Summarit lenses..

[ajpat]

Hi,

How do you rate the Summarit line of lenses? I have the 35mm. f2.5/2.8 version and find it so,so fully open & at 2.8. Once closed down, its fine. Whereas the older 35mm f2.0 pre-asp that I also own, is better at 2.8 and also at the other apertures.

I would love to sell one of these and get the Zeiss f2 or 2.8

Ajit

 

[akk2]

C Biogon 35/2.8 is great, I read a review from Steve huff, it has great sharpness.

 

[Jeff S]

Not sure what you mean by "better" in comparing to other lenses...resolution, contrast, chromatic aberration, the way it "draws"....etc., etc.?

I recommend Sean Reid's site...http://reidreviews.com/reidreviews/ for a small annual subscription, but well worth it. He reviews the 35 Summarit compared to the 35 Summicron, Zeiss 2.0 and Voigtlander Skopar 2.5...using all the relevant factors listed above.

Depends on your tastes, but he and others review the Summarits very favorably, even compared to the Summicron. In fact, the Summarits were designed by Peter Karbe, the same guy who designed the 50 lux asph, a not too shabby lens.

If you like the less contrasty pre-asph lenses, I'm surprised you don't like the 35 Summarit, since that's how it is generally compared to the Summicron asph.

Jeff

 

[ajpat]

Summarit lenses

Summarit lenses

Jeff,

Ive been testing for sharpness wide open for both these lenses and the pre is sharper at 2.8 at the center and also towards the corners. The 2 lenses render colors a bit differently. Also in my summarit the left side of the image is softer than the right side. I tested my 24mm Zeiss and the pre 35mm for this problem on the M8 and both are ok left & right of the centre.

Ajit

 

[clicker]

Summarit

Summarit

You may want to try the Zeiss f2, it is one heck of a 35 for the price.

 

[Jeff S]

Jeff,

Ive been testing for sharpness wide open for both these lenses and the pre is sharper at 2.8 at the center and also towards the corners. The 2 lenses render colors a bit differently. Also in my summarit the left side of the image is softer than the right side. I tested my 24mm Zeiss and the pre 35mm for this problem on the M8 and both are ok left & right of the centre.

Ajit

Sometimes apparent "sharpness" is due to contrast or other factors. The key is how your prints look, not how your tests work.

As far as uneven "softness" on two sides...strange...perhaps you should consider calling Leica and having them test.

Jeff

 

[marduk]

I have no experience with those lenses, but Erwin Puts speaks favorably of the Summarit 35/2.5: http://www.imx.nl/photo/leica/lenses/lenses/page83.html
He also has the review of the C-Biogon 35/2.8: http://www.imx.nl/photo/zeiss/page116/page116.html
You may want to check it out.

 

[scottwallick]

The Summarit 35 is an excellent lens. More expensive the ZM 35s. The C Biogon 2,8/35 is an amazing lens. My favorite ZM by far. The 2/35 is good, too. The ZM line has a certain character, which I like.

With MFT graphs and resolution charts, you're likely to see the Summarit 35 outperform the ZM 35s. But when it comes to IQ, the actual print or the published digital image, any of the lenses will deliver excellent results.

Also, see Tom's review of the Summarit line.

The take away message being:

Lenses like the new Summarits can take better pictures than most photographers, and very few photographers have any need for faster, aspheric or floating-element lenses.

 

[victoriapio]

The 75 summarit has received very positive reviews. Very, very sharp, good bokeh, small and practical.

 

[noimmunity]

The Summarit 35 is an excellent lens. More expensive the ZM 35s. The C Biogon 2,8/35 is an amazing lens. My favorite ZM by far. The 2/35 is good, too. The ZM line has a certain character, which I like.

What is so amazing about the C Biogon in your view? I loved the slight vignetting wide open and the color rendition. Once, when missing this lens, I got a Rollei Sonnar (smaller, less expensive) to replace it. The Rollei seems to be sharper on center than the ZM, less so in the corners, with slightly different color. Also a lovely lens. I checked your flickr for examples of the C Biogon, liked the Morocco shots, yet couldn't identify any lens signature. Your signature implies that you've switched to the summarit 35.

 

[Fujitsu]

Forget about the Summarits. Solid performers but way overpriced compared to what is available on the used market and by competitors.

Plus the lens shades of the Summarits are an engineering fiasco of their own.

