who likes collapsable lenses?

I like how some of them draw, but I really cant stand ergonomics. I've tried several and Summitar and Industar were my favorites, yet I hardly ever used them, so now I just have Industar for those rare moments I feel like having a coll. lens. Usually I prefer other lenses though.
 
Like you Joe, I have a black Elmar-M 50/2,8 and I love its compactness when being carried and its rendering. But the ergonomics when changing the aperture are somewhat clumsy compared to my other rigid 50s. I have owned many different collapsible 50s and, in terms of rendering alone, my favourite is the Elmar-M. If it weren't for my love of shooting in low available light, I would use it all the time.

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I only have one, a FED 50/3.5 that makes sterling pics so I'm real glad I have it. I'm more apt to put it one the FED 2 just to look at it because it just looks so good... but truth be told I don't use it that often preferring a regular non-collapsible.
 
I use a collapsible Summar on my Canon P, lovely results.

With a filter to protect and a hood for flare it is far from compact. It does not collapse fully into the body because of the Canon light baffles inside. I lost half a dozen shots last week when I forgot to uncollapse... There I am thinking "the focus is a bit stiff today" ah whoops!

I'm testing with a rigid Nikkor right now, this may become the live-on lens rather than the Summar just because of the ergonomics.

best
Alex
 
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I have the 50/2.8 Elmar-M and it's one of my favorite lenses. Lately I have been using it on my M8 and am pleased with the results. Otherwise, it usually lives on my M2.

Best regards,

Bob
 
I have the CV Heliar 50/3.5 and find it too fiddley. Joe... you are correct... the 50/3.5 with a filter and shade is bigger collapsed than the 50/2.5. And to be honest in practice, the 50/2.5 delivers negatives just as nice as the 50/3.5. And the ergonomics can be challenging.

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The one collapsible I would like to try is the Summicron...
 
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I love my collapsible summicron, the way it draws and the smooth operation. very compact when collapsed which is perfect for a small camera bag, or as additional lens to just put in your pocket.
 
I brought my collapsible L-Hexanon 50/2.4 with me on holiday and do shoot it quite a lot these days.

The ergonomics I do not particularly like, the lens still is quite big when collapsed, OTOH it is very stern when extended and aperture is a ring on the outside, so not that hard to set.

I'm looking forward to seeing results, I saw shots of another 50/2.4 by Ted and Roland and they were razorsharp, even wide open.
 
I love my collapsible Summicron 50, as in it's collapsed state, It makes the camera thin enough to easily slide in a jacket pocket, or hang from a beltclip.

And the pictures are great too...
 
Hex 50/2.4 and Industar 22. Great lenses, both. Love the pocketability with the industar. Not sure how much space I really save with the hexanon, though.
 
marduk said:
By the way, you can't collapse the Summitar and other collapsibles into GF1 and E-P1, can you?
Click to expand...

I can collapse my Summicron on my E-P1 - the rear element doesn't poke out further than the rim of the adapter. i'm not sure about other lenses; it'll entirely depend on how far back the rear lens juts out.
 
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OK, if other people post photos, here are two of the Hex 50/2.4. Essentially a flare-proof modern Summicron, but collapsible .... None of this "Character" stuff of the old Elmars 🙂

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Roland.
 
NathanJD said:
I can collapse my Summicron on my E-P1 - the rear element doesn't poke out further than the rim of the adapter. i'm not sure about other lenses; it'll entirely depend on how far back the rear lens juts out.
Click to expand...
Good to hear that. I didn't handle a collapsible Summicron but the Summitar's rear element protrudes rather deeply into camera body though not as deep as collapsible Elmar 90/4.
 
I liked the collapsible I-50 I had more for the way my photos looked than for the collapsibility. And I want an early, uncoated 50mm Elmar but again; for the look more than the form factor.
With the cameras I'm using now--Bessa R and R2a--most of the collapsible lenses won't so there isn't any volume/size advantage. When I had the Zorki and the Canon IV SB2, the I-50 made for a nice compact machine.
I guess I'm neutral about 'em.
For now, the rigid I-50 has been my primary 50mm lens. No size savings but it is very light weight.
Rob
 
I have a number of collapsibles, the most used being my new era Elmar 50/2.8. I'm a sucker for a Tessar style lens and this one fits the bill. The VC Heliar 50/3.5 really does have a little something special if you get a chance to use it.

Longer focal lengths don't get much play in this discussion but I cam tell you that the Elmar 90/4 collapsible is a surprisingly strong performer. I've used it for travel here and there and have been very pleased with the results.

My absolute favorite collapsible was the Anistigmat 50mm on the Leica O-Series from around 2000. The lens had a very unique character... I wish it would reappear in an M-Mount.
 
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