Summicron DR or M-Hexanon 50/2?

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Renzsu

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I was looking around for an affordable 50 for my M6 and found these two quite interesting. You hear a lot about the f/1.2 M-Hexanons, but not much about the much more affordable f/2..

How do these two lenses compare (cron DR vs. Hex. f/2)? One is much newer than the other, maybe one more classic looking and the other sharper?
 
The DR is the ultimate classic looking. It's build quality is amazing and I enjoy the photos it produces. I finally got a pair of the "eyes" and having fun with that. I don't have any experience with the Hexanon 50/2.

Color (KR):

3478901666_39418e2e21.jpg



Wide open:

3203188584_6bd1b2ed9c.jpg


Closeup with the "Eyes":

4168301652_92e5cae634.jpg
 
After using both I'd say the DR has slightly less contrast but no less sharper. The DR stop down to f4-5.6 is very very sharp.

The Hex got a built-in hood, which is nice, and is a bit lighter than the DR.
 
I used to have two DR Summicrons, which I liked a lot for BW but both time sold them because I found them to heavy for a f/2.0 lens. Now I have the 50/2.0 M-Hexanon, which is incredible sharp and has very good contrast already from f/2.0. Since I am not a big fan of lenses with high contrast (and I also have a 40/2.0 M-Rokkor CLE that renders quite similar) I am thinking about selling my 50/2.0 M-Hexanon.

Here a sample shot from my former DR SUmmicron:

2399273963_c5620a7780_o.jpg


and here from the 50/2.0 M-Hexanon

3946273885_cba932effd_o.jpg
 
I used to have both lens. DR has less contrast, which may simply due to age and haze/scratches. But it has unique characters. The imagines are very smooth, like "pocelain". It is very hard to find one in real nice condition. Also as others mentioned, it is very heavy.
Hexanon is always good choice.
 
They're very different, the DR is smaller and heavier, takes 39mm filters, and often comes with paired goggles. You need to watch out for haze. The Hexanon has more contrast, is less susceptible to flare, and has a slide-out hood. It takes 40.5mm filters. The Summicron (at least in the center) should be as sharp as the Hex and is probably sharper stopped down. The biggest difference is in the signature/look and that's where I'd decide. Take a look on flickr for yourself, personally I like the look of the low contrast/vintage rigid/DR Summicron but you may prefer the crisper more modern look of the Hex. Both great lenses, apples and oranges really so a tough choice.
 
I've owned both. If I shot a high % of B&W, I'd take the cron. Otherwise, the hex. I find the bokeh of the cron just about perfect, btw.
 
I've had both & still have the Hexanon & a "rigid" (i.e., non-Dual Range) Summicron, & think you got it right in your last question: all other things (lighting, film, etc.) being equal, the DR gives a "classic" 1950s (lower contrast, more flary, though my DR was pretty flare-resistant for an old-school lens) look & the Hexanon, which I believe has the same optical design of the modern 50/2 Summicrons, has a more modern (higher contrast, less flary) look. I think this is more apparent when shooting @ larger apertures, like wide-open or close to it, & in more challenging light conditions (high contrast, shooting into strong light sources, etc.). You might not see much of a difference if you're going to be shooting @ f/8 all the time in nice light.

Some DR & Rigid shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/tags/leitz5cm2summicrondualrangec1959/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/tags/leitz5cm2summicronrigidc1956/

Some 50/2 Hexanon shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/tags/konica502mhexanonc2001/


As a side-note, I recently picked up a Cosina Voigtlander 50/2 Heliar Classic from an RFF member, & think that may be a nice combination of a classic design w/modern coatings (we'll see what the film shows!).

Renzsu said:
How do these two lenses compare (cron DR vs. Hex. f/2)? One is much newer than the other, maybe one more classic looking and the other sharper?
Click to expand...
 
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You've picked two of the best 50mm lenses in photography, so you can't go wrong. As stated, the DR is heavy, the Hex is smaller & lighter. I prefer the look of Leica glass in most cases. It sometimes has a more 3-D look, depending on the shot. The DR's contrast will be determined by how clean it is. It's an old lens. But contrast is easy to increase afterward, a little harder to make less unless you're inkjet printing. I doubt only us obsessive types would even see the differences in the lenses.

The thing about the DR is it can give a real old tyme look to a photo. Mine did now and again. The times it would do it weren't determined by me, sometimes it would just decide to give a photo that screamed LEICA. The pic of the ducks and the pier pilings for instance. Almost looks like they're cutouts on the print. Odd, but I like it.
 
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I'm going to chime in with a vote for the Leica lens on build-quality. As for the look of the images, Hex is modern, DR Summicron is more "classic" (whatever that means). Edge in contrast will go to the Hex with its modern coatings. If it was me, I'd get the 'cron. Oh, wait, I already have both. Nahh. I'd still get the 'cron.

Ben Marks
 
The DR is lower contrast as has been said. At f2, its center resolution is higher than that of Hexanon and modern Summicron. But across the field the modern lenses are sharper. At f4 and up they are all pretty much the same.

But, the DR has very, very pretty bokeh. So you can use it very effectively wide open for portraits (and the center punch helps), and at f2.8 and up for B+W landscapes.

WRT built quality, the DR is the best M mount lens that I have used. The DR (or rigid) is one of the "must have" classic lenses of all time, IMO. Watch for haze and use a hood (12585 for example).

Roland.
 
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Amazing how much feedback I got in half a day, thank you so much everybody!
I find all the images posted also very useful.

I also just bought an M-Rokkor 40mm f/2, basically because of its size and focal length and I got a great deal on one.

I will have to give this some more thought, I like the classic look of the DR, but the practicality and age of the Hexanon might win me over.
 
I have both and prefer the Summicron. I had it serviced by Malcolm Taylor which included a new front element since then it has more contrast. I love everything about the lens and it fits beautfully with my M3

Here's a one post service.

U22513I1257543972.SEQ.0.jpg
 
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Why not just get the black V3 (69'-79') 50 Summicron? Lighter than the DR, focuses to 28" and it's signature look is somewhat between the classic DR and modern higher contrast look of the Hexanon or current Summicron. It's the last of the Wetzlar 50 Summicrons, so build quality is superb and there are no soft coating or haze issues like the DR.
 
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