Question re: Summilux 50mm

[wburgund]

Hello again. As you can tell I'm new to all of this. Just purchased my first M6 and Summilux 50mm. Can anybody tell me the difference between the Summilux and the Summicron lens. This one I just purchased is a Summilux, Wetzlar, 50mm, f-1.4. Is this a good lens? It's serial # is 3251117.

 

[cp_ste.croix]

well, without any experiential knowledge, I've heard it's a great lens. A summicron is f2, while a summilux is f1.4. That said, if you don't like your outfit, send it my way 😀

 

[wburgund]

Reply

Reply

Hi, Thanks for answering my question. No, I think I'll hold onto this for awhile. I've seen the pics from these cameras and lens and they are excellant. I've been a Canon man for a long time but it's too obtrusive for doing people. I can see that this little camera is perfect for that.

 

[peter_n]

Its a marvy lens mate! I think you have a pre-ASPH version that takes 46mm filters. Am I right?

 

[zpuskas]

I believe I have the same lens---Summilux my ser# is 341XXXX. Great lens. Only problem is using the lens shade with standard filters...you can't. The lens requires special filters with a ridge so you can mount the shade. I switched to a std shade so I could use std 43mm filters.

 

[wburgund]

Hi Peter, No it takes 43mm filters. Is it still a good lens? Bill

 

[wburgund]

Zpuskas, I'm not sure what you mean that you switched to a standard shade. What is the difference? Where would I obtain a standard shade so I can use 43mm filters with the shade?

 

[Graybeard]

Zpuskas, I'm not sure what you mean that you switched to a standard shade. What is the difference? Where would I obtain a standard shade so I can use 43mm filters with the shade?

The 50mm Summilux I use accepts 43mm filters. The skylight filter I keep in place on the lens has male threads one side, female the other; I use a screw-in lens cap. I could just as easily use a screw in filter - these are pretty inexpensive.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

my lux is the 46mm version (latest pre-asph) ... it is a great lens. But then again, so is the 50/cron. I don't know if the 46mm is the same optical formula as the 43mm version. Both the cron and lux have great bokeh. The contrast and resolution is slightly higher on the cron at equal apertures. Both lenses have a unique signature. Look at your photos after you've shot with the lens and decide whether you like the signature or not. Or try running a search on pbase.com with "summilux" and see if you can get some examples.

Lens signature is so highly subjective that you really need to see your own work to decide. One of my favorite lenses is the ultra cheap Nikon AFD 50mm 1.8, which costs only $99 🙂 Great out of focus signature in my opinion, but others think it has harsh bokeh. Fortunately, only my opinion counts, at least when it pertains to which lens I use ;-) cheers

 

[former member]

The 46mm filter'd Summilux is substantially different from the first version.

The earlier summilux is very similar to the Summarit, a varient of the Xenon that splits the Xenon rear element into two separate elements, each of lower power.
It is lens "P"

The Later Summilux is in the second set, note my hand correction with the 66.2 written on the lower left lens. The original numbers confused it with the Nikkor 5.8cm F1.4 lens, which I have.

EDIT: 1st page is from 1965 edition, second set is 1973 edition of "Photographic Lenses" by Neblette.

 

[Graybeard]

my lux is the 46mm version (latest pre-asph) ... it is a great lens. But then again, so is the 50/cron. I don't know if the 46mm is the same optical formula as the 43mm version. Both the cron and lux have great bokeh. The contrast and resolution is slightly higher on the cron at equal apertures. Both lenses have a unique signature. Look at your photos after you've shot with the lens and decide whether you like the signature or not. Or try running a search on pbase.com with "summilux" and see if you can get some examples.

Lens signature is so highly subjective that you really need to see your own work to decide. One of my favorite lenses is the ultra cheap Nikon AFD 50mm 1.8, which costs only $99 🙂 Great out of focus signature in my opinion, but others think it has harsh bokeh. Fortunately, only my opinion counts, at least when it pertains to which lens I use ;-) cheers

From what I've been able to determine (Rogiatti's book, primarily), the black 50mm Summilux with the 43mm filter ring is the same optical formula as all subsequent 50mm Summilux's prior to the aspherical lens.

