Leica LTM Leitz 5cm Summitar V 5cm Elmar

[Bingley]

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

And Les: absolutely lovely shots!

Welcome back, Les! I just looked through your Italian collection: they are indeed wonderful! I hope you'll post some here.

 

[Ronald M]

Both take wonderful classic photos stopped down some, Summitar more than elmar. Some place around 4 or 5.6 the quality matches so why carry the bigger one? Summitar is soft at F2. Perhaps nice for portraits, but not everyday.

 

[lesgedi]

Raid,

Maybe it would be better to show earlier pics made with a Summitar. They predate the Italian ones by 3 years. They are photos taken in Copenhagen in 1955 while studying at the Royal Academy of Art. It was there I bought my first Leica (IIf) and first Leitz lens (Summitar)

Bingley,

Thanks for the compliment. My Italian photo set in Flickr used to look much better. Formerly, it faithfully recorded the great range of tone obtained using the magic triad: Summitar, slowest speed Agfa film and Beutler formula (~Neofin blue) Maybe the image degraded passing through Photobucket. Next photos I show will be directly from Flickr using "IMG" brackets.

 

[raid]

That would be very nice, Les. I want to inspect your images from the 50's.

 

[Dektol Dan]

Elmar v. Summitar

Elmar v. Summitar

Elmar and Porta:

Summitar and Porta:

Elmar and Porta:

Summitar and Porta:

It was asked if there was a difference in the images of an 8 blade v. 6 blade Summitar. Yes! The 8 blade version doesn't have the crazy seasick bokeh.

 

[Photo_Smith]

I like the Elmar, I have had both the 3,5 and 2,8 versions.
From the ƒ2,8

But hey they're all nice those Leica lenses.

 

[Ronald M]

In good light , Elmar although a Summitar is very very good at 5.6. It does get soft and have low contrast at 2 & 2.7 and much better at 4..

Try and find a Red Scale Elmar which is coated

They will need to be clean inside. any haze at all kills the Leica look to the image

 

[laffertyphotography]

I have both 1951 Summitar and 1929 Elmar. I prefer the Summitar.

 

[trip-xa]

I have only tried the Summitar, but have to say I really love it.

The Sarah Photos (Darkmatter) by Fogel's Focus, on Flickr

BMW 2002 - Summitar 50mm f2 - Coffee and Classics August 2013 by Fogel's Focus, on Flickr

One with crappy color film:

Volvo - 444 - Unicolor C-41 - Summitar by Fogel's Focus, on Flickr

 

[Vics]

Steve, that's a stunning landscape with an Elmar - my hat is off!

Mine, too!

 

[Hatchetman]

1939 uncoated Summitar

Steel Coils by Rob F, on Flickr

 

[Erik van Straten]

The Elmar and the Summitar are very different beasts. Both have their strong points and their weaknesses.

Leica III, Elmar uncoated (1934), Tmax400.

I think I prefer a coated Summar.

Leica IIIc, Summar 50mm f/2 coated, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[someonenameddavid]

Okay, My Leica III has the coated Elmar on it.

William's IIIf has my old Summitar on it, coated and with the nice aperture mechanism.

My IIIf's have Collapsible Summicrons on them.

why do people highly rate the Summitar, but not the collapsible Summicron

 

[Erik van Straten]

why do people highly rate the Summitar, but not the collapsible Summicron

I rate the collapsible Summicron VERY high, much higher than the Summitar. They are however very difficult to find in pristine condition. Much more expensive than the Summitar too.

Leica MP, Summicron 50mm f/2 collapsible, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[traveler_101]

Summitar

Perhaps I have simple tastes, but this has become an iconic b&w photo for me; it's momentary but also much more than a moment. Makes me want to try a Summitar - though I am fully satisfied with my Elmar. Was this shot with TRI-X Raid?

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

I don't know why this thread popped back up, but it is a good one, since these are my two main lenses.
First the Elmar, IIIc & Kodak 400 gold

Then the Summitar, same IIIc, same film, a month later.

It is hard for me to see a defining difference.

 

[Bingley]

Here's a comparison of uncoated Elmar and Summitar lenses. First, a 1932 uncoated Elmar:

Up top by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

Another with the same Elmar (a nickel Elmar, btw), both the photo above and this one shot on Portra 400:

Vintage by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

Now, a 1939 uncoated Summitar (same lens as earlier posts of mine in this thread), on Kodak 400 Max:

Outer Sunset by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

At the end of the day, I reach for the Summitar more often, because I often need f2.8 when the light gets low. Another recent photo, same lens, same film, not f2.8:

Balboa Ave. by bingley0522, on Flickr