Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/14

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Subject: Re: [Leica] bokeh, Nocti and otherwise [was: NOCTILUX-M f/1/50 mm]
From: Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 15:37:36 -0600 (Central Standard Time)

> > Guy
> 
> Yeah, I was thinking about that. I was looking at getting a older piece
> of Leica glass for my IIIc, to do some b/w 1930's looking work. Just
> can't make up my mind if it's going to be a Summitar or Summarit. Elmars
> are a little too slow for my taste. I'm going to take a wild guess here
> and say the Summitar has more contrast than the Summarit? Sharpness may
> be about the same?

Feli, 
NOW you're talking about something that I can shed light on!!!--
I've spent several days looking at photos from--believe it or not--a 1950
Summitar!!!---both color (neg) and B&W....
I have also used the Summarit extensively.

  For "30s" or "old" looking 
stuff, you might try a Summar--preferably foggy or scratched....because 
the Summitar is WAY too good.  God, I was AMAZED that it was virtually 
identical in performance to my Summicron (much later, pre-current 50 'cron)

The "bokeh" of the summarit is TRUE, but ONLY at wide stops.  Unfortunately (!)
stopped down IT IS TOO GOOD, also!!! (looks like a summicron from f5.6 or so--
much better lens than it's reputation, BTW).

I'd go for a Summar, or an uncoated elmar...or "generic" lens from the LTM 
era (Marc, any ideas?)...I've found that the 50s leica gear is TOO good to 
tell much difference from current!!!...
Look for a "beater", it'll be cheap, and if you want it to look "old", it 
needs to be REALLY crappy....I guess Leica is just too good!!
Walt

> 
> feli
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