Leica LTM The joy of 50mm but do l really need to add a Summar

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Photon Harvester said:
I've read recently that psychologists purport to have proven that often when we're wrestlling with a decision we subconsciously have already made up our minds.
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Yeah, but I am a psychologist and at times I still go through this process myself. I might actually go ahead and buy the lens I'm obsessing about; but then again the matter might go into remission, temporarily or permanently. Then when I fell like it, I will go through it again, probably over a different lens next time. It's part of the fun. It's also a welcome distraction from basic existential angst.
 
Robert Lai said:
"Interference-based coatings were invented and developed in 1935 by Dr. Alexander Smakula, who was working for the Carl Zeiss optics company". (Wikipedia).

Dr. Smakula did invent modern coatings. However, the German government thought that it was so important as a military secret for the upcoming war that Mr. Hitler et al., were scheming up, that even Zeiss was not allowed to put coating on their lenses for commercial sale. These were only allowed to be put on military optics e.g. binoculars, rangefinders, gunsights, aerial camera lenses, etc.

After the war, German patents were nullified by the Allies, and everybody could coat their lenses at will.
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Hi,

I have a collection of 1920's and 1930's magazines and can remember reading in one of the 1930's ones about coatings improving transmission etc. An American company was doing it...

BTW, coating had been known about since the previous century, Harold Taylor was involved.

Regards, David
 
"Originally Posted by Photon Harvester I've read recently that psychologists purport to have proven that often when we're wrestlling with a decision we subconsciously have already made up our minds."

D.o.n.t. T.e.l.l. M.y. W.i.f.e.!
 
Rob-F said:
Yeah, but I am a psychologist and at times I still go through this process myself. I might actually go ahead and buy the lens I'm obsessing about; but then again the matter might go into remission, temporarily or permanently. Then when I fell like it, I will go through it again, probably over a different lens next time. It's part of the fun. It's also a welcome distraction from basic existential angst.
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The last sentence.....you are right but its not existential angst.......it's existential GAS.
 
Back to the Summar. I got one mounted on a nice IIIa. Had it and the camera CLA. It is unlike any other 50 I have, and is capable of good results with black and white film. It's low contrast wide open gave me the best photo I've taken of our black cat, and I've been taking cat pictures for a long time. It also turned in stellar results at a couple of fires I shot for our local volunteer fire company. If you plan to use it, get a hood. The adjustable Leica one for the Elmars works, as does the very cumbersome rectangular one made for the Summar. I didn't need it when I bought it but I'm glad I did.
 
Thanks for all the replies, a balanced argument but alas l have never let a good balanced debate get in the way of my GAS and thus a Summar is winging its was as l type, should be here this coming Friday:D Once again thanks for all the advice :cool: Serial number 409996, now have to remember where that link is to work out what year it dates from:)
 

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lxmike said:
Thanks for all the replies, a balanced argument but alas l have never let a good balanced debate get in the way of my GAS and thus a Summar is winging its was as l type, should be here this coming Friday:D Once again thanks for all the advice :cool: Serial number 409996, now have to remember where that link is to work out what year it dates from:)
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Looks good please post some sample shots with it when it arrives and you have had a chance to take some photos. Reminds me to make some shots with my Summitar.

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Many thanks for all the replies will put some images up on its arrival and l intend a trip out this weekend
 
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