75mm Summarit vs. 75mm Color-Heliar

Rob-F

Rob-F

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Has anyone tried both? How would you compare them on the usual criteria? Presumably the Summarit should be better, but some user reports from those who have tried both would be valuable.

Comments?
 
I have used both, borrowed a Summarit 75 and I have the Heliar 75. Wide open the Summarit trumps the Heliar, but the Heliar is more of a portrait lens at f2.5. The Summarit 75 is considerably bigger, though very comfortable to operate.
Stopped down to f4 and beyond I did not see much difference between them. If I didn't already have multiple 75's - the Summarit would have been a strong candidate to add to my arsenal.
I like the compactness of the Heliar 75 and the weight. It is small enough to go in a pocket when you want a 2nd lens to a 35/40 combination and not weigh you down. The Summarit would make you "list" a bit in a pocket!
Pricewise there is no competition - the Heliar wins hands down. You can by a lot of film with the difference - heck, you can even by a 2nd body to put it on!
 
Thanks for that comparison, Tom. I didn't realize the Summarit was that much larger or heavier. I guess maybe it has an extra element or two, to achieve its superior wide-open correction? I was out shooting with my 75 Color-Heliar today, and I do appreciate its compactness. Hardly larger than a 50 Summilux!
 
The 75 Summarit is only marginally longer than a 50 lux asph and at 340g or so, not super heavy. While my new Summarit does not focus properly at middle distances (Leica you should be ashamed) and is going back, at min distance and inifinity is is insanely sharp and one of the sharpest lenses I have every used bar none. Now I know why Guy Mancuso on GetDPI was saying the same thing. Even wide open it is brutally sharp and not a lens for ladies who don't want to see every tiny flaw.
 
Turtle, good luck with getting it corrected. Surely it must be merely a QC error with the one example, not representative of the 75 Summarit.
 
Turtle said:
The 75 Summarit is only marginally longer than a 50 lux asph and at 340g or so, not super heavy. While my new Summarit does not focus properly at middle distances (Leica you should be ashamed) and is going back, at min distance and inifinity is is insanely sharp and one of the sharpest lenses I have every used bar none. Now I know why Guy Mancuso on GetDPI was saying the same thing. Even wide open it is brutally sharp and not a lens for ladies who don't want to see every tiny flaw.
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Turtle, I'm bumping this old thread up to ask if you had your 75 Summarit repaired or not? I'm looking at either getting one of these or selling a kidney for a 75 Summicron.
 
Hi, Raid - how have you been?

I've messed with the Lux, and it just isn't right for me - I'm a sterile sharpness kinda guy that never shoots portraits...
 
Ken Ford said:
Hi, Raid - how have you been?

I've messed with the Lux, and it just isn't right for me - I'm a sterile sharpness kinda guy that never shoots portraits...
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Hello Ken,
I am doing fine.
While my children are young, I am enjoying my self chosen family photography route until further notice. The 75mm Lux is not always my favorite portrait lens. As for sharpness, I am now back to using MF cameras.
 
I have the 75 Summarit and Summicron and would recommend the former unreservedly if you shoot 75 not that often - clearly lighter and smaller, though with the large hood the Summarit is about the same size.

Performance-wise the Summarit is excellent (very sharp, more clinical in look than the Summicron) - the Summicron does have a certain quality which gives portraits a 'glow'.
 
akiralx said:
I have the 75 Summarit and Summicron and would recommend the former unreservedly if you shoot 75 not that often - clearly lighter and smaller, though with the large hood the Summarit is about the same size.

Performance-wise the Summarit is excellent (very sharp, more clinical in look than the Summicron) - the Summicron does have a certain quality which gives portraits a 'glow'.
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You're saying the Summarit is that sharp compared to the Summicron? Your comment about portraits makes me wonder if you didn't mean to refer to the Lux, not the Cron.
 
Hi everyone, sorry to have missed this.

Yes, I got the Summarit back and its scorching. It really is astonishingly sharp wide open and even up close. I have no complaints with any of the characteristics of the lens - its a gem. Great handling, compact, solid as a lump of metal, 46mm filters, optically I cant imagine needing any more. I have no regrets whatsoever and any lingering feelings about saving for the cron are ancient history. This is not about money (I forked out for the 24 lux because I needed one) but about not wasting money for needs I dont have. If you need F2 and 0.7m min focus there is an argument for the cron of course, but if you don't, I cant see that there is any argument at all. The Summarit 75 is one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used.

I shot some candids at a friends wedding and found all the images had very pleasing tones and bokeh. Its a lens that impressed me much more than I expected it to. There is nothing 'poor cousin' about it.

Fire away if you have any questions or drop me a PM.
 
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