Elmar 2.8 ?

[visiondr]

we have a gentleman here at rff?

😉

Yeah, but just one or two 😉

 

[back alley]

Yeah, but just one or two 😉

maybe we should start a list...

🙂

 

[JimG]

I think they mostly hang out in the FSU forum. Jim

 

[back alley]

i'll be on the lookout.

 

[awilder]

50/2.8 Elmar-M

50/2.8 Elmar-M

Here's a tight crop test shot (outlined in red on full frame) taken with the 50 Elmar-M @ f/2.8 I recently sold to Ron compared to my reference, the 50/1.4 Summilux Aspheric @ f/2. As you can see, this lens delivers top sharpness but in a compact albeit slower package.

 

[richard_l]

The new Elmar is a 'modern style' type look. I would say its as sharp and as high contrast as the newest Summicron, just a stop slower and collapsed more compact.

If you don't absolutely need the extra stop of the Summicron, I would suggest getting the latest Elmar. It is my favorite lens.

If you want the classic look, get one of the older pre-Summicron lenses. The latest Elmar ain't it.

Richard

 

[JimG]

I have a Summar, Sumitar, and a 'Cron. I maybe wrong but I think the Elmar has a different look from all three of these. Or maybe its just irrational GAS. Jim

 

[Dougg]

If there's a possibility you might look at non-Leica options, there's the CV Skopar 50mm f/2.5 that is sharp but not harsh like some modern lenses. It's very compact without being collapsible, and has a more complex optical design with 7 elements in 6 groups and a 10-bladed diaphragm.

Here's one and a crop from it (Fuji NPZ800 film).

 

[jonasv]

Another consideration and the reason I sold mine, with a hood on and collapsed - unless you remove the hood every-time you store it away - the lens is not that much more compact than a stop faster ( and about the same price ) Summicron.

I don't quite understand this comparison. Do you mean that the Elmar with hood is almost as big as the Summicron without hood? Why compare one lens with hood and one without? Do you use them like this in practical every-day situations? In a fair comparison you would compare both with or both without hood. From what I've gathered the Elmar is even more flare resistant than the Summicron so the latter needs the hood more than the Elmar... Or is there something I'm missing?

 

[Ronald M]

The new 50 2.8 is a modern lens design very much like the latest Summicron.

For a classic look, get a coated 3.5 or Red Scale version ( last version).

The original 50 2.8 is inbetween in look like a DR or Rigid .

I have one of each and this is the best way I can describe them.

 

[nrb]

I'm very happy with my "new" 2.8/50 from the 50's, it gives the classic look I was after that reminds me of the golden era of black and white photography. I was not that lucky with a former 2.8/50 Elmar buy in LTM which is in need of recoating.

 

[Nick R.]

I don't quite understand this comparison. Do you mean that the Elmar with hood is almost as big as the Summicron without hood? Why compare one lens with hood and one without? Do you use them like this in practical every-day situations? In a fair comparison you would compare both with or both without hood. From what I've gathered the Elmar is even more flare resistant than the Summicron so the latter needs the hood more than the Elmar... Or is there something I'm missing?

I think it's a fair comparison. The Elmar hood is so small that I never take it off and the Summicron hood (3rd gen.) is so large that I rarely use it. So when I compare the two as I actually use them, I'd say the extended Elmar w. hood is about the same size as the Summi without.

 

[dreamsandart]

As for hoods with the Elmar and Summicron lenses... I almost always use a hood, and usually the hood stays in its position when the lens is not being used. So I'm talking hood use on both lenses, not one or the other without hood in comparison. Its been a few years since I had my new Elmar but these are the things I remember.

If you use the provided screw in hood that comes with the Elmar and keep it on, when you collapse the lens it is not much of a 'compact lens', and I can't say its a very effective hood as hoods go. If you unscrew ( and screw back on ) the hood every time you also are collapsing the lens you're wasting a lot of time. You could use ( as I did ) the quicker clip-on 12585 hood which protects the front element better, but again its a matter of taking it off when collapsing and finding a place to put the hood.

The Summicron ( I'm using a 11817 or '69' version ) is fairly compact in itself, 42mm in length verses 38mm for the extended Elmar or basically the same size. The hood reverses and stores on the lens very quickly.

The new Elmar is on paper a 'better' lens maybe, less flare and sharper across the field as its stopped down to its optimal aperture. Its a modern lens with a very good performance no doubt. It had 'bite' with color film, but I would not call it a classic B+W film lens. What I've always liked about the 11817 is that it has a classic look with a bit more contrast, a nice balance, is very good in the close range, and stopped down is really excellent. After 30+ year of use I can say its super well made, like 'liquid' to focus ( I didn't like the focus of the new version Elmar ). It does not handle flare as well as the new Elmar ( better than the old one though ), but does have the stop advantage which for me is a very big plus in a Leica lens. And again basically the same size - unless you're walking around with your Elmar collapsed without a hood on.

I guess the question as far as compactness and the collapsable feature is, how often are you really going to collapse the Elmar lens for storage/transporting? For me it was not often.

 

[peter_n]

Great lens - excellent edge to edge sharpness - perfect for architecture. Get it!

 

[richard_l]

Great lens - excellent edge to edge sharpness - perfect for architecture. Get it!

Having zero distortion (for all practical purposes) is another plus for architecture. Here's a summary of it's virtues:

Small
Elegant (looks a bit retro)
Sharp (excellent definition and contrast)
Distortionless
Very flare resistant

One small minus is that it's so cute that it demands to be fondled.

It is easily the best buy among all new Leica lenses, IMHO of course.

Richard

 

[JimG]

Richard, I think that you have sumed it up nicely. But for me I would include that it's price is lower relative to other 'newer type' Leica lenses. If that's where your GAS is directing you. JimG

 

[richard_l]

Richard, I think that you have sumed it up nicely. But for me I would include that it's price is lower relative to other 'newer type' Leica lenses. If that's where your GAS is directing you. JimG

I also think that it's fair to say that the design philosophy of many 'newer type' lenses was largely directed toward obtaining optical excellence at larger apertures, thus requiring greater complexity, which largely accounts for the higher prices.

 

[MCTuomey]

I always use the Elmar in Madrid.

Its the better comprosise between quality and size.

Im very happy with this lens.

Beniliam's pictures illustrate how I feel about the new 50/2.8. It starts with a more "classic" '50s look and refines it very nicely, if that makes sense. It's not like the modern Cron or Lux fifties, to my eyes. There's a smoothness to the Elmar that's hard for me to describe.

 

[Nachkebia]

elmar is looking very very special I have to admit... too bad 50mm is no my peace of cake 🙁

 

[rich815]

I have a 1st version M-mount 50/2.8 Elmar in EX+ condition I'm considering selling. I really love the look it gives but find myself using my 50/2 DR and 50/1.5 Summarit much more and the Elmar is just sitting around too much. Email if you want more info.