Another 50 mm.

[albertospa]

I would like to assist my Leica 50 Summilux II another 50 mm which is more compact and also has a different yield from the Lux, so that it can switch depending on the case. I would use with a M9 or with Sony A7. I thought of a 50 Elmar 2.8 but would like to have your opinions. What other 50 (or 40) would like to get together with a Lux 50?
Thanks.

 

[Rob-F]

The 50mm Elmar does indeed have a different character, or signature (I think this is what you mean by "yield") from the Summilux. And it is certainly compact.

The 50mm Summicron version 3 or version 4 are also smaller and more compact, though not as small as the Collapsible Summicron, or the Elmar. I use the version 3, that is the 11817, more than my 50 Summilux, for that reason. Two Earlier versions, the Dual Range Summicron, and the "Rigid," won't be any more compact; but the very earliest Summicron, the "collapsible," is the most compact. And the collapsible does have its own signature, or character.

Then there are the Zeiss ZM lenses, which many people like, or may prefer, to the Summicrons. And there is a collapsible Cosina-Voigtlander. A 40mm is best used with the 35mm framelines, or with an accessory 40mm finder. There are models by Cosina-Voigtlander, and by Minolta.

 

[sebastel]

the rollei sonnar f/2.8 40mm, or the summarit f/2.5 50mm.

but that's just me.

 

[bastian a.]

Three good an compact 50mm lenses:
Elmar-M 2.8/50
Summarit-M 2.5/50
Voigtl. Color-Skopar 2.5/50

 

[albertospa]

the rollei sonnar f/2.8 40mm, or the summarit f/2.5 50mm.

but that's just me.

Even I had thought to Sonnar 40 2.8. I saw some pictures on the net but we have little information about his performance in digital. You've tried it?

 

[Filzkoeter]

Everyone shooting a Leica needs a 50/3.5 Elmar at some point 😀

Compact, cheap as chips, draws beautifully with completly zero distortion. Not the very sharpest lens on the planet (more then sharp enough in most cases), but very pleasant rendering with good contrast.

Also noone takes this odd looking lens seriously so it's great for shooting people 😉

Try to find a clean and coated one.


Also: maybe take 10€-20€ out of your wallet and buy a Soviet LTM Tessar (Industar-61 etc.)... just for fun 😎

 

[ferider]

You Lux vII is a moderate to high contrast lens, optimized for longer focus distance. It also shifts and barrels. Great for "journalism", street, etc.

So how about a more rectilinear lens, with lower contrast and high resolution at close focus, and no shift: the rigid Summicron. Great for landscapes, and color in particular, if you are interested. Your Elmar is a good pick too (both new and old), but the Summicron has higher resolution, and is not much larger. Plus no worries on your M9 about mounting/unmounting in collapsed state.

Roland.

 

[sebastel]

Even I had thought to Sonnar 40 2.8. I saw some pictures on the net but we have little information about his performance in digital. You've tried it?

yep. i'm happy with it:
www.flickr.com/photos/sebastel23/sets/72157638206102004/

i can also take some test pics for you, just tell me what you want to see.

 

[albertospa]

You Lux vII is a moderate to high contrast lens, optimized for longer focus distance. It also shifts and barrels. Great for "journalism", street, etc.

So how about a more rectilinear lens, with lower contrast and high resolution at close focus, and no shift: the rigid Summicron. Great for landscapes, and color in particular, if you are interested. Your Elmar is a good pick too (both new and old), but the Summicron has higher resolution, and is not much larger. Plus no worries on your M9 about mounting/unmounting in collapsed state.

Roland.

Cron 50 rigid in fact is a lens that I would love. I would prefer, however, a minimum distance of focus of less than 1 m. I'll think about it.
Thanks. Alberto

 

[Richard G]

OK, no bad suggestions at all yet. I love the Elmar M on my M9 as collapsed without its ingenious little hood it is really compact and you can carry "full frame" digital in one hand and not look like you're toting a camera at all. I did seriously consider a beautiful Rollei Sonnar here in the classifieds and regret not getting it and trying it. I agree about the Elmar f3.5 too: mine is from 1932, uncoated, slight haze and I love it. Mostly I am using it on its original camera, but I have tried it on the digitals too. Ergononomics are probably the biggest impediment, mounting, unmounting, but mine is an 11 o'clock Nickel Elmar and it has to be off infinity to clear the lens release switch.

 

[albertospa]

yep. i'm happy with it:
www.flickr.com/photos/sebastel23/sets/72157638206102004/

i can also take some test pics for you, just tell me what you want to see.

Thanks but it's hard to judge a lens of small photos on the web. Could you post some larger file?
How would you describe in a few words, rendering Sonnar?
Thank you very much.

 

[sebastel]

sorry, can't find it. it's wrapped and stored somewhere, waiting for the big move back to germany.

cheers,
sebastian

 

[TRIago]

Rigid Summicron.

 

[Ronald M]

A rigid will not have the distortion the V11 has. Beautiful lens.

The second 50 2.8 collapsible is a thoroughly modern lens and makes images that match my 50 1.4 Summilux ( APO) from 4.0 .

 

[B-9]

Gotta give a bump to the classic 50/3.5 Elmar

You can find them in either feet or meter scale.
Super Affordable, around 250$ if you want something with a confirmed CLA.


Plain and Simple, this is the lens that started it all!

The FED 50/3.5 (Industar-10?) Is also a real bargain at 50$. Alot of the clean examples will be coated, but I still reccomend a hood. The look is very close to the Elmar, enough so that you may just find the FED good enough.

 

[Brian Legge]

Does the infinity lock on the ltm Elmar or FED/Industar collapsibles cause problems when used with an adapter on an M9? I haven't handled an M9 but I thought the lock caused some problems on other bodies due to how close it is to the mount.

Given a fast, large(r), vintage lens I'd probably go with a slower, compact, modern lens. The Elmar-M seems like an obvious option. I'd also throw the CV 50/3.5 and Konica 50/2.4 in there as possibilities though they only focus down to 1m and 0.8m respectively.

 

[Livesteamer]

Important thought. I think the infinity lock on the Fed/Industar does get in the way of the lens release button. (I'm going from memory here.) The Elmar 50 is OK altho it may require an adapter with a cutout. The Elmar 50mm f3.5 really is a fine classic. I have an Industar 22 I like very much but if I remember correctly it does not fit well on M cameras. Joe

 

[_goodtimez]

I used to have a Cron 50 V4 and I did some comparison tests with the new Nikkor Rangefinder 50mm f1.4. I checked both on all my Leica M's and that included M2, M3, two M4, M4-P, M6, M7 and M8.2. The result was that I still have the Nikkor, no longer the Cron. I may have had a not so good Cron though, I don't know for sure. The Nikkor with the Amadeo adapter does the job I wanted.
I kept the very good Leica Elmar newest 50mm f2.5 collapsible as well.

 

[B-9]

Elmar infinity lock does work when using a Leica brand adapter.

None of my off brand adapters work, same with FED.

 

[nikonosguy]

Summicron collapsible, summitar, summar, canon 50 1.2,