How Highly is the pre-asph 90mm Summicron Rated?

N

northpole

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Through some folly on my part (or maybe not!) I have just acquired from fleabay a chrome 90mm summi f/2.0. It's quite a chunky beasty, particularly when sat next to my 90mm Elmarit-M f/2.8. The hood has a few minor scufff marks but the glass and blades look in fab order. I have no need for two 90mm lenses but somehow couldn't resist grabbing the summi (note to self - remove ebay from favourites!!🙄 ). This conveniently ignores the 90mm hexanon which came with the Hexar RF kit - particularly as my favourite focal length is..... 35mm!!

Grateful to receive any feedback on your perceived merits between the Elmarit and the Summicron (1994 vintage).

Peter
 
Do you really mean 94 or was that 64 ? What is the filter size and does it have a tripod mount ?
v3 is very different (and relatively small) when compared to v1 and v2. And chrome v3 quite valuable.
 
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Which version do you mean?
I was happily surprised with the relative small size of my second version pre asph summicron compared to the elmarit.
The first version however is very big.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema
 
I must have version 1. It is huge. It also comes fitted for tripod use. I usually put a CV handle there to help support the lens. I can't remember how the photos look. It's been too heavy to carry around. 😱

/T
 
I can't be too specific. I have handled the Summicron chrome and found it very heavy on the Leica M6. (Just handled.) But, the tele-elmarit-m is very comfortable. I shoot my portraits at f4 and found that I did not need the extra stop and weight. You may have a different need and experience. I would imagine that the optics to be about the same in all the stops. One nice thing about this and all Leica lens is that when blown up the photos (11x14) even look better. Enjoy.
 
Thanks for your responses thus far. Having now taken the two lenses and sat them beside one another, I was surprised to find that physically, both are about the same length, albeit the diameters and weights are considerably different.

As to the exact versions, the Elmarit-M is reference number 3869.... and the Summi 3615..... The box further provides that the Summi is model reference 11137 with E55 filter size and is made in Canada. I'm not sure if the country of origin has any importance in terms of image quality/ financial value.

Peter
 
Dear Peter,

The big old chrome version with the 'collapsible drinking cup' hood is a very different lens from the later one with single-tube hood. At full aperture it's very soft, which is great for some pics but not others. I have both (the late one mine, bought new, the early one on loan from a friend) and have yet to find much use for the early one.

Cheers,

R.
 
a wonderful lens, esp. wide open for portraits, soft contrast;
Problems with flare, but you will get no other 2/90 for the actual price and M-mount. If you need f/2 and f/2,8 is too slow for you, this lens will satisfy you in most circumstances
 
I just bought the 11137 Canadian lens for a specific project for which I need f2. I'm not impressed with the 90 AA close-up and I'm hoping this new lens will be better in that department. If so I can sell the AA and buy lots of film. 🙂 I also use the thin f2,8 Tele-Elmarit which is a wonderful lens but unfortunately not fast enough. I think both the pre-ASPH Summicron and the thin TE were designed by Walter Mandler in Midland.
 
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