Zeiss 50mm f2 Planar T* vs 'Cron

Trius said:
Ben: That is really interesting about the DR. Not to go OT, but did DAG make any comment about this being "standard" for the DR? . . . . Rather, it sounds like that particular DR was out that minute amount.
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Trius: I think your second statement is correct. What Don said was that he had seen this occaisionally in the past where a lens seems to check out, but does not quite give proper focus. No, I don't think it is a general issue at all -- it sounded like this was a one-off. Now for all I know 9/1000 of an inch may be a mountain in camera-machining-tolerance terms; but it seemed like this was a minor tweak on an otherwise precision instrument. Incidentally, the head of the DR screws off for use with a Visoflex and the "base" and the lens-head should have the same serial number. Mine do, but it suggests that a slight variation in the parts is, at least theoretically, possible during manufacture.

I had sent Don the DR 50 because I most often shoot with a tabbed Summicron and felt that I could do without the DR, while Don was adjusting the camera. I thought a 50 was a 50 was a 50 (particularly within the same brand of lenses). Because Don had adjusted the RF in my RD-1 to this lens in particular, I got great results from the combo and they were hardly parted until the winter started and I began reaching for faster glass. That's when I noticed the focus issue and did some testing. Incidentally, the focus for the other 50's I listed (at f:2 and at f:2.8 for the Elmarit) was very, very close and it was the virtual agreement of all these lenses OTHER than the DR that led me to send it back to Don for inspection and tweaking.

Ben
 
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Many rave about the look of the planar and its wonderful bokeh and others say the same about the summicron...I dont think you can lose on either. In fact I cannot imagine that you could be anything other than please with either. If buying both new, the cost surely has to weigh in somewhere. The ZMs are wonderfully solid and smooth too. Do not believe that the detractors who would have you believe that they are not up to Leica standards. Mine are in build terms and peformance so fast has been great. I guess only time will tell if they stay that way.
 
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