The Summarit: another roll

[raid]

Raid - the Summarit is not for me....the contrast is just too low for me...I wouldnt waste the coin....but I am sure others will disagree. I have used a coated Xenon and Summarit, and disliked both.... I like the Summitar better....

Dan

PS - here is what Erwin Puts says: "wide open, overall contrast is low with a smooth lowering of contrast when going from center to corners..........lens is flare prone at wider apertures......lens delivers a pleasant type of imagery with a smooth definition of fine details"

my real world translation: low contrast, flare-y, and medicore resolution....

My point is this....I can take a Summicron and mount a filter with vaseline on it, to mimic the Summarit....but the Summarit cant mimic the Summicron......

Dan,

I understand what you are saying here.
I like the lens as being a part of the history of 50mm lenses by Leitz.
It seems that when used in open shade, it performs very nicely.

Raid

 

[Ronald M]

Mine is clean and without scratches. I even added a UV and it my only lens that has one.

Yes the images are special, better than my equally clean Summitars. These will make me shoot film again after the thrill of the D200 wears off.

Most of what I see here is not what I get. Mine is actually better than I get with any sample of a version 1 `Lux I ever found.

 

[Ororaro]

Meleica,

Your own translation is way off. It seems you just like to dislike it. My Summarit which was CLA'd by Don at DAG is so good it gives my other lenses a serious challenge.

when I have the time and the will, I'll post a dozen of summarit shots. The resolution is outstanding (besides great boke and unique image rendition),

 

[raid]

Mine is clean and without scratches. I even added a UV and it my only lens that has one.

Yes the images are special, better than my equally clean Summitars. These will make me shoot film again after the thrill of the D200 wears off.

Most of what I see here is not what I get. Mine is actually better than I get with any sample of a version 1 `Lux I ever found.

Ronald,

This is good to know; this means that my sample is bad and needs checking.

Raid

 

[raid]

From the same roll, this image was taken with an I-50:

 

[Meleica]

as I said, I dont like it BUT, I shoot mostly color not B&W....so that may account for a lot of my opinion....as for the dreamy effect, yes, thats flare :>

different strokes for different folks...

Dan

 

[FrankS]

Sharp and contrasty you can get from almost any 50mm lens you pick up. The Summarit result is different/special. Would it be my only 50mm lens? No. But that's why I have more than a few 50mm lenses.

 

[foto_fool]

Raid - I have an M-mount Summarit off to DAG for a CLA tomorrow. He wants $120 for it. My beilef is you get what you pay for, so if you did not pay that for your first CLA maybe you should now. Ned seems to think his Summarit is pretty special after Don had his way with it. Ned - post some shots! I have a cleaner LTM Summarit - cleaning marks and a few bubbles, but no haze or dust - that I have shot a couple of rolls with, but they don't go to the lab until tomorrow or next week. Will post something when they come back.

- John

 

[Meleica]

like I said....different strokes...

but these types of images are what make me go blah on this lens


http://www.pbase.com/ivantpe/image/46982318

http://blog.so-net.ne.jp/natsumachi/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moogibang/513872909/in/pool-71035126@N00/

http://www.stuartrichardson.com/summarit-bokeh.jpg

http://blog.livedoor.jp/hiyrma/archives/cat_1095014.html

http://cuniacius2.exblog.jp/i13/

http://www9.wind.ne.jp/anrei/page-dat/g-3/g3-2.html

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~ohta2/family/kento/kento-smt5015-4c.jpg

http://dcslab.snu.ac.kr/~ilhwan/kongine/images/2005/12-family/051205-011.jpg


thats not to say one cant make very nice photos with this lens ( I like some of Raid's above ), but for color and bokeh, it does nothing for me....the flare and lack of contrast, coupled with the sometimes nauseating bokeh, make me pass....

Thanks
Dan

 

[raid]

Raid - I have an M-mount Summarit off to DAG for a CLA tomorrow. He wants $120 for it. My beilef is you get what you pay for, so if you did not pay that for your first CLA maybe you should now. Ned seems to think his Summarit is pretty special after Don had his way with it. Ned - post some shots! I have a cleaner LTM Summarit - cleaning marks and a few bubbles, but no haze or dust - that I have shot a couple of rolls with, but they don't go to the lab until tomorrow or next week. Will post something when they come back.

- John

John: I sent you a pm.

I simply don't know if anything is broken or damaged in my Summarit or if this is just a bad sample that I have here.

Raid

 

[Nick R.]

Raid, I think you got a bad sample. I wouldn't say this shot is too soft:

Link to larger copy: Link

 

[raid]

Nick,

I agree with you on this issue; what is wrong with my Summarit?
Could it be an internal glass problem?
Once I had a Caon 50/1.2 that did crazy stuff and I sent it off to DAG. It came back super sharp. He told me that an element had moved.

Raid

 

[Nick R.]

I don't know what's wrong with yours but for the price of a summarit you may be better off buying another one. Mine cost $190 in tiptop shape. I saw another nice one for $200 that same day. That's why I believe it's the best value in Leica glass (maybe not after this thread 🙂 )
This one was at f2 no sharpening:

Link to larger image:
Link

 

[raid]

Nick: I have had such thoughts myself. What if my lens will never be "tiptop" even after spending $120 on if for a CLA. Maybe I should use my sample as a dreamy lens ...

Raid