Leica LTM Collapsible Summicron

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

Collapsible Summicron

  • Total voters
    108
  • Poll closed .
Summicron 50mm f/2, Leica MP, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

4066188518_8c2dd9385b_b.jpg
 
Sorry Erik, but what's the point of posting these photographs? They're not telling me anything about the lens itself - can you please enlighten me? It would really help if you could explain your reasons for posting and what aspects you would like to draw the viewers attention to. As it is they just seem like, well, photos.
 
They are just illustrations of what one can do with a collapsible Summicron. I think the lens was made to take photographs. Wat else can it do? Please enlighten me.

Erik.
 
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Thanks Erik - I'm just trying to understand what it is about this lens that you are demonstrating as so many topics here tend to discuss lenses key characteristics, such as contrast, focus, colour rendition etc. but you're not articulating this when posting. I for one would find it more helpful to understand what you're seeing when you see these photos. If they're just photos you like and want to share then fine, but I hope on a thread like this we'd get something more instructive from examples posted by contributors.
 
Perhaps Erik demonstrates the virtues of a high resolution moderate contrast lens when used to reveal tonal graduation rather than "punch"?

I rather appreciate #79.

yours
FPJ :)
 
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FPJohn - thanks, that's the sort of information that is useful. I wasn't criticising Erik, just trying to see the theme behind the postings. Erik's views will be interesting as he clearly loves this lens and as an owner of one (until now little used) I'm definitely interested in other peoples views - but I do like it when they state them rather than leaving one to interpret in isolation.
 
I have a bunch of Col. 50's. Summicron in M and LTM, Industar, and 2 Heliars, 50 2, and just got my 50 3.5 re-issue today. I love the look of a clean 50 cron, wanted to try the other lenses. I am keeping the crons and the 3.5.
 
as seen in the many posts this lens is one fine picture taker but lets talk for a minute about how cool this lens looks ... collapsed or extended this is one fine looking lens (and did I mention it collapses, how cool is that) the perfect addition to my M3DS and I will never sell it
 
I like it but I think I like my ltm elmar more. It's been a mixed bag for me so far. Some times it's razor sharp, othertimes not so much it seems better at mid distance subjects. Close up it's a bit soft.

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It seems all the posts here are rather old. I dunno why this popped up. Sorry to bump the thread.
 
Agree, Raid. I'm sitting here at work with my ltm "kit"... iiif rdst, collapsible summicron, and SOOKY. Using the 'cron as a loupe to read a document. It is so heavy! And yeah, it LOOKS so cool! If I knew nothing about Leica stuff, I would look at this lens and assume it was really really valuable compared to others, mostly by virtue of the collapsing.

I only have a couple lenses that I use regularly. This is one of them. Sitting with the kit now, it's nice to think about all the pictures I've taken with it and all the places it's been with me and the family. Not to mention everywhere it's been and all it has seen those fifty years prior to me.
 
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The collapsible Summicron is for me the natural choice with a Barnack camera. It sits on it like a Rolls Royce of a lens. Somehow, it feels strange to use modern lenses with old cameras.
 
So if you had a budget of say, $350, and you had a choice between a collapsible Summicron and a 50/2.8 Elmar (and assuming the condition of the lenses you could get for that kind of money), would you still go with the Summicron? I'm debating this right now, as I'm keeping an eye on a collapsible Summicron lens for around $350, but I'm also seeing halfway decent f/2.8 Elmars in around the same price (or more!), but I don't really know much about those particular lenses.

I'm trying to find an 'appropriate' lens for this camera....

IIIf.jpg
 
It would be interesting to see a comparison of an equally clean example of each at 2.8. I wonder what the Elmar offers other than a smigeon of size/weight decrease. Beautiful kit there, Vince btw.
 
It's a matter of taste really......to me it renders just like a Summar, with just a slightly sharper middle, but espeically soft round the edges,
(it's good for a OLD TIME LOOK, I shot with one of the first ones Radioactive *under 1 mil* serial #) ~ the rigid Cron was a great improvement, the best Crons are the late 1980's/early 1990's ones.

Tom
 
Surprised to hear that from you, Tom. I find that if you get a clean collapsible, the difference to the Summar is like night and day. The rigid/DR is a computer-assisted evolutionary improvement of the collapsible.

It was my first Leica lens. I missed it, so I'm currently waiting for one that is in the mail. To be used on my Canon P :)

That being said, today's prices are certainly higher than US 320 for a clean copy (no haze or cleaning marks - very hard to find).
 
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