Elmar 50mm f2.8 vs. Summicron 50mm f2

[LeicaFoReVer]

I have just won a bid with elmar 50mm for 170$ 🙂

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350243578008&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I already have a summicron and I am very happy with it. Well it is one of the sharpest lenses of Leica.

I now wonder the differences between those two lenses. I am thinking to sell summicron and save some money 🙂

What do you think?

p.s. my summicron is the model before the built-in hood model (made in canada). I dont know which version.

 

[kermaier]

Why not wait till the new Elmar arrives and do some comparison shots. That way you'll know which one you like better, rather than which we like better. 🙂
Once you've formed your opinion, you can post the comparison pictures (without identifying the lenses) and see if our opinions confirm or oppose yours.
That would be much more interesting, and more useful to you - not so?

::Ari

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

sounds interesting. I will definitely do that but I wanted to know beforehand...I guess I am excited 🙂

 

[Livesteamer]

Keep them both. If I need sharp I have two Summicrons and a Summilux but the 2.8 Elmar is a fine lens for most things and when collapsed is a very compact package. Mine is from 1957 and makes lovely pictures. I use it often. Joe.

 

[Nokton48]

I have a Summicron V1 and an Elmar V1, and I use 'em both.
Don Goldberg probably has that Elmar screw they say is missing.
I'd ask him about it, if I were you.

 

[Ronald M]

That version of the Elmar is a classic wonderful Leica lens. Stop for stop it makes a very similar image to the DR and Rigid Summicrons made at the same time. Wide open at 2.8 is lacks a little contrast, but were talking a 50 year old lens.

If the Summicrion you have is version 3 from 1969 it has more contrast than the Elmar.
If the Summicron you have is from 1980 or newer, the optics are all the same since 1980, it will have even more contrast and color saturation.

The last Elmar from 1995 or so is much like the last Summicron.

 

[david.elliott]

To see photos taken with the lens, you could always check out the flickr m-mount group.

 

[Mephiloco]

Hah I was watching that same lens. Ended up sleeping late and missing the end time. Was hoping it'd go for cheaper though. There was a summitar that sold for something like $104 a couple days ago

 

[raid]

sounds interesting. I will definitely do that but I wanted to know beforehand...I guess I am excited 🙂

I compared these two lenses in my recent 50mm lenses comparisons at RFF. Roland put together a nice presentation of results at his smugmug website.

Both are superb. I prefer the Summicron a little.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I make a quick test recently with a 50/2.8 elmar. Older version with distance in meters only. My version has a little haze from the aperture blades so it may not be top notch sharp compared to cleaner examples. But after seeing these pictures up close, it doesn't really bother me.

Here's a shot at f5.6
(full sized after the link)




Here's a 100% crop in the center



I made test shots from 2.8-16.

At f2.8 everything is rendered nicely. Stopping down to f4 and there's a noticeable bump in sharpness. At f5.6 I believe the lens is at its sharpest. At f8 the details are slightly fuzzier than f5.6. f11 is another step from f8 in the fuzzyness category. Not very noticeable. f16 had a little camera shake so everything lost sharpness.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Journayman - It should take 5-7 days,

Itsreallydarren - Thanks a lot for the example photos

Raid - I will check your comparison, thanks a lot

Maphilico - Sorry to hear that you lost 🙂 well I just put a bid at the last 16 sec and I won!! I could not believe later on. I was not even planning to buy anything! That sometimes happen in ebay...

David.Eliot - I already check the photos. It look to me that it can be quite sharp like summicron. I always like to ask that kind of questions in here because I hear the experiences and professional comments...Thanks

Ronald - I think my summicron is newer than 1980. Thank you for the summary.

Nokton48 - Thank you very much. Where can I find that person?


Well thanks everybody for writing in here. I will post the images as soon as I have. By the way I think I am going to sell my elmarit-90mm in here (I dont use it to often) so I get some money as I keep spending 🙁

 

[Nokton48]

Where can I find that person?

Right here:

http://www.dagcamera.com/

Don Goldberg is a world-famous Leica repairman and all-around great guy to know. Email him about your Elmar screw; I'll wager he has it, and it's probably not even expensive.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

My elmar has arrived...I am impressed by cosmetics...and the size is so nice that with my CV color skopar 35mm it makes a really compact set...see the photos, see the size comparison btw summitar 5cm: I will post the images as soon as I take some...