Leica Summicron 50 collapsible.

Bummer.

On an M2 w/Tri-X

Sturgis12.jpg


Best
-Tim
 
I own one.
If you want flare, it comes in a deluge!
It's my main lens. It appears soft both in it's glass
and the results, because of lower contrast.
It is a very sharp lens.
Carrying under jacket, coat a real plus.
 
The collapsible is one of my favorite 50's. Probably the best of the high resolution / medium contrast 'vintage' 50's.

I sent mine to Leica a few years ago for a full cleaning and it came back an entirely different lens. Very sharp and a lot of the flare and blooming had gone. Contrast had gone up significantly. In some ways I wish I had kept it dirty, as it lost some of it's charm... :)

As a shooter I prefer the Summicron DR, simply because the focusing ring is better for zone focusing.
 
Bringing this nice thread back to ask one question.

My first Leitz lens was Summitar. Very nice between f4-f8. It was medium contrast to me on b/w film. Looking at some digital 8x10 prints at home and I like the rendering a lot. Sold it because it feels big on Bessa R and Leica IIf. My second Leica lens was Summar. This one was low contrast lens on overcast days, but with sun behind it was good enough for contrast. Good between f5.6-8. Both lenses were sharp enough wide open if focusing on some distance.

So, it seems to be logical to try Summicron collapsible now on my M4-2, I guess, to progress :).
I spend some time to find and read about this version one. From what I was able to read to my surprise only once, so far, someone at Leica blog has mentioned about using of color filters with Summicron. I'm using them as well on J-3 and CV 35 2.5.
Is there something specific about collapsible Summicron which prevents use of filters? Or it is more due to scan-process method to prevail these days instead of analog print or something in the modern films to make filters less important?

Thank you, Ko.
 
I love mine. Though, whilst I am lusting after a Ver 1 Summilux, this lens will stay with me (along with the M3) forever, lest something awful happen to it. Whilst some may say that it lacks contrast - I personally love the rendering. For me, this lens is all of what Leica Lenses are about.

11490015 by lukas.boutholeau, on Flickr

11480024 by lukas.boutholeau, on Flickr

The glow whilst wide open on my copy is simply beautiful.
 
Yours examples doesn't seems to be in low contrast.
First one, for sure.
So, in addition to my initial question on previous page, I wonder if another factor could be in developing. Not sure if it is in this thread, but someone mentioned something like 60sec more for developing and more agitation for more contrast from this lens.
 
Ko.Fe. said:
Yours examples doesn't seems to be in low contrast.
First one, for sure.
So, in addition to my initial question on previous page, I wonder if another factor could be in developing. Not sure if it is in this thread, but someone mentioned something like 60sec more for developing and more agitation for more contrast from this lens.
Click to expand...

I must admit, I did play with that one a decent amount in Adobe Lightroom. It's much higher contrast than the original. Which I can't seem to find at the moment, else I'd post it. The others are not tinkered with though to my memory.
 
I have the collapsible Summicron and very much enjoy using it on my M3 for low/medium contrast pictures. It's rather soft wide-open but wonderfully sharp from 2.8/4 and a pleasure to use. I've used filters on it (mostly yellow) - also to enhance contrast - without any issue - also when scanning film.

Good luck and looking forward to seeing the results!

Best,
George

6744297801_5c862662ce_z.jpg
 
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