Canon vs Leica 50mm lens

[leica M2 fan]

I have the Canon 50/1.4 and Summicron 50/2 Rigid and I can use both on my Canon 7s and love both of them. I use the Summicron when I want beautiful color and contrast and use the Canon 50 when I want lower contrast. They are both superior lenses in their own right you can't go wrong with either.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have 4 Collapsible Summicrons, two of them Thorium. I had 6, but that was a bit much. I had one of the Thorium lenses refinished by Focalpoint- it is gorgeous, perfect front element now. My M-Mount late 13x summicron, example above, has perfect glass.

 

[furcafe]

I also have both lenses (& both are clean w/no cleaning marks, etc.), & agree w/you. I also have a Dual Range Summicron & contemporaneous Rigid. The only practical advantage of that particular Summicron over the Canon 50/1.4 (or 50/1.8) is if you really need a collapsible lens (e.g., storing the camera + lens in a jacket pocket or small bag). One can certainly prefer the "signature" look of the 'cron, but it's hardly "so much better in IQ and boke[] it isn't even funny."

Nonsense. I have a 50mm collapsible Summicron as well as a Canon 50mm/1.4. The Summicron sits quietly in my closet rarely seeing the light of day, while the Canon 50/1.4 sees full-time duty on my MP. The Canon is just a better lens. One stop faster too, which is significant for low-light shooting.

Jim B.

 

[hausen]

The Canon 50/1.4 is a stunning lens and love it on my P and my M9.

 

[250swb]

I can't talk for the Canon f/1.4 (but I believe the hype), but my Canon 50mm f/1.8 is not only a cute compact lens, but it performs as well if not better than an early Summicron. Wide open it is soft'ish, but as soon as it hits f/2 its in the major league. A fraction of the price as well, and sits beautifully on an LTM body.

Steve

 

[f16sunshine]

I think I had a problem witth the collapsable lens on the Canon 7 also. Once it started hitting something I stopped pushing it in. I was afraid it would damage the shutter which is prone to wrinkling. I also have both Nikkor 50f1.4 and 50f2.0 which are very good also. The Canon 501.4 that I have is also very good but it seems loser in focusing but the images are super.
Joe

Uh oh! I just checked with my Canon/Serenar 50mm f1.9 Col. on the Canon 7. No go! It does not collapse completely. Bummer but, answers the question for you in a different way. Good luck on your choice. The really good news is that there are many, many excellent options for LTM lenses at the 50mm FL. The first one you try will not be the last. Well, at least if you hang around this forum 😀 So many bad habits (like LAS) to be picked up here. Plenty of good habits too.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Another with the coll Summicron, wide-open at F2:

I like the Summicron, and the canon 50/1.4. Fine lenses.

But once you catch Sonnar-Fever, hard to get over it.

1935 5cm F2 Sonnar, wide-open.

1943 5cm F1.5 Sonnar "T", at F2, on the Canon P.

 

[John Shriver]

The Summicron collapses fine on my Canon 7s. (I have an early thoriated one.) It's because of the ball and groove that controls the orientation of the lens as it collapses, there's no locking tab pointing up. It's the locking tabs of the Elmar, Summar, and 50/1.9 Serenar that can scrape against the top baffle.

The Canon 50/1.4 is a more modern lens than the collapsible Summicron, with a look comparable to Japanese 50/1.4 SLR lenses of the 1960's. I like it's crisp look, and it's ergonomics.

 

[Ronald M]

No Summicrons that were screw mount except the collapsible model were made with the exception of some special issue ones for Japan. Those may have been Summilux in fact and were from the 90`s. At any rate they are collector lenses you can`t afford.

Coatings were soft and easily damaged on early `crons. The very first had a thorium glass element that turned yellow bown making it useless for color work.

They are not real sharp until 4 or 5.6. A nice Summitar is almost as good and should be considered.