Summicron 50 V3 or V4?

[nobbylon]

I dislike focus tabs so kept using the V3. I could never tell the difference between photos.

 

[d_c]

I prefer focus tabs - you can use them wearing gloves, and you get a sense of where the lens is focused without needing to look, so for me the v.4 is prefereable to either v.3 or v.5.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I guess, focus tab is easy to add to V3 with 3M auto tape. I read how some other lenses where done this way.

I'm very happy now after posts from happy and nightfly at the end on the previos page. Now I know here is nothing wrong with my ELC V4 and if it goes wrong here is fix for it 🙂

 

[creenus]

Having finally printed some black-and-white HP5 concert photos with my Version III, I am very happy with the results. Sharp and contrasty. Great little lens.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I let v4 go. Its odd flaring, very soft aperture clicks and it did feel right. Plus, absolutely no character on BW prints.
V3 adds something interesting to the prints. It has focus throw as long as on Summar. With focus tab (cable tie) it is at noon on 0.7m. But it is easy to scale focus with tab added, intuitive between infinity and 1.5 meters.
But lens itself feels nice. Very proportional.
Focus is too stiff. I have entire focus block cleaned and relubed. Inner part of focus helicoid is aluminum.
The problem is with retaining ring which holds RF cam in place. Once this retaing ring is fully screwed, focus becomes stiff.

 

[lukx]

[...] Focus is too stiff. I have entire focus block cleaned and relubed. Inner part of focus helicoid is aluminum.
The problem is with retaining ring which holds RF cam in place. Once this retaing ring is fully screwed, focus becomes stiff.

Yes, I also found the retaining ring to be quite difficult to correctly adjust. Screw it in tight and the focusing is stiff or even seizes halfway through. Not tight enough and you must fear it coming loose over time and the rangefinder not being accurate anymore.

Also for mine, the lens block was seized in the helicoid and could not (by me) be unscrewed for servicing. Normally the block should seperate from the helicoid similar to the rigid Summicron. So the construction is a bit tricky. I had a thread about it a while ago. In the end I sold it cheaply and got another one.

The glass and image quality are top notch, I always loved the lens for its images.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yes, I also found the retaining ring to be quite difficult to correctly adjust. Screw it in tight and the focusing is stiff or even seizes halfway through. Not tight enough and you must fear it coming loose over time and the rangefinder not being accurate anymore.
....

This helped, thank you.


Thread size is very small on v3 helicoid tubes. If someone was adding wd-40 or lighter fluid, once it is dry it will be seized.