Summicron 35mm V4 vs Summarit 35mm

[Jaans]

Has anyone made any direct comparisons between these two lens. I realize that the Summarit 2.5 is about half a stop slower, but how do the lens compare when stopped down?

I have read here that the Summarit is a nice balance in design between a late postwar leica lens and a modern lens with good flare control and without the biting contrast of the ZM range or the ASPH 35mm. It would potentially provide excellent shadow detail enabling the user to open them up.

I have seen some sample shots and the Summarit displayed creamy highlights with a definite glow (like the summaron)- do you find that is the same with the V4 summicron? If so it would make sense to get the faster lens, however, according to ebay the bokeh king is a few hundred dollars more expensive.

That summarit is not often talked about and I would love to hear some opinions or even see some photographs with it - a side by side comparison between the two would also be great. 🙂

Cheers,
Jaans

 

[Turtle]

I own the summarit but not the V4. Glow? No. You wont find that on any modern slow lens. Try searching the Guy Mancuso tests, with terms like summarit 35 or 'ugly test' and you will see plenty.

Summarit is a lower contrast smooth modern lens which stopped down performs according to tests, very well indeed and just like the asph in terms of resolution. V smooth bokeh.

The sumnmarit is bigger than the V4, but can be had new for the price of a V4 thgat is 30 years old., If you dont need f2 its a simple decision IMHO.

 

[Jaans]

Thanks Turtle for that response and insight. I was looking for an alternative to the V4 summicron and a lens with some nice buttery highlights. The economics are as you said very similar. It was quite an interesting marketing decision by Leica to Produce a slower modern lens.

 

[35mmdelux]

Thanks Turtle for that response and insight. I was looking for an alternative to the V4 summicron and a lens with some nice buttery highlights. The economics are as you said very similar. It was quite an interesting marketing decision by Leica to Produce a slower modern lens.

Any of the Leica 35mm/2.0 provide the smooth bokeh shot at full aperture on slow films especially. Its more a function of bragging rights and how much you want to cough up.

 

[Jaans]

35mmdelux: thanks for that tip. Also, I was referring specifically to the Summarit which has a full aperture of 2.5, not 2.0.

I am a sucker for TRI-X or HP5 so i rarely use slow films, but on the few occassions that I have, I quite liked the PX.

 

[Brad Maestas]

I own the v4 and have played with the Summarit for a few days. I found that the Summarit does indeed have great resolution (and lower contrast). If I were shooting daylight all the time I'd love to have one if only for the shadow detail but I often find myself taking shots in light where the Summicron is just barely enough so I still prefer my v4. I'd also say that the first priority is whether you need f/2 or not. Sorry, I don't have any comparison shots of the Summarit.

 

[Jaans]

Thanks Brad - that was exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I have been really curious about this lens for a long time as there is not the abundance of information that accompanies the V4 summicron.

What has got me really curious is how Leica changed the formula for this lens. It is interesting what you said about great resolution. I have read that flare suppression is better for this lens than the summicron, but contrast is less. So, perhaps contrast and flare suppression don't always go hand in hand.

The example shots that I have seen with this lens really had something in the highlights when stopped down. That was my main purpose - as an outside lens, so the relative lack of speed wouldn't so much of a problem.

I had been previously bidding on an old 50mm summarit 1.5 but got sniped. Actually, I am glad now as I may get this more modern 35 instead.

Thanks again>

 

[Turtle]

I am not sure contrast is lower on the summarit compared to the cron V4. Check out the Mancuso tests as they show what seems to be a slightly different rendering, but I would not call it lower contrast as such. Guy did find the Summarit controlled specular light better, very hot highlights, but shadows were deeper too.

In use my summarit tends to prodeuce very smooth images with controlled highlights. Resolution is superb wide open and as good as it gets at f5.6. Very nice lenses

 

[Brad Maestas]

Interesting info, Turtle. I haven't seen the Mancuso tests yet but will check them out shortly. I did not find the Summarit that much lower in contrast (in the conditions I shot them in), just slightly. I should have put 'slightly' in front of 'lower contrast.' You're both right - there is something nice going on in the highlights with that lens and it doesn't quite relate to contrast. I just couldn't quite put my finger on it. Best of luck, Ellen!