Leica LTM Leica, Summarit 50/1.5

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
R

Roberto

Guest
What do you think about this lens? Is it any good?

Cheers,
Rob.
 
Not really but it never stopped anyone from taking great pictures with it. Been awhile since I owned but if I remember correctly is was soft and rather low contrast wide open, improving until it was decent at about F4 or 5.6. Great portrait lens though, especially for older ladies.
 
Rob:
You can love it or hate it...you are gonna find both extremes of opinions...
I had some photos really like it...
Bob.
:bang::bang::bang: I cant post bigger....:mad:
 
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Love It!

LeicaM6ColorPortrait4net.jpg


This is shot with my 1956 Screw Mount version on a 1945 Leica IIICK/IIIF conversion I used to own, wide open at like 30 or 60/sec I don`t remember........

Summarit`s a great lens, soft and delicate and perfect for photographing women, it`s "Father" lens the Taylor & Hobson Leitz Xenon is just as amazing too! :D

Tom
 
I have the LTM version, and I use it mostly with my Leica IIIf RD ST.

I find the lens great for shooting Portraits ;-)
 
This was my very first Leica lens and I regret selling it. Coatings were soft and most of the versions I have seen since have scratches/cleaning marks etc., which can reduce contrast. Also the filter thread is an idiosyncratic pitch, so finding filters can be a pain sometimes. BUT. It has a really nice image quality, enough aberration wide open that you can get a nice portrait look to it, lower contrast than a modern lens (see LeicaTom's pic above - damn, he has posted that several times when this lens comes up for discussion and I just love what he does with it) and a solid, all brass heft to it. I liked it well enough that I ultimately replaced the one I sold with another, although the glass is not quite as nice in my current version as in that first lens I had.

Ben Marks
 
Absolutely not the lens to buy on 'that internet auction site'. You need to see it in the flesh before buying.

But well worth the effort

Michael
 
If it is loose with the 40.5mm filter, wrap a little teflon tape around the threads. You can find it in the plumbing department. The 41mm filters can be found, I picked them up at a camera show.

The surfaces around the aperture blades tend to haze. A professional CLA on this lens is usually a "must" on this lens, and well worth the expense.
 
I had one years ago, and shot mostly B+W with it, increasing dev time to boost contrast.

Like almost any lens, it's perfect if you like the results, useless otherwise. Don't look for the contrast and edge sharpness of a 50/1.5 Nokton, though. And sometimes there are impressive internal reflections.

Tashi delek,

R.
 
i have this lense and enjoy it, its a bit soft wide open but overall i seem to have gotten a decent example . Are there times i wish it was sharper? yes Would I get rid of it ? no , its the nicest lense i own and i use it all the time .
 
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