Leica 50mm 2.8 Elmar-M or Voigtlander 50mm 2.5?

[Kumachrome]

Hello everyone,
So, I'm looking for a nice, compact black 50mm lens for my Leica M2. I have my sights currently set on either the Leica 50mm 2.8 Elmar-M (the most modern version of the Elmar,) or the Voigtlander 50mm 2.5 color skopar.

I like the Elmar because it collapses.
I like the Color Skopar because it's also small, and cheap.

I can't find too much info on these two lenses, and the color skopar seems to have pretty iffy reviews. Some say it's not sharp, some say the photos are dull. What are you experiences? Any recommendations? Maybe something completely different than these two lenses?

Thanks

 

[f16sunshine]

Color Skopar For me. I prefer "Rigid" Lenses over the few collapsible I had tried.
The Color Skopar is already as small as a collapsible.

Compact. Excellent build. Super handling and truly excellent image character.
To hell with Reviews. Check out this ongoing thread.
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79618

 

[Emile de Leon]

Elmar-M..is one of the best 50's...Leica ever made..

 

[bayernfan]

collapsibles are fun. i vote elmar-m.

 

[Huss]

...the color skopar seems to have pretty iffy reviews. Some say it's not sharp, some say the photos are dull. What are you experiences?

Those must have been taken by people who had problems focusing on their cats.

It's an excellent lens. A dull photograph has nothing to do with the lens.

 

[michaelwj]

The Elmar is collapsible, focuses to 0.7m, and has no focus tab. The Color-Skopar to 0.9m, has a focus tab, and isn't collapsible.

I would decide on ergonomics before image quality, I'm sure yiu will be able to make excellent images with either lens.

 

[Huss]

The Elmar M also has an exceedingly short focus throw. I think the shortest of any I have ever used outside a Petzval.

 

[bayernfan]

shortest throw i've ever experienced is the latest M-mount 35/2.5 Color Skopar. ridiculously short.

 

[f16sunshine]

The Elmar is collapsible, focuses to 0.7m, and has no focus tab. The Color-Skopar to 0.9m, has a focus tab, and isn't collapsible.

I would decide on ergonomics before image quality, I'm sure yiu will be able to make excellent images with either lens.

Actually Color Skopar is .75m MFD. (2.5ft)

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Elmar-M 50 2.8 is not compact lens. It is light lens.

It feels flimsy and fragile. It is lens with very pronounced character and Leica rendering in details.

To be honest, I sold it because I was not confident to use it and not damage it. Collapsing and especially extracting it doesn't feel good.
If left not-collapsed it is too long with its small hood. IMO.
I have Summicron 50 V4 now and it is not even close to this lens rendering.
Another ex-owner of Elmar-M 50 2.8 switched to Summarit-M 50 2.5 and likes it as well. It is not big, not heavy lens.

 

[Emile de Leon]

There is something about the way the Elmar-M renders..just wonderful..and for people..just right...
Here is a shot of...well..my camera bag..lol..Elmar-M...and..my silver one..doesn't feel flimsy at all..

 

[sebastel]

both.

987654321

 

[Erik van Straten]

I've been using both lenses a lot. The Elmar-M is very sharp and has no distortion. The black version is very light, but the chrome version is heavy. In the end you will be annoyed by the collapsabillity: when you want to take a picture, you first have to pull the lens out. This is true for all Elmars and also for the collapsible Summicron.

The Color-Skopar is a super fine lens, handy, small, beautifully finished (the prettiest Voigtländer Leica lens) very contrasty and sharp. However, it has a tiny bit of pincushion distortion that is annoying when shooting architecture.

The best thing to do is to invest in a rigid Summicron in good condition, wich is what I did.

Erik.

 

[jmilkins]

The rigid (v1) can hard to find without cleaning marks or haze and in black is very expensive. Nonetheless I'm interested in your choice Erik, given your experience with the Cv and Elmar-M.

The CV Heliar f2 might be a nice choice. Character at f2, modern from 2.8. Protrudes less than the Elmar-M when collapsed, and also has a short throw. For no fuss, the little Skopar is great.

[/url]Compact/collapsible 50mms - size comparison - Leica screw / M mount by john m, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[jonmanjiro]

I've been using both lenses a lot. The Elmar-M is very sharp and has no distortion. The black version is very light, but the chrome version is heavy. In the end you will be annoyed by the collapsabillity: when you want to take a picture, you first have to pull the lens out.

I think we've had this conversation before Erik, but just because the Elmar-M is collapsible doesn't mean it has to be collapsed. I never bother collapsing mine 😉

To answer the OP's question, the correct answer for any gear related dilemma is "both" (and in this case they really are both great little lenses) 😀

 

[Dralowid]

Yes the chrome Elmar-M is heavy but it can take a lot of mis-use. The hood is virtually unnecessary but what you do need is longish fingernails...

 

[Erik van Straten]

The CV Heliar f2 might be a nice choice.

Yes, it seems so, but both the chrome and black versions are collapsible - for me in the end a deal breaker (yes Jon, I know that you never collaps your lenses, but why to choose then for a collapsible lens?) - and the nickel version I find rather ugly for some reason. I am not sure for 100% but I think that I have seen that also this lens distorts. Distortion is not really an issue for Cosina, it seems, but for me it is.

There are still fine rigid Summicrons available, but you have to look for them.

Leica M2, Summicron 50mm f/2 rigid (full aperture).

Erik.

 

[mcfingon]

I have owned the 50/2.5 Voigtlander and now own the black Elmar-M 50/2.8. I prefer the Elmar-M. I enjoy being able to collapse it so it's easier to carry in a small bag on my motorbike and bicycle rides. It works beautifully on my M6 and A7S. The 50/2.5 had some nice character but overall the image quality of the Elmar-M is higher to my eye, and I also like the ergonomics of having the aperture ring and focus ring so distinctly separated by the chrome barrel.

 

[sepiareverb]

Either. You will not stop with one lens.

 

[jonmanjiro]

(yes Jon, I know that you never collaps your lenses, but why to choose then for a collapsible lens?)

That's an easy question to answer, Erik. Because I like how the Elmar-M renders. I haven't used any other lens that blends classic and modern rendering as well as the Elmar-M, and whether or not it collapses is irrelevant to me.