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

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

Leica 5cm Lenses: Which would you recommend?

  • Elmar 5cm 3.5

    Votes: 122 32.1%

  • Summar

    Votes: 65 17.1%

  • Summarit

    Votes: 68 17.9%

  • Summitar

    Votes: 120 31.6%

  • Collapsible Summicron

    Votes: 100 26.3%

  • Rigid Summicron

    Votes: 88 23.2%

  • Summicron DR

    Votes: 80 21.1%

  • Other [old] Leica 5cm lens

    Votes: 54 14.2%
  • Total voters
    380
  • Poll closed .
Hektor 50mm f/2.5 (not hazy), Leica II, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

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The Hector 50/2.5 seems to be lower contrast with really nice soft whites. How does this lens compare to the Summitar 50/f2? can anyone shed some light on this?
thanks, Gary
 
I'm rather surprised to see the Summitar is in first place. On the other hand, of the 50mm lenses I use, the Summitar is the one which has the most "glow" to it. It was also the least expensive of the bunch.
 
The Summitar came after the Summar, and the Summar was not as well corrected as the Summitar was. People seemto favor the Summitar for overall excellent optical qualities and maybe also the low cost.
 
raid said:
The Summitar came after the Summar, and the Summar was not as well corrected as the Summitar was. People seemto favor the Summitar for overall excellent optical qualities and maybe also the low cost.
Click to expand...

I am still in favor of my first Leitz lens, a 1940 Summitar, because it renders beautiful old style pictures, but combines this with quite some sharpness that can be found with the lenses of the modern postwar era.

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I consider the Summicron technically the best Leica 5cm of this selection - it was and is a stellar performer. Next up for me comes the Summarit 50/1.5, beautifully made and delivers crisp images stopped down a bit. It is unfortunately now hard to find and expensive in usable condition. A coated Elmar is a wonderful choice if one is on a budget and compactness is a priority. The Summitar is a fine lens, combining both aspects of compactness, with quality. However for a little more one can buy a vintage collapsible Summicron which outperforms it.

I find the Summar simply a lens a little too far ahead of its time technically. The images clearly lack contrast and often sharpness. The early 50/2 Sonnars are similar. To me it is a functional collectible, but not for serious work. I prefer an Elmar in this price range and I think the prices on the used market reflect this general preference.
 
I still favor the rigid Summicron from all Leica 50mm lenses I have ever owned. The Elmar 50/2.8 is my second favorite.
 
Summarit

Summarit

Why?
1) It's the Only Leitz I own (by the end of next week 😀)

2) OK, Lots of Blades....I think 15....Adds to smoother OOF areas when closed down a little, from wide open? I think.

3) Wide Open OOF areas are cool looking. From what I have seen from posts here and other threads.

4) Investment? For some reason...these lenses are commanding a high resale value ($350 for VG, to $500 +, for E to E+)

All very allusive (#2-3) till I see for myself....
 
I will one day look for a mintish Summarit with very very clean glass. I want to use this lens for reasonably sharp images with large aperture settings.
 
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