Leica LTM Leica 5cm Lenses: Which would you recommend?

[rickp]

50mm summarit f1.5

50mm summarit f1.5

raid,
it was partly the images you made and posted using the summarit f1.5 which convinced me to look for one. i only know and use one other leica 50, but the summarit is a favorite. i sometimes think it is 2 or 3 lenses in one. i would certainly recommend it for those who like lenses away from the mainstream.

of the three images, the first is wide open and shot from the hip (unfocused). the second, at f2.8 - same day and lighting - is usably sharp. the third, again wide open, is quite sharp in the center but surrounded by interesting out of focus areas.

thanks for starting this thread. i'm learning a bunch about all the other 50s out there.

greetings from hamburg

rick

 

[thomasw_]

Thomas,
Have you ever tried a rigid Summicron? It is supposedly identical to the DR.

Raid -- Yes, I traded it away to Roland. It was a sweet specimen, too. I don't know who to believe on whether the rigid and dr versions are optically identical. But I do remember that rigid version very fondly. And the build quality?! O it was fine.

 

[raid]

raid,
it was partly the images you made and posted using the summarit f1.5 which convinced me to look for one. i only know and use one other leica 50, but the summarit is a favorite. i sometimes think it is 2 or 3 lenses in one. i would certainly recommend it for those who like lenses away from the mainstream.

of the three images, the first is wide open and shot from the hip (unfocused). the second, at f2.8 - same day and lighting - is usably sharp. the third, again wide open, is quite sharp in the center but surrounded by interesting out of focus areas.

thanks for starting this thread. i'm learning a bunch about all the other 50s out there.

greetings from hamburg

rick

Hello Rick,
Thanks for reminding me to use that lens again!
Mine has some defects internally that result in the lens being very soft.
I always felt that the Leica 50mm lenses were special.

Greetings,

 

[raid]

Raid -- Yes, I traded it away to Roland. It was a sweet specimen, too. I don't know who to believe on whether the rigid and dr versions are optically identical. But I do remember that rigid version very fondly. And the build quality?! O it was fine.

Thomas,
The rigid 50mm was my first RF 50mm lens, and I never sold it. It is special to me because it is from a certain era.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Summicron 50mm f/2 collapsible, Leica MP, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

 

[raid]

What is it that makes you like using the collapsible Summicron, Erik? Is it the way it can render a B&W image ... or?

 

[Letien]

My recent favorite is the Summar, the only uncoated lens I have. I would like to see some of your summar color shots.

 

[lacavol]

Hopefully I'll find some time to spend here. I have only an Elmar 50/3.5 and a Summitar 50/2. I love the Summitar but mostly use the Elmar. It seems to work well, within reason, without a hood. Also, it is the lens, due to compactness that was made for my IIIa and the way I carry it.

 

[TheHub]

I voted for Summicron, Elmar, Summar and Summarit.

I had a collapsable LTM Summicron, but its flare drove me to sell it. I have since picked up a black Summicron-M, but haven't seen the results from it yet.

I picked up a cheap Summarit LTM a few months ago, but I've only used it a few times. It is horribly foggy and I was told that it could not be cleaned. Until I get a second opinion I'm not going to be using it.

A Summar was my first Leica lens and I've always liked them. Luckily the two I've owned have been in excellent condition (no fog or scratching.) Without a hood it's limited in use, though on rainy or overcast days with B&W film it is an excellent performer.

The Elmar I have is the cheapest I've paid for a lens ($150 w/coating) yet it's easily my favorite. Sharp when it's supposed to be, yet soft when it's supposed to be, it's really an amazing lens. I use it for all around photography, but also at night: it produces nice halos around lights, and also very smooth out of focus areas. It's also small, light and collapsable, so it fits on a IIIa in my pocket quite well. I plan on being buried together with it.

 

[DennisPT]

I was very lucky to pick up another 5cm Hektor, which is much much cleaner than my old one. Can't wait to see what Hektor truly delivers.

 

[raid]

Dennis,
I would love to try out such a lens. What happened to your first Hektor?

Is it very different from the 3.5 Elmar?

 

[DennisPT]

Dennis,
I would love to try out such a lens. What happened to your first Hektor?

Is it very different from the 3.5 Elmar?

Raid,
I have yet tried my new Hektor on film as it needs a CLA for stiff focusing and aperture ring. Also it's an early version which I believe was modified from the Ia by Leica. The glass elements have less haze than my old Hektor and that's why I bought it right a way when I saw it.
Hope I can do a little comparison when I get it back this week. Will keep you posted.
Rgds,
D

 

[raid]

Thanks, Dennis. I never even thought of the Hektor when I posted this thread.

 

[DennisPT]

Raid,
The 5cm Hektor has a relatively small production number and is prone to have problems due to its age. Also it was replaced by the 5cm Summar which performs much 'better'. That may be the reason why people forget about the Hektor.
Rgds,
D

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hektor 50mm f/2.5, Leica II, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

The Hektor is nice, stopped down very sharp, but it is not the best lens in the world.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hektor 50mm f/2.5, Leica II, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

 

[raid]

Raid,
The 5cm Hektor has a relatively small production number and is prone to have problems due to its age. Also it was replaced by the 5cm Summar which performs much 'better'. That may be the reason why people forget about the Hektor.
Rgds,
D

Dennis,
A Hektor would give me another lens with yet another profile. I don't have one yet.

 

[DennisPT]

Dennis,
A Hektor would give me another lens with yet another profile. I don't have one yet.

The few shots I made with the newly acquired Hektor are of low contrast, even lower than my Elmar. I have to try again in a sunny situation.

Raid , maybe you consider buying my old Hektor ;-) mind you it's pretty hazy!
I'll try to scan 1 or 2 tonight to let you see how low contrast it is.
Cheers,
D

 

[DennisPT]

Here is the shot made with the Hektor, probably at f/4, film was Kodak NC-400. Scanner was a 10 years old HP and minimum tweak done for color.

 

[raid]

The few shots I made with the newly acquired Hektor are of low contrast, even lower than my Elmar. I have to try again in a sunny situation.

Raid , maybe you consider buying my old Hektor ;-) mind you it's pretty hazy!
I'll try to scan 1 or 2 tonight to let you see how low contrast it is.
Cheers,
D

Hi Dennis,
Send me a pm with link for pics. Thanks.