 

[ferider]

Try the Color Skopar PII. If you don't like it - not much lost, but I suspect you will.

 

[scottwallick]

What is so amazing about the C Biogon in your view? I loved the slight vignetting wide open and the color rendition. Once, when missing this lens, I got a Rollei Sonnar (smaller, less expensive) to replace it. The Rollei seems to be sharper on center than the ZM, less so in the corners, with slightly different color. Also a lovely lens. I checked your flickr for examples of the C Biogon, liked the Morocco shots, yet couldn't identify any lens signature. Your signature implies that you've switched to the summarit 35.

That's true, I did switch to the Summarit 35. I sold all of my ZM lenses some time back. In my opinion, the ZM lenses have similar character across the board (except the Sonar, I suppose). Which I like.

What caused my hyperbole with the C Biogon is that (a) it's sharp and has the ZM character, as could be expected, the C Biogon delivers, (b) Puts is correct, the lens is pretty much flare-proof, and (c) it is a tiny lens, really flat, so it keeps the camera's profile slim. Put it all together, it's a good user experience. Mine was, at least.

 

[aizan]

if i had a black chrome m6 classic, the summarits would be at the top of my list. very reasonably priced, new optical designs, light and compact, and the lettering matches (ok, you might not care about that part).

also, i'd get the 50mm summarit over the newer 50mm summicrons for the better flare resistance and bokeh.

 

[Turtle]

I have a 35 2.5 summarit and like it very much. It is lower contrast than my ZMs but has stronger edge performance than the CV 35 2.5 pancake. Sharpness on centre wide open is very good with mine and certainly not poor. It may not be cron asph sharp in the centre wide open (not that I have used one), but the performance is very good and the bokeh exceptional. It really is a completely predictable and well made lens. I feel it is better made than the ZMs but the focus is a touch light on my example (easy fix).

I do not feel the summarit is an inferior lens by any stretch. I would go as far as saying it is the best all round 35 I own. The 35 ZM f2 I also own is fantastic too, but quite a bit larger.

If you don't need f2, I think there is no real reason for buying the cron asph unless you want higher contrast. Sean Reid said it best when he said the summarit was 'more cream than cut glass.'

 

[mirrored]

Plus the lens shades of the Summarits are an engineering fiasco of their own.

Please tell me more. What is wrong? I have Summicron35 with rectangular hood too (as Summarit 50 have).

also, i'd get the 50mm summarit over the newer 50mm summicrons for the better flare resistance and bokeh.

The new 50mm Summarit is a rigid Elmar! Difference between f/2.5 and f/2.8 is only 1/3 stop. I am interested on both, but what are all the differencies? Elmar (collapsible modern version) are not very water-resistant and have only 5 aperture blades. I really like the signature of it when looking pictures found in net. Erwin Puts wrote much good on Elmar too. How Summarit compares to it?

I am interested on slow lens because tiny size and fine performance with all apertures.

I have looked those for nice prise, 500-600€ which is not much for fine condition lens?

 

[mirrored]

^ I find this thread by using google. Now I see it is M8/M9 located. I use film Leica. Perhaps it doesn't matter or make difference?

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I have the 75mm Summarit. It is an excellent lens. Some quibble about the build quality of these lenses compared to the Summicron line. IMHO the Summarit is well built. Is the other lens that you describe in your question the Summicron 35mm v.4? If so, that is a fantastic lens.

 

[mirrored]

I have the 75mm Summarit. It is an excellent lens. Some quibble about the build quality of these lenses compared to the Summicron line. IMHO the Summarit is well built. Is the other lens that you describe in your question the Summicron 35mm v.4? If so, that is a fantastic lens.

Yes I have Summicron 35 v.4! It is my only lens at the moment and I feel I never sell it. But I miss 50mm badly. I sold my Summicron 90 and Summilux 50 and now looking a new slower 50mm. Perhaps 75mm too, but thinking an Voigtländer for learning that focal lenght first.

I was walking on a town in beautiful sunny evening today and looking beautiful old houses and other scenes. Seldom seen winter sun was a painter. And I was lost with my 35mm! 🙂 I need 50mm. I am not sure about 75mm if it can replace 50mm.

I want to find beautiful drawing slow 50mm.

 

[ruslan]

I had 35mm and 50mm Summicrons ASPH, and after New Summarits arrieved, sold both Crons, Summarits is a better lenses than Summicrons!