Leica Elmar 50mm 2.8 (current version) and Leica Summicron 50mm 2.0 coll.

[Marko]

Hi peoples.

BIG problems 😛 I use a Leica Elmar 2.8 50mm coll. on my Bessa R3a. Now i have see a coll. Leica Summicron 2.0 in A-B conditions for 300 Euro. I found its a incredible price. Iam very interested in the Summicron.

Now the problem. My Elmar makes very, very good shots. I dont really need the Summicron but the cron has a very, very nice vintage character. Buy or not bye, what do you think??? :bang:

 

[markinlondon]

Only two 50's? Why worry, some people here are in double figures 🙂

I have an Elmar and a 'Cron but mine are the other way round (old Elmar, current 'Cron). They're both wonderful and quite different and I'm not selling either of them. Buy it and enjoy.

Mark

 

[Jerevan]

I'd buy film for the 300 euros instead. 😀 But yes, it's always tempting to buy another lens (or another camera, come to think of it)...

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I'd buy it if I found the price to be "right." After all, the 50mm lens in a camera with good viewfinder magnification is a joy to use. Besides, some times you need ALL the speed you can get.

 

[hth]

Not buy, get film instead.

/Håkan

 

[vha]

Once upon a time (before i went to Bolivia and sold half my camerabag) I had the Summicron 50mm 2.0 coll and a Bessa T, nice finish on the lens, but we didn´t get friends. . .
The lens was sharp, but the one i had didn´t have any contrast at all.
Now i have both the old and the new Elmar 2,8 and I like them a lot, and the current is absolutely marvelous. If I had 300 eruo I would have bought some film and some Domke stuff, or a new leatherman and some film, hard to choose there 😉

vha

 

[Nick R.]

A collapsible 50mm for 300 euros isn't an incredible price. You can get a tabbed Summicron, which has the same optical formula as the current version, for only a bit more.

 

[Ronald M]

The coll `cron is a lowish contrast lens and not all that sharp full open. I would take any COATED elmar, any speed, any vintage before the first `cron. I have most all 50`s and that is one I sold. And I don`t miss it.

If you like your elmar, you will dislike the coll `cron.

 

[Avotius]

stick with the elmar, I have my eye on that lens myself but cant make up my mind between a elmar or cron

 

[Marko]

All right, not buy! 😱) With 50mm lens has a good vintage charcater? Any opinions?

 

[FrankS]

All right, not buy! 😱) With 50mm lens has a good vintage charcater? Any opinions?

The collapsible Summicron. 🙂
uncoated Elmar
Summarit
Summitar

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

the early 50/1.4 lux has a lot of character

 

[jim0266]

I agree with Simon. I've gone to a 2-lens 50mm solution and plan to sell my cron. I have the current elmar and the last version of the 50 pre-asph lux. I have a compact, carry all the time 50 for good light in the Elmar and the lux for low light and the look it gives when used wide open.

 

[Nick R.]

the early 50/1.4 lux has a lot of character

How true. I have an early 50 lux and it definitely has a special look without the usual haze/flare of vintage lenses.

 

[FrankS]

Forgot to mention the Summar as a vintage image producer.

 

[Marko]

Wow, so many answers 😀 Okay, the early lux sounds interesting. But i think its also very expensive? Summitar and Summar i have found at ebay (germany) for also 300 and more Euro. What are "good" prices for this three lenses? 😕

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

50 Luxes can be expensive because despite the hype and rave reviews about the latest ASPH version which are undoubtedly superb perfomers, the older ones are still sort after, keeping the prices quite high. Mine is the earlier version which takes 43mm filters (E43) later changed to a 46mm thread. I've seen these E43's go in for £550+ in the UK (you'd have to work that out in Euros) and it would make sense to actually see the lens rather than buy it "blind": mail order or on Ebay.

As mentioned earlier the Summar is also a lens with lots of charator and there are some good posting of images taken with this lens on PNet and i'm sure on RFF if you did a search.

 

[Marko]

Okay, i have found a Summar for 150 Euro and a 3.5 Elmar for 250 Euro. The prices are okay?

 

[hth]

Isn't your Elmar sort of a vintage lens formula in modern making?

I still think you should skip the old Leica lenses and buy film instead.

250 for a old Elmar sounds expensive to me, but maybe it depends on condition. They are plentiful and are often attached to screw mount Leicas. Why not get such package instead for some real vintage shooting?

/Håkan

 

[Marko]

Hey Håkan. Yes i have also think on a vintage combination like Leica IIIf with a Elmar 3.5 or Summar 2.0 but such a "set" will cost 400 Euro and more in B condition. Then is the problem that i wear glasses and the Leica III isnt that type of camera that is made for a man who wear glasses...

The next problem if i take the Leica III i have than four cameras that is to much for me!

I have take the Summar and with my adapter ring i will use the Summar on my Bessa...