Leica LTM Anyone help with my versions of 50mm 2 Summitar

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
G

gregarpp

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I am new to all of this Leica stuff....

I have 2 Summitars sitting in front of me.
I was able to locate the dates via the serial numbers.

1940
Barrel is marked "mtr" with no country
f stops are weird 2 2.2 3.2 4.5 6.3 9 12.5
Glass looks uncoated
Short focus is 1

1946
Barrel is marked "mtr" Germany
f stops 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16
Glass has looks coated (blue)
Short focus is 1

Both optics appear to be scartch and haze free.
The coated optic has some cleaning marks on the coating (front element) but nothing in the glass.

I really only planned on keeping one of these.. Any suggestions or pros and cons of each lens???
 
Depends what you're looking for. If it's your only 50mm lens, you'd probably be happier with the later coated one. If you have a modern 50mm lens already, then the older uncoated one would be most different with the most amount of character. Try them both on identical subjects and see which you prefer.
 
They are both optically identical. The f-stop differences are just that; that's what they used in "the old days" for the Summar and earlier Summitars. All Summitars were made in Germany.

The coating helps with contrast/light reflection blah blah. If you're looking for a really vintage look, go for the uncoated version. Either are prone to flare, anyway, but the coating will be a bit of help.

Like Tom said I'd say: hope it helps!
 
I'd keep both. I've used the "odd" f-stops on many different lenses without a problem and the actual practical difference between f/6.3 and f/5.6 or f/9 and f/8 is so small as to be easily ignored.

If you don't want the uncoated Summitar with the odd f-stops, I'd be interested in it.

Walker
 
I still havn't settled on a camera yet....
I have a Bessa R Leica III CLE and CL in my hands now...
I am leaning towards the CL...
and I have a 40mm lens with it.. Which is coated.
So I might keep the uncoated lens, if I get an adapter for M mount
 
I tried to shot these lenses with my DSLR.
I am limited to macro type...

I also threw in the canon 50mm/1.2

All were shot at f 2.0
 
I named the images with the lenses...
I guess that was lost when I uploaded them...

Leica uncoated - Leica coated - Canon

This was shot on a Maxxum 7D DSLR with AS on!!
 
I would also suggest you keep both Summitars

but in case you do not like the coated version, I would be interested in buying the coated Summitar .
 
Coatings with cleaning marks are better than no coating in terms of light transmission and flare. The cleaning marks don;t do much to degrade image quality, if anything. I would keep the coated lens for everyday shooting; the uncoated lens for the real vintage look.

Mine is coated.
 
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