Summitar 50 mm 2.0 VS NOkton 50mm

[fernandez_diez]

I,m considering to buy a 50 mm lens. In the market I saw the summitar 50 mm f2 with a price "cheap", about 200-275 $ in good condition, even cheaper than Nokton 50m.
Is summitar a "bad" len.?
Is one "absolutely" better than the other , or simply differents.
Your oppinion, Which to buy? It is clear that I can,t buy a summicron 50 mm. I saw a summitar 1,5 gret condition , 275$, Is it good price?
Regards

 

[ZebGoesZeiss]

Personal opinion warning :
Some people would tell you that they are "different". In my mind there is no doubt that the Nokton is head and shoulders above the Summitar. If this is your first 50mm lens, I would go with the Nokton.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Is a No. 2 pencil better than a blue fountain pen? It really depends. Really.

And yes, $275 for a Summitar in great condition is a good price. Four years ago would have been way over the top, but the past four years...ay ay ay

 

[kbg32]

It depends what you are looking for Fernandez. The Nokton is head and shoulders above the Summitar is terms of contrast and sharpness. It's a great lens. The Summitar has a different look. Less sharpness and contrast, but it may surprise you by the images it makes.

 

[Dektol Dan]

If you are taking pictures of 'things', and don't care about even tonality go for the Nokton. If you are shooting people, like the National Geographic glow, and like a lens that works great with modern color negative films and is easy to scan go for the Summitar.

But remember! Although some 200,000 Summitars were made, German quality control was piss poor right after the war (some were made WAY better than others), they were using up old parts from the 30's Summar, the glass was soft and hazes, and (in a word) there aren't very many nice ones left out there. But if you find a really good one you will be in love forever and the Nokton will be just another lens.

What a Summitar makes:

 

[fernandez_diez]

OH, I don,t know what is this "surprise". I don,t know this lens.
Really I like sharpness, mainly because I will shoot B/N film and scan it. The contrast could be made with photoshop work.
I use to shoot colour pics with my panasonic L C1, but BN pics I prefer to reserv this "magic" moment to my Zeiss ZM
Really I,m confused becased I have got two chances, A summitar 724577 50 mm 1.5 or summarit 50 mm 1.5 nº1528xxx
Help.

 

[ZebGoesZeiss]

What a Summitar makes:

You mean, like "images"? Nice pictures and all, but I can't really see anything "special"?

 

[former member]

For black and white work, the lower contrast of the Summitar and Summarit are probably better than a modern high-contrast lens. You can always add contrast with Photoshop, but you cannot restore what has been lost do to clipping- as can happen with a high-contrast lens.

The Summitar and Summarit tend to get an internal haze and require cleaning every 15~20 years or so. Check the lens carefully before buying.

Lately, my favorite lens has become the collapsible Summicron. You should be able to find one in the $200 to $300 range. Do not be afraid of some cleaning marks on the front element. Internal haze can adversely effect images, but a few cleaning marks will not hurt it.

My late Summitar, post-war coated, ~1950 vintage:

Wide open at F2

Tight Crop:

Collapsible Summicron, also at F2:

Tight Crop:

And a real picture with the Collapsible Summicron wide-open:

 

[fernandez_diez]

Brian, as we say here, in Spain: "the most clear, the water", it is a coloquial expression to say that your reason is absolutely truth and convincent.
This example is very clear.
Perhaps it is better to save a little bit of money and buy a summicron.

 

[Athos6]

I decided to get both, I'm interested to see how the Summitar works out.

 

[payasam]

No contest.