Compact 50: Summarit vs Elmar-M

[Ionex56]

Between the Summarit 50/2.4 and the Elmar-M 50/2.8 Collapsible, which one would you choose as your travel friendly 50? To complement the Nokton 50/1.5 VM, which is pretty long in length and not that compact. I will be using this on my film MP, so I would like to keep everything f/2.8 or faster.

The Elmar-M 50/2.8 (latest version) collapses to about half the size of the Summicron v5 (21.6mm vs 43.5mm) and still shorter than the Summarit (33mm). By far the easiest to store/carry around due to its size but is collapsible and lacks a focus tab. I've used collapsible lenses before so I'm really afraid of barrel wobble...

The Summarit is more expensive but has a rigid design and is slightly faster at 2.4. Seems like a good compromise between the Summicron and Elmar-M, but once you add the hood the Summarit's size advantage basically goes away.

Thoughts?

 

[presspass]

If you can get a good example, the collapsible Summicron is a good lens and no larger than the Elmar when collapsed. The infinity lock works as a focus tab when you get used to it. They are all ltm, so you would need an adapter.

 

[a.noctilux]

Just to tell you that the Summarit-M 2.4/50mm is not asph. , only the 2.4/35mm is asph.

Good thing "no asph." for me to void "onion rings" that I hate.



As long time Elmar-M 2.8/50 user in three periods, I appreciate now the Summarit-M 2.5/50mm that replaced the Elmar-M for compact lens, when I don't want to carry/use Summilux/Noctilux.


Never have to complain the wobble on Elmar-M that I used.

The 6 blades aperture of the Elmar-M 50mm that I used for long time ennoyed me in contre-jour and/or when there are "hexagonal blobs" in the picture.


With nine blades (not really round but better), I prefer my Summarit-M 50mm.
In use flare is more under control with Summarit-M 2.5/50 which is better than some of my Summicron for that.

 

[oldwino]

Summarit. Perfect size, great ergonomics, great image quality. And you'll never forget to extend the lens before you take that Pulitzer Prize winning shot.

 

[Ionex56]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm leaning towards the Summarit at this moment due to the mentioned ergonomics, but as presspass brought up the older collapsible Summicron seems to be a worthy contender as well. Has 10 blades which solves the hexagonal bokeh of the Summarit, and has a infinity lock "focus tab". Later ones were also produced in M-mount. Any opinions on that?

And thanks for the correction -- I got confused there. No ASPH for the Summarit 50 🙂

 

[Erik van Straten]

Somehow the images shot with the Elmar-M have no real body. I can't explain it exactly, but I don't use the lens anymore. It is sharp, but I am missing something. Mechanically the lens is excellent.

The Summarit 50mm f/2.4 has a very low mechanical quality. I tried one, but it does not deserve the name "Leica".

The Voigtländer Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5 is of a much better mechanical quality. I am using this lens for 18 years now. It has never let me down. Optically it is great too. I prefer it optically to the Elmar-M, it is handier too and mechanically excellent.

Erik.


Leica M2, Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5, 400-2TMY, printed on Adox MCC 110.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

My Elmar is superbly corrected. If you can live with the speed, its image quality is just outstanding, even wide open.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I had both and get rid of both.
V4 is prone to bad veil and hood is needed. With hood it is nowhere compact, reversing it is anoying. It also has plastic parts in the aperture, which are no more available.
50 2.8 isn't much compact then extracted, it is long with filter on it. And it is also another anoence. To wjick and twist every time.
I didn't find VM 50 1.5 to be big at all for what it does. It is all day and night lens even with 400 film. Hood is ridiculous, if not crappy, but I don't think it is really needed with this lens.
For versatile and compact 50 I'm using J3. Very good lens on bw film and next to nothing terebly wrong on digital.
50 v4 is overrated lens. 50 v1.5 is awesome on results, ecsept hint of purple fringing on digital at f1.5. 50 2.8 M is one of the best lenses I ever used on bw.
Yet, J3 has its own nice rendering. It is 176 gm with adapter, filter and full blown shade attached.50-M 2.8 is 167 gm naked.
Another compacts in 50 RF to consider are Leica and CV 50 2.5.

