Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/08/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ric, The Sumitar is about as good as the first generation Summicron with the Summicron having a flatter field. You will find that the older Summicron that you have is the first version where they were trying to take dollars out of the lens and therefore it really is only modestly better than the Summitar and that would be from the better coatings. Where you want a modern more micro-contest image you will find the latest Summicron to give you that look. So, where size and weight matter take the Summitar and either use a good hood or try not to shoot in high flare situations. For the best of both worlds, track down a Zeiss 1.5 Sonnar or its Russian clone. Very nice image, good contrast, and very small; frequently available from $60 to $300 depending on whether Russian or Zeiss aus Jena. Don The other fifty collector who now has three versions of the Summitar and I think six versions of the Summicron now. On 8/20/06, Ric Carter <ricc@mindspring.com> wrote: > > Okay, I now there are several 50s freaks out there. > > No, not as in baby boomers or as in Bill Haley fans;^) ? I mean 50mm > lens afficianados. > > I didn't much care a 50 until I started using Leica. I have become > quite attached to them though. > > Without intention, I find myself with three 50s now: a Summitar LTM > (980 xxx Wetzlar), a second generation 'Cron (209x xxx Wetzlar ~'65-6 > chrome), and a fifth version 'Cron (316x xxx Canada ~'81-2 black). > > I understand the size advantages of the Summitar collapsed and that > it's not a bad performer. > > I am just now starting using the chrome second version. I am more > accustomed to the black fifth (my first leica lens). So far, the most > disturbing thing about the older version is the infinity lock which > bugs me on distant focusing by locking at inopportune times. It just > seems something else to distract. I have not yet shot enough to > distinguish performance differences. > > Anyway, what are your ideas on the relative virtues of each of these? > Are there advantages to each? Is there a time to use one over the other? > > Thanks for any thoughts you folks may have. > > Ric Carter > http://gallery.leica-users.org/Passing-Fancies > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >