starsailor
... needs some lenses!
Hello!
Looking for a 50mm lens I recognized that the (old?) collapsible summicrons are offered much cheaper than the (newer?) non collapsibles. Is there a real dealbreaker for the collapsibles (I know that I will have to pay attention with collapsing in my bessa). Is there an improved optical performance with the non collapsibles? What would be a fair deal for a good collapsible/ non collapsible?
starsailor
Looking for a 50mm lens I recognized that the (old?) collapsible summicrons are offered much cheaper than the (newer?) non collapsibles. Is there a real dealbreaker for the collapsibles (I know that I will have to pay attention with collapsing in my bessa). Is there an improved optical performance with the non collapsibles? What would be a fair deal for a good collapsible/ non collapsible?
starsailor
Austerby
Well-known
The newer versions are improved but many like the look of the older lenses. Condition is everything - older lenses are inevitably more likely to have faults than newer ones.
A good old lens can certainly compare very well to a good modern lens in many respects - so if you can find a good one at a low price then go for it with confidence.
I like the look of the older lenses and my collapsible summicron is a favourite amongst my set. I've owned and since sold newer summicrons and summiluxes.
A good old lens can certainly compare very well to a good modern lens in many respects - so if you can find a good one at a low price then go for it with confidence.
I like the look of the older lenses and my collapsible summicron is a favourite amongst my set. I've owned and since sold newer summicrons and summiluxes.
The collapsible Summicrons are prone to coating damage and inner haze. A good one is within a hair of the Rigid Summicrons.
See this thread for examples with a near-perfect Summicron, and those that are damaged.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81311
Do not get one that has suffered from radiation damage, even though it will cost more.
See this thread for examples with a near-perfect Summicron, and those that are damaged.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81311
Do not get one that has suffered from radiation damage, even though it will cost more.
Well that thread was moved out of the optics section to the Leica Screw Mount section. It had an early M-Mount Summicron, early LTM with Thorium glass, and late Summicron in M-Mount, talked about radiation damage and coating damage effecting color rendition, Rigid M-Mount Summicron vs Collapsible Summicrons. And a Summar and Sonnar for comparison. Thought that seemed somewhat appropriate and technical enough. Guess I was wrong so I deleted it.
Photo's with the late near-mint collapsible Summicron, recoated Summicron, radiation damaged Summicron, Rigid Summicron, Summar, and Sonnar from the deleted thread are here:
http://ziforums.com/album.php?albumid=157
http://ziforums.com/album.php?albumid=157