Collapsible Summicron. Opinions Please!

Tuolumne said:
Beautiful set up in the previous post. Maybe I need a hammertone Leica, too!>

/T
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Not a 'hammertone', the MP is one of the 'Japan M-50th Anniversary' with the Anthracite paint finish, 1 of 600. I like it better than a hammertone, it feels 'modern', a flat gray or a bit of sparkle depending on the light. A gray/chrome MP looks very nice with the early C. Summicron:D
 
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I own one of the early ones (I think from the late fifties). I use it on my M2. Simply put, it's a stunning performer - astonishing really considering its vintage. You will be happy. I think I paid about $325 for mine, and it's in very good condition. Prices seem to range from $250-$375 for acceptable examples.

The only downside is that it will whet your appetite for more Leica M glass, and that can be a costly appetite to satisfy. Oh yes, it clearly exceeds the Summitar in performance - and that's not taking anything away from the Summitar. The Summicron simply raises the bar a full notch.
 
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I used to own a collapsible 'cron and used it on a CL. Wonderful lens to be sure & by far the nicest Leica lens that I've ever owned or used. One of the few truely great shots i've taken was with that combination. That said, my tastes run to an older look and to more of a Zeiss/Canon look than a Leica/Nikon look.

Frankly if I were to be looking for a normal lens for a Leica mount body (M or LTM) I'd take a nice prewar uncoated 50/1.5 Sonnar & a LTM J-3 body & send them to Brian Sweeney as that would give me the finest possible lens to my eyes.

YMWV, obviously. Good luck, good light & lots of enjoyment!

William
 
I must be lucky. I walked into my open camera store and they had a used (of course) "radioactive" LTM version in the case for $250. The glass was really clean, no haze (carry a small flashlight) and no marks.

Took it and ran. I have compared it to my DR and the latest version of the 50 I have and it holds its own. However, I still like the DR more, but for the size I put it on my M2 which stays in my car for those times you wish you had a camera :)
 
Thanks all for your advises. I just received my lens today. It's excellent shape with only few cleaning marks. But the most surprising is that this lens is yellow with radioactive glass thought it's serial number is 111xxxx. I use mostly color film so this may cause some inconvenient but I definitely have an interesting piece to my collection.
 
My first every RF lens was a latest (pre-asph) version 50mm summicron. I loved it to death but when my new M2 arrived with a pristine example of the first version cron, it was love at first sight. I sold the arguably superior late version and kept the collapsible. Wonderfully smooth focussing ring, incredible build quality, ever so compact and beautiful, classic Leica glow. Yes it's prone to flare, yes the coating is fragile and will scratch eventually and yes, over half the pieces out there are probably fogged... but if you find a nice one at a good price, it will serve you well.
 
Call me crazy, but I think I'm seeing photographs made by the 5cm Summicron F2 Collapsible as better overall than the latest 5cm Summicron F2 rigid!
 
Leica MP, Summicron 50mm f/2 collapsible, Tmax400.

Erik.

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This lens has a great, long, gentle grayscale, so you will get the best out of it with Tri X @ 200-250 in a developer like D76 1+1. It is ok wide open, and gets nice and sharp from f 2.8 on, with top at f5.6. The bokeh is plain beautiful. Use a shade to avoid flare, and enjoy.
 
Some from my 5cm coll. f/2, love this lense!
M4 and tmax in xtol
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IIIC with tri-x 400 in aculux 3
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IIIC with delta 100 in xtol
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On M8 or M9 ?

On M8 or M9 ?

How about on Digital M (M8,M9)? I heard that the back element of this lens will "touch" the shutter when collapsed into the body.
 
I sold my cron coll. and I'd love to get it back. great lens!
I have a DR in the moment which probably gives the same or better results. But I really like the size of a M2 with the collapsed lens better for carrying around.
My collapsible had ugly cleaning marks, the DR is spotless but besides being a bit more flaring there was no huge difference.
 
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