Quick advice on Summicron 50 needed

[unsharp]

I know this is somewhere in old threads but can't find it. If someone can direct me there I would be happy.

I am of to work in a minute so I post in a rush and hope to get some advice during the day.

This afternoon I will try to arrange a meet with seller of a Summicron 50/f2.

The advice, or opinion, I'm searching is about the two latest versions of the lens. Is there a problem with a built in hood on one of them? Should I stay away from the lens if it turns out to be that version?

I have a tab on my Summicron 35, but THINK I would prefer a lens without tab, but I never tried one without (My Nokton has tab also).

Anders

 

[andrewch]

The latest version is optically the same as the previous version except that it has a built in hood and without the focusing tab. The hood collapses easily, and would not offer any extra protection to the len as would a rigid hood. However, I feel more comfortable without the focusing tab. So it all comes to a matter of personal preference.

 

[StuartR]

You will not be disappointed with either version. Basically you trade the extra flare protection of the detachable hood for the convenience of the integrated hood. I prefer the collapsible hood, and i have had no flare problems with it. You can always buy a screw in hood if you feel you don't get enough protection, but that would only really be if you are shooting in horrible situations all the time. The newest version is very smooth in its focus (or at least mine is), and I think it handles very well without a tab. The lens is light and the focus smooth, so I don't think the tab is critical.

 

[Doug]

Tom Abrahamsson had some comments about Summicron 50 versions while discussing the qualities of the Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5:

"The pre-Aspherical 35/2 Summicron is one of the perfect ones and as the 50/2,5 is a copy of that one, it fall into the same, "ease of handling" category. The 35/2 Asph and the 35/1,4 Asph do not handle well, too big and heavy and a bit clumsy as is the VC 35/1,7. The older 50/2 Summicron is another very good lens it comes to for handling, while the later version with the collapsible hood is a "dud", no focussing tab and the hood keeps collapsing at every inopportune moment! I always believe that if you are comfortable with the equipment, you get better results."

 

[richard_l]

Mine is the latest version, with the collapsible hood and no focussing tab. There is no problem with the hood.

 

[StuartR]

I completely disagree with him there. The hood on mine is tight, and it does not collapse unless you press on it purposefully. Not having the focus tab allows me to grab it without fumbling and to roll the focus while keeping my fingers in a more comfortable position. It is personal preference -- to call it a dud is misguided -- it may be for him, but others may prefer it as it is.

 

[richard_l]

By the way, the built-in hood is, of course, cylindrical. Therefore, although it is tiny, it provides as much flare prevention as a larger conical hood.

 

[unsharp]

Thanks all!

Thanks all!

Thanks all! I just logged in to check all your advice. It seams the latest version without a tab and with the built in hood is what I am looking for. I hope that's what this seller has. I have no response from him yet so I'll have to wait...

Anders

 

[rover]

I hope he gets it.

 

[Kris]

Maybe you're lucky enough that he has the 50 Years Anniversary version. No focusing tab and detachable vented lens hood.

🙂

 

[unsharp]

darn

darn

Thanks to your info I now know what I want, and not having patience to wait for an email response, I called the seller. It turned out it was an older version with serial number starting on 19.

Still looking. I'm selling my Leica CM today and I run a VERY effective cash managment. The buck does not stop here. Not for long anyway. Is this what they call cash flow? 🙂

Kris, about the anniversary version, they have one for sale in a shop here. Varranty until June 2006. But the price: 7950 SEK = 864 Euro or 1130 $ is too much, even if it is as new. I also think the built in hood in the lastest std version seams to be a good idea.

Anders

 

[Doug]

Still looking. I'm selling my Leica CM today and I run a VERY effective cash managment. The buck does not stop here. Not for long anyway. Is this what they call cash flow? 🙂

Anders, I do believe that's "cash flow" and of course it's our duty as citizens to keep it flowing for the good of the economy! 🙂 Best of luck in seeking the lens you want...

 

[rover]

Is that a Rigid? It has soft coatings, but renders a very attractive image.

 

[rover]

KB Camera helps us ID these lovely lenses.

http://www.kbcamera.com/summicron50m.htm

 

[richard_l]

Could be a Rigid. Definitely worth checking out if it is.

 

[unsharp]

Might be

Might be

Richard, it might be a rigid. Would that be of special interest?

Having still some Canon lenses and also Voigtländer I want only the latest optical version of 35 and 50mm Leicas. For once I want to know I have only the best 😀 : Have the 35mm 2,0 ASPH and want a 50mm also. Later on, I might get some older lens version for portrait or mainly B&W photo. In that case a colapsible could be fun I think.

Just want to share yesterday afternoon:

With the CM cash in my pocket and no Summicron deal, I went to my favorite shop to look at some M4s. Further down the desk a guy was buying a new M7 and a-Tri Elmar. They where testing the frames. Feeling like I'm from another planet but happy that Leica still can sell new equipment (how could I otherwise get used gear?)

The M4's? They turned out not to be Chromed, so no luck there either 🙁

Anders

 

[rover]

Well, there is no reason not to get a current Summicron if that is what you really are set on. Every version is very good, and perhaps none is better than any other, but as stated above the current version seems to be what fits your needs.

That said, keep an eye out in the gallery for images made with, for this instance, the Rigid Summicron. Perhaps not much different than those made by other Summicrons, but definately nice. You can find a many here.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=31

 

[richard_l]

Anders, the latest Leica lenses will usually perform the best on the test bench, but whether they produce the best photos may be a matter of dabate. There are many people who prefer the "look" produced by the DR and Rigid Summicrons (which have high resolution but somewhat lower contrast than the later versions).

I have the latest Summicron and the latest 50mm Elmar. I like them both, but the Elmar has a unique brilliant clarity which shows up in photos but probably not on the test bench. If I had to sell a lens, it would probably be the Summicron, not the Elmar.

 

[unsharp]

Interesting

Interesting

That was a lot of good pictures Rover. Inspiring me to go out and shoot!

Interesting Richard. One of the reasons for wanting the latest version is actually wanting to eliminate error sources in the "image chain". Wow, that was pretentious! What I mean is I regularly get copys I do not like for several reasons, and I am positive that the copy is the source, but I want to eliminate the lens. So, by using best lens and pro film there can only be me or the copyist!

Thats the theory. In real what you are saying is very intresting. The guy I bought my 35mm from had a mint M4 Chrome with a 50mm googles Summicron on. I can not forget that camera. The feeling was so heavy and solid with fantastic mechanical handling. Non of the M7, M4-2 or even (crappy) M2 I tested come close. And it looked so good also! Before I held his gear I was totaly going for metered aperture control, and buying a R3A waiting for the Zeiss Ikon. Now i'm after the M4 and nothing else 😀. When that is reached, a contemporary Summicron would be nice. And if the performance is as you say, even the better!

Anders

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Anders, I have both the tabbed and latest version. Optically and photo-wise, there is no difference, it is the same optical formulation. I originally used the lux, but switched back to the cron for the higher contrast and resolution. The only difference is ergonomics. The detachable hood does provide more protection, but is also more fiddly to work with, not to mention it takes up more space unless you reverse it and put a cap on. I do like the tab a lot, but then again the tabless is also very easy to focus, so I would rate that factor as even. In short, it is the same lens except for the tab and hood. If you want a more compact package, go for the latest. If you are ok with the detaching and reversing of the hood, go for the tab. good luck