lxmike
M2 fan.
dabick42
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The 50 f3.5 Elmar M is unchanged optically from its 'red scale' LTM predecessor, which in turn was a slight optical improvement on the original Elmar with which the Leica became famous.
It's a good lens but not a great lens by the standards of today.
I use the red scale variety, also the coated and uncoated originals on my LTM cameras and get very pleasing results in black/white and colour print film.
If you like the 'vintage' look, you'll like this lens.
Every Leica owner should have a copy.
It's the lens that gave birth to the legend... !
It's a good lens but not a great lens by the standards of today.
I use the red scale variety, also the coated and uncoated originals on my LTM cameras and get very pleasing results in black/white and colour print film.
If you like the 'vintage' look, you'll like this lens.
Every Leica owner should have a copy.
It's the lens that gave birth to the legend... !
lxmike
M2 fan.
thankyou its the vintage look I'm after
rodt16s
Well-known
A great sleeper lens.. and I actually it prefer over the 2.8 version.
It's a bit fiddly to adjust the aperture ring, especially with the hood fitted (which if you haven't got, get one)
It's a bit fiddly to adjust the aperture ring, especially with the hood fitted (which if you haven't got, get one)
Erik van Straten
Mentor
The M-mount Elmar 50mm f/3.5 is a great lens and, what is more, mechanically much better than the original Elmar screw mount.
It is extremely sharp with moderate contrast, perfect for B+W.
Leica M2, Elmar 50mm f/3.5, Tmax400.
Erik.
It is extremely sharp with moderate contrast, perfect for B+W.
Leica M2, Elmar 50mm f/3.5, Tmax400.
Erik.
Jerevan
Recycled User
Erik,
you really know how to make that ol' Elmar sing.
In what way is the M version mechanically better? Or do you mean the haptics? Strangely enough I can live with (and enjoy) the infinity lock on the '51 ltm Elmar, but I borrowed an early rigid Summicron from a friend, and gosh do I get annoyed by the lock on that lens!
you really know how to make that ol' Elmar sing.
In what way is the M version mechanically better? Or do you mean the haptics? Strangely enough I can live with (and enjoy) the infinity lock on the '51 ltm Elmar, but I borrowed an early rigid Summicron from a friend, and gosh do I get annoyed by the lock on that lens!
ChipMcD
Well-known
Untitled by AmSteinsgraben, on Flickr
Sorry for re-post. This was taken with an Elmar f3.5 LTM ca. 1949 vintage, probably at f5.6 or f8 on Eastman Double X. It's a nice lens, but no comparison to a modern Summicron or probably an Elmar-M f 2.8. Fun though.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I like what the Elmars produce. My first Leicas were the IIc and IIf with Elmar 5.0 and 3.5 cm f/3.5 lenses. Can't say where my negatives from those lenses are at this point in time.
Last October, I had occasion to use my friend's uncoated Elmar 5.0cm f/3.5 ... a pre-WWII example dating to about '32 IIRC ... fitted to the GXR. A couple of still life shots with this lens reminded me how lovely its imaging can be:
A good rule of thumb to remember is that quality images are not always just about sharpness and contrast ... ;-)
Last October, I had occasion to use my friend's uncoated Elmar 5.0cm f/3.5 ... a pre-WWII example dating to about '32 IIRC ... fitted to the GXR. A couple of still life shots with this lens reminded me how lovely its imaging can be:
A good rule of thumb to remember is that quality images are not always just about sharpness and contrast ... ;-)
dabick42
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@ Godfrey ---- Nice still lifes !
Perhaps a little too tightly cropped, but still very pleasant images nevertheless.
Good examples from a good lens !
Perhaps a little too tightly cropped, but still very pleasant images nevertheless.
Good examples from a good lens !
drew.saunders
Well-known
I recently picked up a 5cm/3.5 Elmar in M mount for my M6TTL. I've not shot too many pics with it, but haven't gotten any flare on a bright day, and I'm happy with the results. Here's the best of the few I've taken with that lens:
The only thing that bugs me about it is that changing the aperture will shift the focus, unless you hold the focus tab with your finger. That might be how all lenses of that era work, this is my first pre-1970 lens for Leica.
You should have a lot of fun with it. Enjoy!
The only thing that bugs me about it is that changing the aperture will shift the focus, unless you hold the focus tab with your finger. That might be how all lenses of that era work, this is my first pre-1970 lens for Leica.
You should have a lot of fun with it. Enjoy!
Erik van Straten
Mentor
The mount is far more solid and the f-stop is on a ring, no longer a tiny tab wich causes fingerprints on the lens.
Erik.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Hassle-free use of clamp-on filters.
dabick42
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@ Erik ----- The Leitz VALOO combined lenshood / aperture change ring is a very useful, almost essential fitment to overcome the ''fingerprint'' problem, I've found.
I'm surprised that Leitz never made more of them, as they're rarely seen for sale nowadays.
I'm surprised that Leitz never made more of them, as they're rarely seen for sale nowadays.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
The 50mm f3.5 Elmar is a great, compact lens - I too prefer it to the 50f2.8 v1 - seems sharper at close in shots. However you will need a hood on it as it is a bit flare prone.
"Frozen Water #7" - a massive stainless steel sculpture in Vanier Park here in Vancouver. Designed as a perfect test object for films and lenses. Acros 100 and Beutler developer (1:1:10 - 7 min).
Jerevan
Recycled User
The Elmar-M 50/3.5 can use 39 mm filters, which is also a plus. I think they are rarer than the 2.8 version - I seldom see then for sale.
Erik van Straten
Mentor
Yes, there are only two batches, one with serial numbers starting with 11XXXXX and the other with 13XXXXX. The lenses of the batch 13XXXXX sometimes have raised red dots, the others have just a small red painted circle.
The VALOO is very handy in the darkroom, but so ugly and heavy on a camera.
Erik.
Biggles
My cup runneth amok.
What slip-on hood diameter do those take?
Biggles
My cup runneth amok.
Untitled by AmSteinsgraben, on Flickr
Sorry for re-post. This was taken with an Elmar f3.5 LTM ca. 1949 vintage, probably at f5.6 or f8 on Eastman Double X. It's a nice lens, but no comparison to a modern Summicron or probably an Elmar-M f 2.8. Fun though.
Dear sir: There's nothing about this picture that doesn't make me want one of these lenses.
Harry Lime
Practitioner
The optical formula of the Red Scale is no different than the standard Elmar dating back to the original. What changed with the red scale was the glass type.
Erwin Puts did a test a while back, where he compared the Red Scale to a coated 'pedestrian' Elmar 3.5/50 and if I remember correctly he saw no difference. I'm not sure of that article is still on his site.
That said I really like the Elmar 3.5/50. It has a distinct look and is really nice in b/w.
Harry Lime
Practitioner
I believe there are two types of VALOO.
One is the rather large attachment that was intended for use in the darkroom, when using the Elmar as an enlarging lens.
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/VALOO
The other is a small ring with a notch that engages the aperture on the lens. This ring fits inside of the standard Elmar hood and allows for adjusting the aperture. They are somewhat rare and quite expensive. Most were probably thrown out, because they look like a washer of some sort.
One is the rather large attachment that was intended for use in the darkroom, when using the Elmar as an enlarging lens.
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/VALOO
The other is a small ring with a notch that engages the aperture on the lens. This ring fits inside of the standard Elmar hood and allows for adjusting the aperture. They are somewhat rare and quite expensive. Most were probably thrown out, because they look like a washer of some sort.