggles for pretty cheap but I'd rather have the other Rigid version as I probably wouldn't use the goggles. Is it worth the hassle of selling mine and looking for a deal on a rigid or nah?

 

[jsrockit]

Get the cheap rigid with goggles, and then sell both and get what you really want? I really liked the V3 when I used it.

 

[bert26]

Maybe I'm tripping who knows

 

[Ko.Fe.]

DR has same optic as Rigid. Goggles only stays on for close up.
I went through all Crons up to V4. I find Rigid to be awesome on digital and color film.
On BW it was awfully sterile, just as v4. v3 is OK on BW film and else. I didn't find too much of the contrast with my copy. No significant difference from rigid.
It is all metal and on far, mid distance focus throw isn't bad.

 

[f.hayek]

DR has same optic as Rigid. Goggles only stays on for close up.
I went through all Crons up to V4. I find Rigid to be awesome on digital and color film.
On BW it was awfully sterile, just as v4. v3 is OK on BW film and else. I didn't find too much of the contrast with my copy. No significant difference from rigid.
It is all metal and on far, mid distance focus throw isn't bad.

I found it to be pretty special on the digital Monochrom. Never shot it on film.

 

[peterm1]

Got a v3 recently. Have been shooting 35mm forever so switching it up has been nice. But man, I'm wondering if I should sell it and get a rigid. The main issue is that the lens seems way too contrasty for black and white which is all I shoot. Would I notice a huge difference in that respect with a rigid? And the focus throw is so long, taking a bit of getting used to. I dunno, what do you guys think? There's a DR on craigs with goggles for pretty cheap but I'd rather have the other Rigid version as I probably wouldn't use the goggles. Is it worth the hassle of selling mine and looking for a deal on a rigid or nah? Anyone have one for sale? * wink emoji *

I had both versions myself going back 20 years or more. I had a friendly camera guy who let me buy the V3 to go on a MP-4 he also sold me by paying it off over a few months. But later I also found a good Dual Range Summicron which I fell in love with. I found it when travelling with my dad in Budapest at a price too good to pass up and in near mint condition. The DR had noticeably lower contrast than the V3 which was very contrasty. Back when I shot black and white film I greatly preferred the look afforded by the earlier lens.
However I eventually sold the older lens because I moved to digital and it could not be used on a digital M, plus I needed the money to buy a digital M. (Go figure). I still have the V3, but boy do I miss that DR Summicron!

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I've had both (well the DR rather than the rigid), V3 is lovely but I prefer the look from DR in black and white.

If you don't like the contrast of the V3 (which I did not find an issue whereas my Zeiss ZM lenses I do) the Rigid has less. As to hassle etc up to you, I'm currently selling a whole load of stuff on Ebay and have had not one but two delightful buyers already (and some lowballing "give me your rock bottom price" timewasters!).

 

[lukx]

I quite enjoy the images of my V3, but then again I enjoy contrasty images. I find it has smoother bokeh (no crown-cork shaped highlights at any aperture) compared other summicrons.

Just a thought: how is your developing process? Maybe your process plus the lens lead to extra-contrasty images, while another process might tame down the contrast a little?!

One thing to keep in mind as well: the Rigid has a minimum focus distance of 1m. Those extra 30cm the V3 gives you make a huge difference, for me at least.

 

[a.noctilux]

I don't comment on global rendering of Summicron that I use (one LTM to latest pre-apo) in different situations, film or digital, as each Summicron 50mm is a nice lens of their own.


- focus throw is exactly the same on "III" , "NAH/DR" and "Rigid" (just compared them)
- on the Rigid, infinity lock can be a pain but over time it doesn't bother me anymore

- as all time lover of Summicron DR, for me it's the best Summicron if I could be able to choose only one, now it can be used on M10 all range, infinity to 1m without then 48cm with goggles

 

[bert26]

I quite enjoy the images of my V3, but then again I enjoy contrasty images. I find it has smoother bokeh (no crown-cork shaped highlights at any aperture) compared other summicrons.

Just a thought: how is your developing process? Maybe your process plus the lens lead to extra-contrasty images, while another process might tame down the contrast a little?!

One thing to keep in mind as well: the Rigid has a minimum focus distance of 1m. Those extra 30cm the V3 gives you make a huge difference, for me at least.

I think perhaps I need to spend some more time with it. It’s just more contrasty than my v4 35 summicron which is what I’m used to. I develop with HC-110 Dil. B (1+31). I use Tri-X and develop for 6 min at box speed. A.Noctulix just mentioned the focus throw is the same as the rigid and damn, I didn’t realize the rigid only goes to 1m instead of .7. Maybe I’ll just keep this. I like focusing really close with a 50 which makes the DR enticing + the different look but I’d hate to carry goggles around in my pocket. .7m is enough.

 

[teddy]

If you shoot black and white and want lower contrast than the version 3 Summicron, I recommend the Summicron 50/2 Collapsible and the DR/Rigid Summicron. The DR/Rigid is slightly better wide open. The Collapsible has more curvature of field and is even more classic. They are both high resolution and just wonderful for black and white photography.

Summicron 50/2 DR

Summicron 50/2 Collapsible

 

[Rob-F]

An advantage of the longer focus throw of the V3 is its expanded DOF scale. It means a lot if you compose in depth, as I do.

 

[steveyork]

I've owned both, but at different times. It's really a resolution versus contrast thing. Read somewhere, maybe Leica Fotographie, that Leica boosted the contrast of the lenses of that era, or at least that specific 50mm Summicron (type III), because more people were turning from B&W to color, and they wanted the higher contrast for color photography. It's funny, magazine articles from the era queried whether B&W photography would survive. Ha, ha, we know the answer now.

 

[raid]

I have been very happy with my Rigid Summicron as my favorite 50mm RF lens. It is a high resolution lens. I also have the DR Summicron. I have not tried out any of the modern Summicron 50mm lenses.

 

[james.liam]

The DR is a bit of a pain on digital M bodies but workable, in contrast to the seamless operation of the Rigid. That alone is worth the extra few hundred dollars. My experience with the Rigid has only been with an M9M and I have to differ with Ko.Fe.; don't find it sterile at all. The lower contrast and high-resolution work so well with that sensor and images very character-filled.

I have been very happy with my Rigid Summicron as my favorite 50mm RF lens. It is a high resolution lens. I also have the DR Summicron. I have not tried out any of the modern Summicron 50mm lenses.

Worth a try, Raid. Rent the 50 APO for a weekend.

 

[Ronald M]

When V3 first appeared, many pros trades their Rigids for the new model. Shortly they returned to the shop wanting the old lens back.

My pristine Rigid works well on any digital M. So does the APO 50 and current 50 1.4. V3 rendering is strange.