Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
If the scratches are just on the coating, I'd not worry about it one bit.
If it's the glass and the scratches are very fine lines less than a hair's width, I'd not really worry - you'd not see any meaningful degradation in the image. You'd probably need expensive equipment in an optical lab to detect any flaws.
More important is the condition of the rear element, along with the lens feeling solid when focusing or changing aperture.
If it's the glass and the scratches are very fine lines less than a hair's width, I'd not really worry - you'd not see any meaningful degradation in the image. You'd probably need expensive equipment in an optical lab to detect any flaws.
More important is the condition of the rear element, along with the lens feeling solid when focusing or changing aperture.
Derek Leath
dl__images Instagram
Derek Leath
dl__images Instagram
Ronald M
Mentor
All else being perfect, the corners at 2.0 from around 12 mm from center are soft. V2 is similar. Collapsible not as good at 2,28,4.0. This is a low contrast lens made for making slides.
If you can find the parts, the optical cell unscrews for use on copy stand/focoslide and enlarger.
contrast is boosted from v2 and I never noticed resolution loss.
ANY HASE AT ALL wrecks performance.
If you can find the parts, the optical cell unscrews for use on copy stand/focoslide and enlarger.
contrast is boosted from v2 and I never noticed resolution loss.
ANY HASE AT ALL wrecks performance.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Your collapsible was the lemon . I had one and it was good from wide open. BW darkroom prints where so good from it, I ditched MF gear. My collapsible was recently serviced.
Komm
Newbie
Hi everyone,
I've been reading this forum for some time, but haven't posted so far. Since I have a V3 that I love, I thought I'd share some pics with you.
I quite like the versatility of this lens, it works very well in both color and b&w.
I find it less "clinical" than the v4 or the Planar and more predictable than the v1 or v2 (I have a v1 - collapsible - that I love as well, but it's more sensitive to flare and lower contrast).
I've been reading this forum for some time, but haven't posted so far. Since I have a V3 that I love, I thought I'd share some pics with you.
I quite like the versatility of this lens, it works very well in both color and b&w.
I find it less "clinical" than the v4 or the Planar and more predictable than the v1 or v2 (I have a v1 - collapsible - that I love as well, but it's more sensitive to flare and lower contrast).
Bingley
Mentor
A couple of recent photos w/ the version III Summicron 50. I think it's a very good lens.
Evening, Roosevelt State Beach by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Surfers by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Evening, Roosevelt State Beach by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Surfers by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Bingley
Mentor
Another photo from April of this year. San Gregorio Creek as it flows through San Gregorio State Beach. Northern California Coast. Leica M6, Leica Summicron 50mm f2.0 v. III, yellow filter, Ilford Delta 400 at iso 200:
Spring flow by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Spring flow by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
brusby
Well-known
Nice tones here and also in your other seascape pic above. They look like they coulda been difficult with all the bright reflections.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I'd like to know more about how to go about assessing build quality. One in a while I do spot something about a lens that feels not right-or not right enough for the money-but I own both a version 3 and version 4 Summicron, and can't say I'm aware of anything not to like about build quality. I sold my 35mm Canadian "Bokeh King" Summicron because of reports here of non-replaceable plastic parts. That was of people being able to identify a specific and verifiable complaint about quality. This doesn't seem to be the case when v. 3 vs. v.4 are being compared.I think mine is a V3 and got it for a similar price. Love the lens. Actually bought a V4 with a tab because I like the tab so much on my 35mm Summicron and sent it back because the build quality on my V3 was so much better. I just ordered one of those slide on tabs for mine but haven't received it yet.
Can someone help me become a better judge of Leica lens "build quality?"
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raid
Dad Photographer
Is the Rigid Summicron called V2 Summicron?
