Fed 50 f3.5 and Elmar f3.5

[Dave Wilkinson]

I'm quite fond of the Fed collapsible 50, for both performance and portability, but usually pass it by in favour of something faster. I know it's not a direct copy of the Elmar, but wonder if anyone has done side by side comparisons of the two? - and what the opinions are?, - if this has been raised here before, please excuse me!, - I'm making a mental note to use mine a bit more often!

Cheers, Dave.🙂

 

[peter_n]

Dave I did a direct test a number of years ago. I was amazed by the performance of the FED lens. Here's a post I made on photo.net a couple of years ago:

"I have an Elmar from 1949 and the "equivalent" FED of undetermined manufacturing date. I would have expected the Elmar to be better than the FED but it isn't really. You need a loupe on an enlargement to see the infinitesimal difference in sharpness near the edge. Cost of Elmar: $149. Cost of FED: $19. The FED is an unbelievable lens."

Click on the link below and read the post by Mark Hahn, Jul 05, 2008; 05:53 a.m. on FSU Tessars in general:

http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00Q3jr