The Summilux formula was remarkable for its longevity and its replacement with the aspherical lens anticipated for some time.

 

[former member]

I added the reference to my prior post. The 1965 edition and 1973 edition of "Photographic Lenses" by Neblette show a major redesign of the Summilux. The first version is described in the text as being similar to the Summarit. I'll add that in the Leica Manual, by Morgan and Lester, the Summarit is described as being a reformulation of the earlier Xenon, not just a coated version of it.

 

[peter_n]

Hi Peter, No it takes 43mm filters. Is it still a good lens? Bill

Yes it certainly is Bill! Getting filters can be a bit dodgy. The filter thread on th 43mm is a 0.5 thread pitch, unlike most modern filters which are 0.75 thread pitch. There were two filter manufacturers that made filters for this lens, Leica - which designated the filters as E43, and B+W - which designated their filters 43E. Both of these filters have the correct thread pitch for the Summilux but both are unfortunately discontinued.

Amazingly the Hoya 43mm 0.75 thread pitch filters screw into the Summilux. I haven't figured out why yet but my UV filter goes on this lens and I assume the others do too.

Enjoy the lens Bill, its really amazing! 🙂

 

[Graybeard]

Yes it certainly is Bill! Getting filters can be a bit dodgy. The filter thread on th 43mm is a 0.5 thread pitch, unlike most modern filters which are 0.75 thread pitch. There were two filter manufacturers that made filters for this lens, Leica - which designated the filters as E43, and B+W - which designated their filters 43E. Both of these filters have the correct thread pitch for the Summilux but both are unfortunately discontinued.

Amazingly the Hoya 43mm 0.75 thread pitch filters screw into the Summilux. I haven't figured out why yet but my UV filter goes on this lens and I assume the others do too.

Enjoy the lens Bill, its really amazing! 🙂

I'm using a Sunpak 43mm filter on my Summilux. It screws into the female threads on the lens with no difficulty.

 

[peter_n]

The lettering on the side of the Sunpak filters looks like Hoya lettering to me. I have a 58mm Vivitar filter and two 58mm Hoya filters and they are identical except for the name.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Sunpaks were OEM'd by Hoya. I'll bet that your Sunpak 43mm has a 0.75 thread pitch too.

 

[Ben Z]

I have the Summilux of about the same vintage. It is the same optical formula as the 46mm version. I had a chance to shoot my lens side by side with the new ASPH version. Under the circumstances I would use a heavier, larger lens than a Summicron, which is handholding wide open with fast film at fairly slow shutter speeds, I could not detect a significant difference, so for me sticking with the $650 Lux vs spending $2500 on the ASPH was the prudent decision. I have no doubt that with slow film and a tripod the ASPH would outperform the older lens, but under those circumstances I would simply switch to my Hasselblad and 80 Planar, which cost me far less than the difference between the Lux and ASPH-Lux, and get the huge advantage of the larger film format. I have no trouble with filtering the Lux. I bought a number of Leica 43mm filters in chrome mounts which had scratched or chipped glass, for $5-10 each, and replaced the glass from B+W multicoated filters. Those Leica filters have no front threads and the shade clips to the lens itself. I do have one of the later Leica UVs with the ridge, I don't like it as well because it would take much less of a bump to the shade to rip the filter off the lens and possibly cause damage to the lens. I also used a Dreml to cut a groove around a B+W filter, it was a little tricky but it holds the shade well. Swapping the glass into the older Leica 43 filter rings worked out the best.

 

[peter_n]

Ben you're a smart bloke. Putting the B+W glass into the Leica rings makes enormous sense. I actually have a (new) B+W 43E medium yellow so I'm all set there, and I use a Hoya 43mm UV.

I do not like those enormous vented hoods so I bought a CV screw-in hood (made for the 35mm Pancake I) and I screw that into the filter ring. I can't use the Leica filters because as you say they are unthreaded on the front. I too am very happy with my 50 Summilux which is serial nr. 2504xxx.