A Summitar Shot

doubs43

doubs43

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For those unfamiliar with GeeBee, he's an English Photographer who regularly posts links to his pictures on a Leica forum. Lately he's been using a 50mm Summitar. Some on Rangefinder Forum have asked just how good the Summitar is and I think this picture will give you an excellent idea of the quality of one in good condition.

Leica IIIf : 50mm Summitar : orange filter : Kodak T400CN

http://www.geebeephoto.com/2005/05362.htm

Walker
 
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A 50mm Summitar in good condition was the first leica lens I owned, along with a IIIb, purchased from a second-hand shop in the late sixties for £25. Sadly stolen from my car 3yrs ago.

If only I had known then, what I know now, I could have spent all the years just using that lens only, instead of getting side-tracked into exploring all the other stuff I've aquired, most of which i"ll never do justice to either.

Ahhh, 1950's lenses, FP4 and Acutol, and a screw-thread camera.........................
 
It looks really nice! The image looked a bit uncharacteristic for a Summitar picture to me at first, but then I realized that this picture may have been taken with the lens stopped down quite a bit. I'm used to shooting my Summitar (coated) wide open at f/2. Compare one shot wide open to a "landscape" shot taken at, if I recall correctly, f/8 (both on Ilford XP2 Plus):
 
I was talking on the phone to Sherry Krauter, in the process of buying an M4 from her, and when I asked her about lenses she described the Summitar as being her favorite 50mm... at least that's how I understood her.... I hesitate to put words in the mouth of others.... :) She said when she photographed she was interested in depth and the Summitar gave her that.

Ed
 
gabrielma said:
It looks really nice! The image looked a bit uncharacteristic for a Summitar picture to me at first, but then I realized that this picture may have been taken with the lens stopped down quite a bit.
Click to expand...
Maybe it's the orange filter. That can pump up the contrast a lot.
 
richard_l said:
Maybe it's the orange filter. That can pump up the contrast a lot.
Click to expand...

I thought they looked somewhat overpostprocessed, but seing gabrielma's shots.. maybe just charecteristic of film, filter, and lens?
 
It does look like he may have burned the sky and dodged the grass somewhat. I only use a yellow filter (K2) on the Summitar; it's almost always on, except when shooting color, which is hardly ever, using this lens. I'm not fond of red or orange filters.
 
gabrielma said:
It does look like he may have burned the sky and dodged the grass somewhat. I only use a yellow filter (K2) on the Summitar; it's almost always on, except when shooting color, which is hardly ever, using this lens. I'm not fond of red or orange filters.
Click to expand...

GeeBee often uses a green filter and there have been times when I've found it has lightened grass and leaves more than I care for. Many of his shots are taken with a 50mm Summicron and 75mm Summalux, both very impressive lenses. He has a very good eye for composition IMO.

Frank, I think I also hear Summitar prices rising..... rapidly!

Walker
 
with modern film you only need a good yellow or a yellow/green, for a good sky and grass look.

when the summitars were first made the films were not nearly so "pan", or even ortho, making an orange filter more necessary than it is today.

in fact if you like the "natural look" a pale yellow aids without exaggeration
 
Well, if I can't lock onto a Summarit soon, I'll be looking at the Summitar. I have my beater DR Summicron that my wife resents, so I need a forgiving replacement if I'm going to shoot aging family members ...
 
Looking hard at the original, I reckon that grass can only have come from a green filter, if he did it in camera, but of course the channels in PS are capable of doing that as well with a colour original.

In this case he says he used kodak c41 b/w film which suggests a green filter and burning the cloud bases. a very good result though.
 
Thanks, H. I'll keep that in mind while shopping. I think I remember some Elmar 90s at keh last time I looked. I'll try there this weekend.
 
I keep thinking I'll sell my Summitar as I have other normal length lenses that in theory are "better", but the Summitar seems to give a signature and character that is truly unique and I really like.
 
Thank you Rich. Love the lemon.

(So much opportunity here for wise cracks but I don't want to become tiresome. What, too late?)
 
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