Leica LTM Leitz 5cm Summitar V 5cm Elmar

[Vics]

I just bought a IIf the other day, and I agonized over which Elmar to get until I couldn't sleep! I looked at hundreds of pictures on flickr, then realized that what I really wanted was a wider lens. I ordered a Summaron from Youxin and now I'm sleeping, but I still want an Elmar. I love the way it draws. Maybe later...

 

[steveniphoto]

i prefer the elmar 🙂

 

[gb hill]

Looking through this thread again I was stoked looking at all these great images so I loaded the Zorki C with the 50/3.5 elmar & some 400 b&w film. I'm a bit rusty on my sunny 16 so hope I get some decent shots.🙂

 

[colyn]

I like both lens but tend to favor the Summitar.. The below image was taken with the Summitar...


tables_brown_edit by Colyn's fotografs, on Flickr

 

[raid]

Helen et al,

I agree that these are stunning photos.

Not to take-away from the qualities of the Summitar ( or the photographer ), since these pictures all seem to have been taken over 50 years ago, I am curious as to what film was used, as this may be a significant contribution to these terrific photos...

Les asked me this morning about this thread, so he may come here to address such a question.

 

[raid]

Summitar

 

[raid]

Summitar

 

[djcphoto]

I love my Summitar, although I'd also like an Elmar at some point!

 

[lesgedi]

I have been AWOL from RFf for far too long. It was Raid Amin who alerted me yesterday to this thread. First off, thank you Helen Hill for your kind words regarding my Flickr photos taken with a 50/2 Summitar. A better link to see only the Italian Period (1958-59) set is http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesged/sets/72157594433862983/

Thanks also to William (wlewisiii) and others for your complimentary remarks.

As to the film and developer I used in the dark ages of the late 50s, the largest majority were made with Agfa IFF film and I brewed my own Beutler formula similar to Neofin Blue/
Slow speed, thin base film and compensatng developer was a brand new idea that I learned from a German woman photographer, who also lived in Florence, Italy. Her name slips my 87 year old memory bank. but I'll add it ASAP.

 

[raid]

Welcome back, Les!
I just sent you an email to inform you that your RFF account was still active.
Please start a new thread and post many Summitar images for us there.

 

[HuubL]

Thank you Raid for notifying Lesgedi and alerting me to his wonderful series of 1960's Italian street shots.

And Les: absolutely lovely shots!

 

[helen.HH]

YAY...LES IS BACK !!!!!

makes me very Happy to see You here
and my Heart still skips a Beat, and my Face has a Smile when I look at your Photos
You and that Summitar make Magic
Lovely Les ...!!!

 

[lesgedi]

Thanks Raid and Huubl. BTW, it was not quite in the 1960s All the photos were taken in and around Florence were in 1958 and 59 while I worked in the city of flowers, Florence, where I also went to art school in 1950 & 51 and married my classmate Claudia, whose pics are in the Flickr set.

The German photographer, Helga Gilbert, also was a Leica user and specialized in children portraits against the light. They were amazing and gorgeous b&w photos. The details blew me away. I used a Leica IIf that I bought new in Copenhagen in 1955 along with the Summitar that was refurbished by Leitz which was in mint condition.

Loved the Summitar so much, Flickr moniker is Summitar-zen. Have owned 4-5 Summitars since and still have one I use on my Voigtlander Bessa R

 

[lesgedi]

This is a first try to post a photo on RFf in too long a time. I purposely took an old one not in my Flickr Italian Period 1958-59 set.

It was taken with my original Summitar. It was mounted on my Leica IIf

 

[raid]

There you go, Les. I love this image.
Please show us more images.

 

[lesgedi]

Caught in the act

Caught in the act

Raid, Thanks!

Last image was too big for my laptop screen. This one is better for height.

 

[raid]

The shoes of these three ladies make the image special!

 

[lesgedi]

Raid,

I agree the shoes create an important element in the composition.

The lady on the right singed me with her stare. If it happened now, a half century later, I'd be quite embarrassed.

 

[raid]

Les,
Pick out a few of your flickr images, and add some comments.
You can do it.

 

[raid]

I wonder whether the eight blade Summitar s any better than the later six blade version. The six blade version is coated, but it is difficult to repair.