Carlsen Highway
Well-known
Okay, just thought I had to say something. I understand...
A couple of weeks ago I got my first Leica lens to go on my M2 - an old Elmar collapsable M mount 50mm, f3.5.
I took to the streets with it one afternoon, and did my usual thing, bothered some people in a friendly way. (Met an one legged man with an ancient beard - who informed me that if he knew I was going to take his picture he would have shaved...) I will scan a couple of them and put them up.
Anyway I printed two up to 8x10 in the darkroom the other night and was blown away. I mean, I could see the negatives looked good and sharp, but the prints were something else. THis lens beats everything I have ever used for sharpness and clarity. Stunningly, touchingly, delicately sharp. And contrast is exactly what I want.
I have used all different Nikon and Minolta SLR's for years (admittadly not the top end of the range Nikon lenses) I was vaguely expecting to be underwhelmed to be honest - just a nice old lens from the 1950's - I was buying the lens for the brand name, just because it went with the old camera sort of thing - but no indeed. One of the rare occassions that I can recall where I have bought something and it has been worth every single cent.
I am utterly blown away by it, and I guess I shouldnt be, but I am.
I am not much of a digital world guy but will scan some and put them up - but then I dont have to do I - you guys already knew...
A couple of weeks ago I got my first Leica lens to go on my M2 - an old Elmar collapsable M mount 50mm, f3.5.
I took to the streets with it one afternoon, and did my usual thing, bothered some people in a friendly way. (Met an one legged man with an ancient beard - who informed me that if he knew I was going to take his picture he would have shaved...) I will scan a couple of them and put them up.
Anyway I printed two up to 8x10 in the darkroom the other night and was blown away. I mean, I could see the negatives looked good and sharp, but the prints were something else. THis lens beats everything I have ever used for sharpness and clarity. Stunningly, touchingly, delicately sharp. And contrast is exactly what I want.
I have used all different Nikon and Minolta SLR's for years (admittadly not the top end of the range Nikon lenses) I was vaguely expecting to be underwhelmed to be honest - just a nice old lens from the 1950's - I was buying the lens for the brand name, just because it went with the old camera sort of thing - but no indeed. One of the rare occassions that I can recall where I have bought something and it has been worth every single cent.
I am utterly blown away by it, and I guess I shouldnt be, but I am.
I am not much of a digital world guy but will scan some and put them up - but then I dont have to do I - you guys already knew...
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I had the same experience with the first roll back from my freshly CLA'd Summarit 5cm F1.5, several years ago. The lower contrast German lenses of the 1950s render an image unlike anything else that I've used. The 50mm F1.9 Schneider Xenon on my Retina has a similar look, but the Retina IIIS does not handle like a Leica M.
venchka
Veteran
Leitz lenses have had a reputation for producing very good B&W negatives since forever.
Welcome to the club!
Welcome to the club!
ferider
Veteran
It's not just the lens, you know ... if you have only used SLRs before, it is easier to get very nice pics with a cloth-shutter RF.
mark-b
Well-known
Like you, I've used Nikon and Minolta glass, some good, some great, some bad. but I don't think Leitz ever made a bad lens.
back alley
IMAGES
it's all in your head!
Depends what you mean by "bad". The old 5cm F1.5 Xenon and 5cm f2 Summars did not set the world on fire with resolution when used wide-open. But they are great portrait lenses...
The 1955 J-8 that Carlson has did very well for me. I could dig out the test done with it and 11 other 50mm F2 lenses with my M3. Could not tell it from the two Nikkor 5cm F2's (collapsible and rigid).
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
My M Elmar 50mm f3.5 that I bought in 1977 seemed to me a much sharper lens than the original M 50mm f 2.8 lens. I got rid of the f 2.8 but kept the M f3.5 Elmar.
I have a ~1947 coated Elmar in LTM. Quite good, but I just go for the fast lenses. I would never sell it though, goes nicely on a Leica III. I still prefer the collapsible Summicron.
