Elmar 50/2.8 M, Quality?

[szekiat]

haha, i just PX'd one with someone here. The 1950s elmar has some of the best bokeh i've seen but when collapsed, its actually bigger than my 40mm cron so i decided to keep the cron instead....

 

[harmsr]

Ron,

Tony at PopFlash shows a mint one on his site.

Best,

Ray

 

[peter_n]

Apparently both the black & chrome current 50/2.8 Elmar-Ms are on the chopping block at Leica. At least according to the German Leica forum.

 

[nobbylon]

I really like my Elmar, 1967 version with the dual scale, meters and feet. When the lens is focused, yes the aperture scale turns with the barrel but the aperture doesn't change.
My only complaint is the infinity lock which does annoy me when the focus point means that you have to press the lock to get the focus to turn above the detent. Apart from this I think it's a great lens, very nice bokeh and really feels solid and well built. I paid 150 sterling for mine and it's mint. Quality lens.

 

[ian_w]

Apparently both the black & chrome current 50/2.8 Elmar-Ms are on the chopping block at Leica. At least according to the German Leica forum.

Then I'm glad I already have one! Can't say anything about the originals, but I find the elmar M preferable to the current summicron.

Ian

 

[peter_n]

Then I'm glad I already have one! Can't say anything about the originals, but I find the elmar M preferable to the current summicron.

Ian

Me too - I had two of the current Summicrons but was very happy when I found the Elmar-M. What a great little lens!

50mm/f2.8 Elmar-M at f4​

 

[ian_w]

Great shot Peter - that's what I'm talking about!🙂 I really should get a film scanner some day...

 

[awilder]

The current Elmar M is the way to go for a couple of reasons. Sharpness and contrast is more on par with modern lenses like the Summicron but just a tad less resolution for those not looking for it's biting sharpness especially from f/2.8-f/5.6. Better ergonomics. Lens does not collapse as far into the body making it more compatable with an M5 or CL.

 

[sepiareverb]

If you want a new one act fast- Just read in LFI that the Elmar-M is likely to be the next to go, along with the 90/2.8

The new Summarit appears to be even smaller however and based on the current summicron...

 

[PetarDima]

Me too - I had two of the current Summicrons but was very happy when I found the Elmar-M. What a great little lens!

50mm/f2.8 Elmar-M at f4​

mmmmm ... nice! some shooting info : film, shutter speed ... ?
For few years I was dreaming about speed expensive lenses ... but I think that
this little candy is fantastic out of focus story teller.

 

[Tom A]

Incidentally ... does anyone know much about this lens ... the Hexanon L Mount f2.4 50mm. Not cheap to buy I noticed but it was obviously made to have a classic look?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...m=150169004185&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

I did have one of these for several years. It is a 6 element design and very good. It was on par with my late version black 50f2.8 Elmar and thus close to the Summicron in quality. It was a small run (i think either 800 or 1000 lenses, in chrome) and mainly for the japanese market. It tends to be priced as a collectible, rather than a user. A late version Elmar 50f2.8 is a better choice in my opinion or even the Skopar 50mm f2.5 from Voigtlander. This lens has gotten a bad rap - I have 3 of them and I find it a/very sharp and b/quite contrasty and c/ very cute as it looks like a 35/2 Summicron! As it is out of production now, it is a bargain!

 

[peter_n]

mmmmm ... nice! some shooting info : film, shutter speed ... ?
For few years I was dreaming about speed expensive lenses ... but I think that
this little candy is fantastic out of focus story teller.

hi Vlad! Film was Neopan 400 (I think) f4 at 1/60s.

 

[PetarDima]

hi Vlad! Film was Neopan 400 (I think) f4 at 1/60s.

Neopan? You mean - fantastic blacks on photo?😀

 

[peter_n]

I wouldn't know my friend - I've never made a print of it.