Re: New collapsible Elmar-M, old collapsible Summicron.

["C.M. Fortunko" <fortunko@boulder.nist.gov>]

Gerard,

You make the comment that the hood from the new Elmar 50mm lens can be used
on the collapsible Summicron. This is certainly true. However, please notice
that there used to be a hood for the older 50mm lenses that was also
circular, but at least twice as long as the new hood. 

In my opinion, there must be something to this. I was never comfortable with
the hood on the newest Summicrons and Elmars. May be these lenses have
much-improved coatings and do not need extreme hoods. However, this answer
does not completely satisfy me.

Can anyone comment on this?

Best of Light,

Chris


At 05:17 PM 4/20/96 +0200, you wrote:
>> If you need the collapsing feature and are considering both speed and
>optical quality, >choosing between the collapsible Summicron and the new
>Elmar may not be easy. I >would be very interested in any comparisons
>between these two lenses.
>
>You are right, if you need a compact 50mm lens plus speed, there is only the
>old collapsible Summicron. I happen to have also the old Summicron on which
>John van Stelten did a super job (recoating + CLA) so I have been able to
>compare. The Summicron from 1953 is very sharp but delivers its sharpness at
>low contrast levels compared to recent Leica glass (contrast is far more
>important than sharpness for the visual quality of the final image).
>
>At 2.8 there is approximately one full photographic paper contrast gradation
>between the new Elmar and the old Summicron. Especially at 2.0 but also at
>2.8, the old Summicron renders contrast poorly. The recoating definitively
>improved performance at 2.0 but cannot compensate the much higher number of
>glass/air surfaces (Summicron 12, Elmar 6). Its something like looking
>through 12 windows, one after another, versus looking through 6. Like the
>Elmar, the Summicron is at its best at 5.6.
>
>I guess that if 2.0 is an absolute must, go for the Summicron, increasing
>development somewhat (B&W). At all other apertures, the 2.8 Elmar is
>preferable. The hood from the new Elmar can be used on the Summicron,
>replacing the massive original barndoor construction.
>
>Gerard Captijn,
>Geneva, Switzerland.
>Fax: +41 (22) 700 39 28.
>
>
>