Leica Elmar 50mm F2.8

[Moriturii]

Ok, I am thinking of buying this lens because it's so compact and I can't get over how gorgeous the aperture blades look (I got my priorities right, right? 😎).

So, 1) Show me some of your pictures with this lens that you like, may or may not be your own pictures. And 2) Put in a few good or bad words about this lens.

Cheers.

PS: I've been looking for that long thread where someone said they were a bit disappointed that their Leicas wasn't as quiet as they thought a Leica would be once they got their first Leica. I just got an M2, and I am stunned at how quiet it is. My Nikon F3 and F4 in comparison (which is now up for sale) sounds like a aircraft-hangar door closing. Amazing. I feel like a perv now! 🙂

 

[mathomas]

Looking forward to photo posts here. I think this is my favorite lens I don't own 🙂.

 

[Alnitak]

I love this little lens. Compact, very sharp. I use it on my M9 and my film M's. Here's a whole gallery of images taken with that lens, mostly on my M9 and an M6.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhapeman/sets/72157625076740208/

Jeff

 

[jbielikowski]

Elmar is sooo sweet, man I love it on my M3. just for now 1 shot, in two weeks I expect to have much more, as I'm taking it to Istanbul.

Expired Gold 100 @2.8

 

[sanmich]

Old or new?

 

[jbielikowski]

old, from 1960. about latest Elmar-M there was a thread recently.

 

[raid]

Older version Elmar 50/2.8

 

[Moriturii]

Old or new?

I didn't write Elmar"-M", in other words, old, with 15 aperture blades

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M2, Elmar 50mm f/2.8 (old), Tmax400, silvergelatineprint.

I like this lens, but there are many versions. There are at least three different coatings. My version, 1728XXX, has a pink coating and is rather soft. It is however very sharp and very even across the whole frame like a reproduction lens.

Erik.

 

[Warren T.]

My friend and fellow photographer, Dan, taken with M3 and 50mm f2.8 Elmar:

--Warren

 

[MPerson]

1962 Leica M2 | 1959 Elmar 50mm f2.8 | Agfa APX 100 | Diafine 5+5

 

[julescasablancas]

1962 Leica M2 | 1959 Elmar 50mm f2.8 | Agfa APX 100 | Diafine 5+5

I like the smoothness in this pic

 

[Stravinsky]

I think it is a great lens for B&W work. I have the old one. I love its compactness but sometimes I find myself struggling between the aperture ring, the focus tab and the rotating mechanism that zoom and unzoom the lens...


It's raining outside the car by Str@vinsky, on Flickr

It's great in the night too...


Under a sky of light by Str@vinsky, on Flickr

 

[bronney]

I had it and let it go, old version, dual scale, can't keep too many 50's.

Set:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=elmar 50 2.8&w=10447341@N05


pond. by bronney, on Flickr

Reasonably sharp, the blades are sexy. Also struggled with the aperture ring and the front rotation.

 

[Moriturii]

Definitely going to get this lens. I am more of a 50 guy then 35. And I love the idea, look and feel of a 50 on a M2 rather then M3.

Edit: Just found THIS thread for those who are interested in more. Quite a bit of talk between the 2.8 and 3.5 version. Interesting.

 

[brachal]

I love mine. The only possible complaint is that the barrel rotates when focusing, but I got used to that very quickly. Mine is the old LTM version.

 

[tennis-joe]

I have one Elmar and being cloudy I sent it to Sherry to be cleaned. I almost think the photos were better before cleaning. Anyway now the apeture blades move easily and it feels like new.
Joe

 

[ray*j*gun]

Looking forward to photo posts here. I think this is my favorite lens I don't own 🙂.

Same same!🙁

 

[jbielikowski]

more soon to follow.

 

[Bingley]

I had the older version of this lens in LTM mount. It produced some nice photos, although it did have a tendency to flare. In the end, I sold it, b/c I just wasn't using it that much compared to my other 50s, and as landscape lenses, I prefer my Elmar 50/3.5 and Skopar 50/2.5. The 2.8 I had was very well made, with clear glass. Had it been my only 50, I would have happily kept it. Here's one sample shot: