help choosing 1st 50mm for M6 & M5:

I expect your asph 35 to ve a high contrast lens. The rigid Summicron is a medium contrast, very high resolution lens. They complement each other very well.
 
You could feasibly get a Nikkor 50/2 for the M5, v4 Summicron for the M6, and still have money for film. Both are great, and I think the look of the v4 Summicron would match your 35 well. If you really wanted a 50/1.4, I would go for a C-Sonnar.
 
Just as AN EXAMPLE:I indicated my budget was $1500. +/-. Tamarkin has the following-
50 Summicron-M f2 ("Tiger Claw") Ex++ $1,349. Is this a TYPICAL reasonable selling price from a camera store for used with return/6month guarantee. Anyone deal with Tamarkin?
 
Jeeze man..
Why make such a big deal out of this..
Most all 50's made in the last eons of time..will get you where you want to go image wise..
Decide if you want older look or newer..
For B&W..you may like the older lenses better..
DR Summicron comes to mind here..and you can focus close up with it too..
If you want crispy wide open..probably go for newer..
If you want fluffy fantasy wide open..go for older..
I like em all..
Content is more important than the lens..
Stopped down..they all are good..
Tamarkin is 1st class..at least when his pop was running it..and I'll bet..they still are..the son runs it now..
 
Last edited:
This. I personally like these lenses more than their Leica counterparts. I first got the planar and complemented it with a canon 50mm 1.5 sonnar copy. I wanted the ZM sonnar but could not justify getting rid of the Planar to buy it.

Sure, the 1.1 Nokton's speed is appealing. I got rid of mine because size and weight meant it would usually stay home.


Either the ZM Sonnar 50/1.5 or the ZM Planar 2.0
 
I personally wouldn't pay more than $1K USD for a v4 Summicron, 6 month guarantee or not...got mine for about that much with a 30 day guarantee. Do you really need longer to decide whether you like it or not?

EDIT: sample with the lens - one of the few I have, as I decided to return mine:


el fotógrafo by ffurbss, on Flickr
 
Nikkor-sc 50mm f1.4 or f2 in ltm


I have the Nikkor s.c. 50mm f1.4 and right now it's my favorite lens. I agree with filmtwit that it's an excellent choice. It's fast and it also has a focus tab (albeit an old style focus tab). I paid $500 for my copy and feel it's worth every penny I paid for it.

Ellen
 
I use the 35 ASPH and the V4 Summicron, with both film cameras (M4 and M6) and also with the M9 digital. I'm not a critical connoisseur of the image attributes of lenses, and I find both these lenses meet (and indeed probably exceed) my expectations and requirements. For me they are sufficiently similar that I often find myself wondering which lens I was using at the time when I look at a series of images. If you like the 35 ASPH I don't think you'll be at all disappointed with a V4 Summicron 50 - after all it is the same optical formula as the last Summicron before the 50 ASPH.
 
Keep in mind that if you go with the M5 you'll have to be very careful using any of the collapsible 50mm lenses as they can damage the meter on an M5 if you collapse them into the camera while the camera is cocked.

Oh and don't be dissuaded by the above on the M5. Make sure to get a later model M5 and you'll have one of the most perfect camera bodies ever made. Plus with the big shutter dial and the best laid out meter on a leica, you'll be heaven.
 
Depends on how keen you are to spend the $1500. You could go with the Color Skopar f/2.5 or the Heliar f/2 for a lot less.

The older Summarit f/1.5 are quite good value if you like an old fashioned style of look.
 
Hi,
Like stated in previous post there are many excellent 50 for your M5 & M6. I have a Summicron V4 (i believe) and i am very, very content with the results. For your M5 & M6 the Summicron doesn't have to be 6-bit coded. The 6-bit code is only for digital M's like the M8, M9, ME and M.
Many regards
 
Just as AN EXAMPLE:I indicated my budget was $1500. +/-. Tamarkin has the following-
50 Summicron-M f2 ("Tiger Claw") Ex++ $1,349. Is this a TYPICAL reasonable selling price from a camera store for used with return/6month guarantee. Anyone deal with Tamarkin?

Tamarkin camera are excellent to deal with, I have only bought one lens from them, but Dan seemed very helpful. Just give him a call. Lens descriptions on condition are very reserved to cosmetics. I bought a 90 Elmarit R that had a little dent on the hood with a scratch - the glass was perfect and rated at VG condition. I'm from Australia. 😀

Have you ever thought of getting a Summicorn 50/2 DR?

Summicron 50/2 DR (1957), Tri-X
10644298173_f508c1acb6_b.jpg
 
Depends on what speed you want. I have the ZM 50mm Planar f/2.0, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 black, the Canon 50mm f/1.2, and a Russian Industar 55mm f/2.8 (Tessar copy). All are excellent lenses but are different.

Note on the Industar. I had to have mine collimated so it would properly focus - Don at DAG did it. Expect to have these lenses repaired as a part of the purchase price.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. Tough call on choosing a first 50! BUT based on a few suggestions and looking at many images (flickr makes this easier) I decided on a Summicron 50mm f/2 rigid-
Love to see anyones images on the rigid and thanks again! D.
 
Tamarkin camera are excellent to deal with, I have only bought one lens from them, but Dan seemed very helpful. Just give him a call. Lens descriptions on condition are very reserved to cosmetics. I bought a 90 Elmarit R that had a little dent on the hood with a scratch - the glass was perfect and rated at VG condition. I'm from Australia. 😀

Have you ever thought of getting a Summicorn 50/2 DR?

Summicron 50/2 DR (1957), Tri-X
10644298173_f508c1acb6_b.jpg

great image and BTW- the serial number that I purchased shows its also from 1957!….
 
Back
Top Bottom