Summicron 50mm M

[raid]

Which version would you buy?
Is the Rigid Summicron inferior to more modern versions?
Which is your favorite Summicron M 50mm ?

 

[Doug]

Objectively (heh heh) the APO 50mm is surely the "best". It's the one I choose.

 

[raid]

It costs more than $2000.
This happens to be my budget now.

 

[Ccoppola82]

I still love the rigid. It’s good enough for me that I don’t think a newer version would add much for me

 

[raid]

I line this comment! I feel pretty much the same way as my mist modern Leica 50mm lens is a rigid Summicron. I am curious if later versions really are much better somehow.

 

[Montag]

My most modern version (v5) focuses closer (0.7m) than the 1m of my type 1 rigid. The colour representation is more accurate and vivid as well. I like both. All 50mm lenses are good, all the 50mm lenses is the best 🙂

 

[Ko.Fe.]

For what? I went from Collaprible through all to type 4 formula (same as 5).
Collapsible was amazing on bw film, after it... just no name lenses. Well, type 3 is more less OK.
Starting from Rigid I was checking focus shift on M-E. Type 4 was worse, 3 is less, Rigid was the best. But Planar 50 ZM simply has none.
On digital Rigid was showing nice retro colors, but not too much of the retro and it was sharp.
Type 4 was best lens for color on M-E.
Type 3 is close to it.
I liked Rigid on C-41 and E6, it has very special sharp, but gentle rendering. Type 3 and 4 were also good. But less sharp.
Type 4 has crappy flare or vail.
I didn't CLA'd collapsible, it came cleaned from known good person. Rigid, type 3 and 4... I'm not impressed how they were made. Rigid is OK, but 3 and 4...

So, after using all of them, except APO and DR (same formula with Rigid), I would answer - collapsible for BW film, Rigid for color film and digital M.

PS. Here is thread on RFF, showing Clrons 50 focus shifts and vail is also known. So, it is not just me. Same for type 4 been sterile lens on BW film, but it is on rangefinder.ru

 

[raid]

There is a v5 Summicron for sale. It is titanium finish.

 

[Brianmc86]

I first bought a collapsible Summicron M and loved it. Then read that the Rigid & DR Summicrons are better, so I bought a DR Summicron and loved it too. And now I'm reading that the V4/V5 Summicron are even better than Rigid/DR Summicrons, so I guess I need to buy that too. The quest for the best continues...

 

[Brianmc86]

My most modern version (v5) focuses closer (0.7m) than the 1m of my type 1 rigid. The colour representation is more accurate and vivid as well. I like both. All 50mm lenses are good, all the 50mm lenses is the best 🙂

I believe one benefit of a Rigid is the ability to unscrew the top portion of the lens and attach it to a close focusing mount to get focusing down to ~0.5m. I have one of the SOOKY-M's for my collapsible Summicron and I've always wondered if the V5 can also unscrew and work on the SOOKY-M

 

[raid]

I may just get a made in China 50/1.2 replica. Maybe my old rigid Summicron is good enough.

 

[Beemermark]

The current version is the sharpest, color correct, least distortion of any lens. The ASPH might be better but I have to believe you couldn't see it on film or my old M9.

 

[Ccoppola82]

Just stick with the Rigid 🙂 your images are always fantastic and the lens is damn sharp. I tested my copy against a few other 50s and I liked the overall package the best. They really nailed it with that lens.

 

[DwF]

Raid,

I agree w ccoppola, you do really well with the Rigid. Maybe try the Zeiss 50 Sonnar
f1.5 or CV F1.5 Nokton. You will spend less, get a different look and shallower dof.

David

 

[Richard G]

Who carries your gear? The rigid and the DR are heavier than a version 4 (black).

 

[santino]

The current version (non ASPH) is superb. Even at f2 !
But: don‘t pay too much for a 50. The truth is there are no bad 50mm lenses nowadays. Just stick with your rigid Summicron.

 

[TenEleven]

I agree with everything Kosta has said. The Rigid V1 would be my pick and is also the "budget" version out of the other rigid versions. Only the collapsible is cheaper here. It's a 50mm so close focus is not really that much of a concern for me.

I want to add, that the collapsible while it has an amazing tonality, also has slight barrel distortion in the corners. I also never felt fully at peace with the collapsing mechanism. (I have the same issue with Contax collapsible lenses .. mhmm) I ended up getting rid of mine and keeping my LTM Rigid Summicron 50.

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

I have a type 4 which I find more flare resistant than the type 5 which I sold. I also like the tiger claw. I had an “M” collapsible and sold it keeping my LTM collapsible so I can use it on the Barnack Leicas I have. As was said, the collapsible is hard to beat for B&W, technically not perfect, but a top performer for what I like to see.

 

[Archiver]

My only Summicron is the 50mm V5, before the APO. It's one of my favourite and most used lenses. The optical formula is the same as from decades ago, but it's great. Beautifully sharp wide open, decent bokeh, very nice size and handling. The bokeh can be a little busy sometimes, but overall it is a super lens. I'd love to try the APO, though.

 

[David Hughes]

I think these threads should be banned. All they do is make people dis-satisfied. I don't take photo's and then print them at 24 by 36 and go over them with a micrometer, microscope or anything except my eyes.

If you look long enough and are egged on by the bystanders then you can find fault with anything. And once you get on that slippery slope all the fun goes out of life.

People seem to forget that 8 or 9 out of 10 is a good score.

Regards, David