Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>[snip] >would YOU spend $350 or so for the Summarit, spend about the same on a new >spotless Nokton (under warranty) or just buy more film and use the Jupiter 3? > >Michael E. Berube Michael, I bought a SM Summarit last year for exactly that price, and have never regretted it. It is a fine lens and is capable of producing truly beautiful bokeh. It gives a "creamy" look to the oof areas of shots made wide open, and is no slouch when stopped down either. My one possible regret is that wide open, the contrast is not as well defined as with the contemporary Summicron 50, for example. I realize that Leica had some 30 years to perfect both the glass and the coatings during that time, so it is really not a fair comparison. I mention it only as "my one complaint." If I had to do it all over again, I'd still opt for the Summarit over the Nokton. While I'm sure the latter is a fine performer - perhaps even sharper and with higher contrast wide open - I like the look the Summarit is capable of producing, and also I wanted a lens that balanced well on my IIIF. The Nokton was too hefty for the smaller LTM body. I've also heard that the Nokton bokeh left something to be desired, and since I am one who appreciates the way in which creamy, smooth, unobtrusive oof areas enhance the in focus subject of the image, I opted for the Summarit. Let us know which lens you choose, and how well you like it. Guy