Poll: What 50mm lens for BW for Leica M?

Poll: What 50mm lens for BW for Leica M?

  • Elmar 50 old

    Votes: 39 4.5%

  • Elmar-M (new)

    Votes: 45 5.2%

  • Summarit

    Votes: 43 5.0%

  • Summicron rigid/DR

    Votes: 194 22.5%

  • Summilux pre-asph (version1/2)

    Votes: 125 14.5%

  • Summicron tabbed/current

    Votes: 120 13.9%

  • Summilux ASPH

    Votes: 88 10.2%

  • Zeiss Planar

    Votes: 79 9.2%

  • Zeiss Sonnar

    Votes: 77 8.9%

  • Konica M-Hexanon

    Votes: 51 5.9%
  • Total voters
    861
Sorry guys, I just don't see it. 😕

While I am a big believer that there are lenses that produce much better results compared to some others, I do not believe that I can make out the differences between the top dogs of the lenses.

I mean, showing different pictures from different top lenses under different lighting conditions of different subjects are just not useful for me to determine which one is "better" than the others.
 
shadowfox said:
Sorry guys, I just don't see it. 😕

While I am a big believer that there are lenses that produce much better results compared to some others, I do not believe that I can make out the differences between the top dogs of the lenses.
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If you are talking about modern 50s of a certain min. speed, I agree with
you, Will. But, if we are right, the price difference is even more relevant, if you
include, say, 50 Nokton and Heliar, modern Summicron, Hexanon, and Planar
in this list of top dogs. I personally think the M-Hexanon is the most
affordable/compact one in the set, currently - that's why I have one coming.

Roland.
 
Missing the collapsible Summicron in this poll, an excellent b&w and color shooter (as well as the Heliar 50/2, too).

Summicron at f2, M6:
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Summicron at f11, R-D1:
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Didier
 
ferider said:
If you are talking about modern 50s of a certain min. speed, I agree with
you, Will. But, if we are right, the price difference is even more relevant, if you
include, say, 50 Nokton and Heliar, modern Summicron, Hexanon, and Planar
in this list of top dogs. I personally think the M-Hexanon is the most
affordable/compact one in the set, currently - that's why I have one coming.

Roland.
Click to expand...

The M-Hex is certainly the near match of the Summicron I'll give you that. I've found that under very flat lighting (most of my winter months) the Summicron has a slight edge in contrast- thus my favoring it. In full sun they are hard to tell apart.

As to not being able to tell the difference, I would doubt that you'd not see the difference in actual prints of good size- 14x18 or 16x20. If prints of this scale aren't in your future you may not need one of the 'top dogs'. I should note that I shot the Nikon 35/1.4 & 50/1.4 and 1.8 Ai & AiS lenses and found them no match for the current 35/2 ASPH or 50 Summicron.
 
sirius said:
Strange, I've seen so many postings over the years saying that the summilux ASPH 50 is the best lens for black and white ever made.
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If you say so, Sirius. But the 50mm Summilux ASPH has not been around over the years! It is a fairly new lens.
 
I have a 50mm made in 1998 and it is more then sharp.
I recommend a 50mm summicron as a standard lins for all Leica cameras.
/Thomas..
 
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Today, I met with RF member Robin at BooksAMillion, and we had some coffee while discussing choice of 50mm lenses for Leica cameras. When we were about the leave, Robin told me "this was a costly meeting."

He meant that he got a GAS attack.

Basically, I had with me my 15 or so 50mm lenses,and Robin was holding one a a time to see how it felt in his hands and how it looked like. My lenses are mostly vintage lenses and not of a modern design.

Robin already has a couple of Brian Sweeney adjusted/cleaned 50mm lenses,including a clean J-3, and he is looking into the possibility of buying a Leitz vintage 50mm lens online.

I tried to explain my views on the different LTM/M lenses that I have. We have [for example] the Elmar/Summar/Summarit/Summitar and the Summicron [collapsible and rigid], followed by the Nikon 50/2, a Canon 50/1.8 and 50/1.2 and a Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50/2 and a hacked Luxon 50/2.

Lenses have different flavors, but most are excellent if you are good at using them appropriately.
 
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Raid,I rushed right home and only looked.My GAS is under control for the time being, or, until our next meeting at Chuckie Cheese...........Robin P.S.I really do like the Summicron and the Canon.
 
robin a said:
Raid,I rushed right home and only looked.My GAS is under control for the time being, or, until our next meeting at Chuckie Cheese...........Robin P.S.I really do like the Summicron and the Canon.
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Robin,

Both of your choices are excellent.
Hopefully, you can find a super clean lens at an affordable price.

Chuckie Cheese is next!
 
Gipsy said:
Yes and no. All DR Summicrons are 52mm. They were hand assembled and the front and rear elements mated ,matched, and marked for maximum performance. That is why it is important to check that both the front and rear elements have the same numbers when buying a DR. There was a lot of time and QC that went into that lens. DR Summicrons were built under the old Leica criteria of edge spread width. Not the number of LPM. People have the misconception that contrast and sharpness are one and the same. I do not know anyone who can hand hold any lens and get the highest performance out of it.
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Has anyone published a scientifically designed and executed side by side test between the rigid Summicron and the DR? The rigid Summicron was one of the top lenses by Leitz when it came out, so I bet that it received also top QC for ultimate performance. I have never tried a DR.
 
By "ultimate performance," I believe Gipsy means compatible performance among the lens capsule, the focusing mount and the "goggles." I think he also means matching numbers on the mount and capsule, not the front and rear of the capsule. I don't think there's been anything that documents Leitz specially selecting the DRs for better performance than the rigid.
 
I really don't care for the 50mm FL, but

I really don't care for the 50mm FL, but

I got a 50/2 Heliar for my M8, as I like a little more FL, or a little less using a 28mm, than the 50mm produces on it. For the M3, M4-P, the 40mm is almost always attached, while my col Elamr 90mm is connected to the other one.
 
I vote DR, it has a creaminess thats hard to match.
Wide open in the dark, its quite nice even.
(I'm using a CRT monitor, so they might be a little too light on you LCD guys)
-
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And yes pictures are better than links.
 
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Maxapple88 said:
I just got myself a Summicron 50mm that was made in 1970. Which version would this be? Can I be happy? Its in good shape.
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Is it black? Sounds like a 11817, made from 1969 to 1979. Although it is not the DR, you can be happy.
 
Maxapple88 said:
I just got myself a Summicron 50mm that was made in 1970. Which version would this be? Can I be happy? Its in good shape.
Click to expand...

Is it black? Sounds like a 11817, made from 1969 to 1979. Although it is not the DR, you can be happy.
 
I'm presently using the CV Nokton and the Canon F1.2 , and I'm happy with those two. But I'm now looking at the 50 Elmar and the Summicron (used to have a 50DR) to go on my -new- M2 in the possible future 🙂

-Dan, but I'll still keep the Nokton and the Canon F1.2 .
 
I shall follow this thread with interest. I am trying to decide between pre-asph summilux, Hex, Nokton and Sonnar. Each seem to offer something the others don't....
 
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