summicron 50 Is there a version 4?

[jasperamsterdam]

Hi,

After shooting with a summic 40 for a while on my recent first rf , the m6, i find myself looking for a 50mm. i bought the summitar 50mm 2.0 but find the collapsing cumbersome and the "oldskool" quality and not ideal. (i will put in on for sale, its clean so im if your interested)

So without further ado i was going for the 50mm summicron, arguably the best 50mm ever made..

I'm looking at minty '78 version 3, black. Now there seems to be a difference in opinion if the design had a later update (version 4?)

See here conflicting opions, Putts seems to be a serious guy, and says even the current version is the same as '69, but dcolucci says the designs changed in '79
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/summicron.htm
http://www.imx.nl/photo/lenstest/leica_m_summicron_50mm_comp.html



I'm looking for the modern lens, so also i thought about the new summarit (cool and compact!) but prices used are still high.. Any other recommandations?

 

[Shac]

As far as I know there the following optical versions:
V1 – collapsible – 7 elements – chrome on brass – released in 1953
V2 – Rigid & DR – same optics as each other 7 elements – different from V1 – chrome or black paint on brass – released in 1957
V3 – 6 elements – anodized black aluminium – released in 1969
V4 - 7 elements but not same as V1 or 2. Released in 1979 V 4 originally came with a separate hood and a tab for focussing all but one special version was anodized black aluminium. The special was chrome on brass. The most up to date model of V 4 has a built-in hood and no focussing tab – optics identical. It came/comes in chrome on brass or anodized black aluminium.

If you go to Erwin Puts’s site and look for the “download” tab – you can obtain a pretty comprehensive list/description of Leica glass & if you wish contribute a few $$ or whatever ion exchange.

However, I stand ready to be corrected 🙂>)
Hope this helps.
David

 

[Shac]

PS - all versions are excellent - some recommend the V3 as the best value for $$ in a modern version but I have used only the rigid/DR and the tabbed V4 - v. happy with both. I also have a summitar and find it excellent

 

[35mmdelux]

I would get the latest with the extendable hood whatever version this might be.

 

[ferider]

Per Lager:

1) 11116 / SOOIC-M (7el, 1954/collapsible)
2) 11118 / SOOIC-MS (7el, 1956/chrome rigid); later (1961) also available as 11117 in black. Same
optical formula in Dual Range barrel, known as 11318 / SOOIC-MN / SOMNI (starting 1956)
3) 11817 (6el, 1969 - 1978)
4) 11819 (6el, 1979 -, recomputed 11817, 28" min focus). Many mechanical variations (hood, tabs, etc).

These are the 4 optical variations. Lager shows diagrams.

In contrast to the 35/2, the 50/2 v4 has 6 elements.

Best,

Roland.

 

[Shac]

Ferider is correct - V4 is 6 elements but different from V4. But the V 3 was recomputed for closer focussing from 3' 4" to 28"