 

[Ionex56]

I’ve owned the CV 50/2.5 before and it’s an interesting lens. I found it quite soft wide open. Though the build quality is superb (chrome), small and has a tab. Perhaps it was just my copy or the adapter? I might give it another try sometime down the road.

The Nokton 50/1.5 VM isn’t wide in diameter; it’s a lot smaller than the LTM version. I would like to be able to tuck the camera + lens combo in my messenger bag/satchel/briefcase for work (not sure what it is called) and after the laptop + notepad among other things, doesn’t leave much space width wise. It's a weird size; shorter than the Summicron/Planar ZM but isn't exactly compact that I can fit it in my bag. And yes I also ditched the hood too, thought I was the only one to think that!

 

[Erik van Straten]

Perhaps it was the adapter.

Leica M3, Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5, 400-2TMY, printed on Adox MCC 110.

Erik.

 

[sepiareverb]

The Summarit is really a great lens. I shot one for a while, but it was a bit too contrasty on film for me, compared to other lenses I use regularly.

 

[Ccoppola82]

I’m a big fan of the collapsible Cron for BW film stuff. Collapsing and extending is no big deal to me. The aperture doesn’t spin like the older Elmar either. The color Skopar is another one I use a bit lately and it’s build is fantastic. Feels just like my Summaron 35 2.8. I find that lens to be acceptably sharp, but the size and handling REALLY add bonus points to this lens. It just feels right to shoot.

 

[Ionex56]

Is anyone able to get the length (in mm) of how much the CV 50/2.5 protrudes from the body? I can't seem to find that info online and don't have my copy anymore... but I'm curious how the size compares to Elmar-M (collapsed) and Summarit.

 

[sanmich]

Tiny all arounder: summicron-C (or Rokkor-M) 40mm f/2

 

[swatch]

Hi Patrick

Have both Summarit-M 50/2.5 and Elma-M 50/2.8, for build quality I prefer Elma-M 50/2.8 may be because lens body is made of brass. If you do not use hood, Elma-M 50/2.8 is a bit smaller when fully collapsed.

Summarit-M 50/2.5 has a more modern look / a bit sharper / colour richer than Elma-M 50/2.5 when being used on digital body. On black and white print, moreover they perform quite similar.

I am selling both as I want to have 1-stop faster Summicron 50/2.0 and you may check the offer in classified per below link:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...4925/title/price-drop-leica-50mm-lenses/cat/2

Thanks

 

[Erik van Straten]

Is anyone able to get the length (in mm) of how much the CV 50/2.5 protrudes from the body? I can't seem to find that info online and don't have my copy anymore... but I'm curious how the size compares to Elmar-M (collapsed) and Summarit.

28mm, without shade. It comes with a tiny shade, but all the shades for Leica-M 50mm f/2.8 and f/2 will fit too, also the screw-in ring of the Elmar-M.


Erik.

 

[aizan]

Should I get my 50mm Color-Skopar serviced, because the aperture ring isn't exactly crisp and precise. It's wiggly in a way that doesn't feel broken, like they're all like that.

 

[Erik van Straten]

On mine the clicks have a sound a bit dull compared to that of a Leica lens, but leave nothing to be desired. The ring is not wiggly.


Erik.

 

[santino]

I second the 40 Rokkor - it won‘t get tinier than that and the iq is excellent.

 

[Ionex56]

28mm, without shade. It comes with a tiny shade, but all the shades for Leica-M 50mm f/2.8 and f/2 will fit too, also the screw-in ring of the Elmar-M.


Erik.

Thanks Erik. This info may be helpful to anyone looking to get a CV 50/2.5 in the future 🙂

I am selling both as I want to have 1-stop faster Summicron 50/2.0 and you may check the offer in classified per below link:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...4925/title/price-drop-leica-50mm-lenses/cat/2

Thanks

Appreciate the offer but I'm probably going to go with Elmar-M and unfortunately it would have to be a black one. That is a great price for the Summarit though.