Elmar-M 50mm 2.8 II

[Rob-F]

The persistence of the focus-shifting, circa-1979 50 Summicron whilst the arguably superior circa-1994 50 Elmarit M went the way of the dodo, is indeed a mystery.

Focus-shifting? Shift of focus when stopping down? I'm not aware of this with the Summicron. Do you mean the version IV, which commenced in 1979?

 

[Richard G]

I would draw that same conclusion. However, I suspect that if a filter is used, and the screw-in hood is applied to the filter, there may be a risk of vignetting with the Elmar-M.

I too can confirm that this is not a problem. Elmar M plus Leica UVa filter plus the Elmar M cylindrical hood is fine.

 

[Richard G]

 

[Richard G]

This one more blue....

 

[noisycheese]

For those of you who have the 50/2.8 Elmar M, what are your thoughts on its predecessor, the 50/2.8 Elmar no M?

I have the earlier version and I'm not sure what to make of it in terms of image quality. I suspect it is fine for web use but I am leery of using it for making images that I will want to make exhibit prints of.

Thoughts?

 

[Rob-F]

For those of you who have the 50/2.8 Elmar M, what are your thoughts on its predecessor, the 50/2.8 Elmar no M?

I have the earlier version and I'm not sure what to make of it in terms of image quality. I suspect it is fine for web use but I am leery of using it for making images that I will want to make exhibit prints of.

Thoughts?

How big a print would you make? An 11 x 14 is no problem, assuming the best technique. Optimum aperture and a tripod are always a plus; but even without those measures, the Elmar can hold its own. By "earlier version" I don't know if you mean the f/2.8, or the earlier f/3.5. Some feel that the f/3.5 is the better lens. And special praise goes to the Red Scale version.

The ability to make large prints from the miniature negative is what put Leica on the map, and the Elmar helped earn that reputation!

 

[james.liam]

Focus-shifting? Shift of focus when stopping down? I'm not aware of this with the Summicron. Do you mean the version IV, which commenced in 1979?

Yes. Stopped down beyond ƒ/2.8, gone by 5.6. That was my experience. YMMV.

 

[karlin]

After long time being curious about this lens I've found one for a good price.
yet, I dont know what I think about it. its bitingly sharp, contrasty and clear.

will have to use it more to make an opinion.

Elmar-M ii
m6
trix@800

img018 by ophir segal, on Flickr

 

[fer_fdi]

excellent!

 

[analoged]

Thank you Karlin for reminding me that this great lens has its own thread!

Heres a few using the Epson R-D1...

This first one shows a bit of flare, morning sun coming up behind the house, shooting straight into it.

 

[analoged]

And one more...

 

[Vincent.G]

Nice! I like the flare!

I have both the ELMAR 50/2.8 version I and II.

My chrome ELMAR 50/2.8 version I lens draws like a blunt tipped HB pencil; low contrast, seemingly softer images wide open, beautiful bokeh and pleasant tones. More classic look with B/W film and pastel-like colours with colour film.

My black chrome ELMAR 50/2.8 version II lens draws like a sharp tipped 2B pencil / mechanical pencil with 2B pencil lead; higher contrast, seemingly sharper images wide open, relatively less pleasant bokeh than version I and pleasant tones. I think images taken by the version II lens appears sharper probably due to higher contrast from modern coating.

Each lens has different character so I still keep both. Both use E39 filters. Both are nice lenses and your choice is just a personal preference like what type of pencil you like for drawing.

 

[Emile de Leon]

I really like the way ver 2 renders in both color and B&W...

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Focus-shifting? Shift of focus when stopping down? I'm not aware of this with the Summicron. Do you mean the version IV, which commenced in 1979?

My Cron IV does shifts, and so did Rigid, but it is mostly noticeable at minimum focus distance and at large apertures on far distance. My IV has no focus shift at f2 and then at f8.

The lens in this thread makes IV and Rigid on BW film, but I didn't checked it with color film and on digital where Rigid and IV are nice.

 

[Richard G]

Nice! I like the flare!

I have both the ELMAR 50/2.8 version I and II.

My chrome ELMAR 50/2.8 version I lens draws like a blunt tipped HB pencil; low contrast, seemingly softer images wide open, beautiful bokeh and pleasant tones. More classic look with B/W film and pastel-like colours with colour film.

My black chrome ELMAR 50/2.0 version II lens draws like a sharp tipped 2B pencil / mechanical pencil with 2B pencil lead; higher contrast, seemingly sharper images wide open, relatively less pleasant bokeh than version I and pleasant tones. I think images taken by the version II lens appears sharper probably due to higher contrast from modern coating.

Each lens has different character so I still keep both. Both use E39 filters. Both are nice lenses and your choice is just a personal preference like what type of pencil you like for drawing.

What a wonderful analogy, the different grades of pencil, drawing.

 

[Vincent.G]

What a wonderful analogy, the different grades of pencil, drawing.

Thanks Richard. 🙂

Btw I just edited my previous post. Supposed to mean f/2.8, not f/2.0.

 

[karlin]

excellent!

Thank you Fer!

 

[karlin]

Slowly I'm warming to this lens.

m6
trix@800

img063 by ophir segal, on Flickr

 

[Vincent.G]

Brilliant work, karlin!

 

[Papercut]

Slowly I'm warming to this lens.

m6
trix@800

img063 by ophir segal, on Flickr

That's fantastic! Hope you print that and hang it up -- very worthy image.

Surprised by the "slowly warming up" though. The Elmar-M is one of those lenses that I was smitten with the very first time I saw images from it. Flawless to my mind. 🙂