David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
The trouble with most of these suggestions is that you can't buy most of them brand new in a box, except the CV ones. So searching for a good on will involve time and a lot of luck or else digging deep in your pocket.
Experience tells me you can get stung very easily and expensively when chasing after a Summar or Summitar; although it's still worth doing as good ones are very pleasant lenses. And I, for one, get a lot of pleasure out of using a period outfit that's correct as though it had been bought as an outfit when new, 75 or 80 years ago.
Having said that I'd say that the collapsible Leica Elmar 50mm f/2·8 lens would be the best to chase after as they are the same vintage as a lot of M2's and M3's and are not the dearest lens to buy. They probably offer more for your money because (horror) they are not the top of the range and are overshadowed. Also, there's not so many problems when getting them checked and, if needed, they can be sorted out fairly simply and cheaply. Plus they have fairly modern glass and coatings. And the lens hoods and caps aren't that rare.
Regards, David
PS And if you do get a Summar and/or Summitar you'll then start longing for a model II or III or IIIc etc to go with it. So be warned that you're nearly on the brink of a GAS attack.
The trouble with most of these suggestions is that you can't buy most of them brand new in a box, except the CV ones. So searching for a good on will involve time and a lot of luck or else digging deep in your pocket.
Experience tells me you can get stung very easily and expensively when chasing after a Summar or Summitar; although it's still worth doing as good ones are very pleasant lenses. And I, for one, get a lot of pleasure out of using a period outfit that's correct as though it had been bought as an outfit when new, 75 or 80 years ago.
Having said that I'd say that the collapsible Leica Elmar 50mm f/2·8 lens would be the best to chase after as they are the same vintage as a lot of M2's and M3's and are not the dearest lens to buy. They probably offer more for your money because (horror) they are not the top of the range and are overshadowed. Also, there's not so many problems when getting them checked and, if needed, they can be sorted out fairly simply and cheaply. Plus they have fairly modern glass and coatings. And the lens hoods and caps aren't that rare.
Regards, David
PS And if you do get a Summar and/or Summitar you'll then start longing for a model II or III or IIIc etc to go with it. So be warned that you're nearly on the brink of a GAS attack.