Deardorff38
Mentor
Raid, I just bumped into this website "Leica Lenses for Normal People." There's a lot of humorous tongue-in-cheek style but also some good info. Leica Summicron-M 50mm – Leica Lenses for Normal PeopleIs the Rigid Summicron called V2 Summicron?
raid
Dad Photographer
Thanks. It is clear that V2 is the Rigid Summicron. I have two of them, plus a DR and a collapsible Summicron. Nothing newer.Raid, I just bumped into this website "Leica Lenses for Normal People." There's a lot of humorous tongue-in-cheek style but also some good info. Leica Summicron-M 50mm – Leica Lenses for Normal People
Bingley
Mentor
Many thanks, Bruce! I confess to doing a bit of post-processing, including turning down the highlights and lifting the shadows, to get the kind of tonality I’m after. I also do some dodging and burning in PS.Nice tones here and also in your other seascape pic above. They look like they coulda been difficult with all the bright reflections.
Deardorff38
Mentor
A bouquet of plenty Raid.... much beautiful glass !Thanks. It is clear that V2 is the Rigid Summicron. I have two of them, plus a DR and a collapsible Summicron. Nothing newer.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
The DR is a V2 Summicron. The differences with the rigid are that the DR has removable optical unit; and all DR are of the same exact focal length. Something like 51.6mm? Trusting to memory.Thanks. It is clear that V2 is the Rigid Summicron. I have two of them, plus a DR and a collapsible Summicron. Nothing newer.
brusby
Well-known
In my experience both the DR and the rigid share identical removable optical units. And they are interchangeable, at least among the few examples I've had. I was curious about this so I swapped optical units among one rigid and three DR. They all focused perfectly regardless of how the bodies and optical units were paired. But, four lenses is admittedly a small sample, so these results may not hold true for all examples.The DR is a V2 Summicron. The differences with the rigid are that the DR has removable optical unit; and all DR are of the same exact focal length. Something like 51.6mm? Trusting to memory.
x-ray
Mentor
This is not true. I’ve owned the V1 collapsible, multiple V2 rigid and DR, V3, V4 a few Elmar and the prized 50mm f1.2 back in the 70’s.The DR is a V2 Summicron. The differences with the rigid are that the DR has removable optical unit; and all DR are of the same exact focal length. Something like 51.6mm? Trusting to memory.
The difference in the v2 rigid and DR is the close focus and that’s it. The lens cells unscrew from the mount in all v2 rigid versions I’ve owned. I currently own a rigid v2 and the cells unscrew and mount in an adapter just as the DR for use on a bellows or Visoflex.
No all DR versions are not 51.6mm. They’re just like all the Leica lenses of that era and each one will vary in FL. The mounts are individually adjusted for its exact FL.
In the Leica guide for normal people, the author states the V3 has a tab, my version I bought new around 1970-71 did not have a tab. The V3 has some very good qualities. I mentioned I had a 50 Noctilux 1.2 around that time. It wasn’t a high resolution lens especially at apertures fellow f4 but where it excelled was in situations where a light source might be in or on the edge of the frame. In the earlier lenses flare could veil the image rendering it unusable and at the least flare around light sources could be extreme. The Noctilux brought that under reasonable control. Why I mention that, the V3 has similar qualities but higher resolution with slightly less flare control. I always thought of it as the poor man’s Noctilux.
The V3 controlled flare much better than previous lenses, the DR and Rigid v2 and v1. The v3 struck a very good balance between contrast and resolution. You can appreciate that if doing night shots and ones with backlighting or sources of light in or near the edge of the frame.
In real world photography the resolution difference is not anything you’ll ever see but you will appreciate the flare control.
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Rob-F
Likes Leicas
First of all, I stand corrected on the lens cell being removable on the rigid. By the way, I own most of the 50's you mentioned, and some you didn't, as well. I have the v. 3 and v. 4 Summicron, and like yours, my v. 3 does not have a tab. I've had two v. 4 Summicrons. My first had the tab with the semicircular opening for the finger; my current one has the so-called "bear claw." That took a little getting used to, but I like it better. Some bemoan the lack of character in the v. 4; I'm a little annoyed that four surfaces were left flat, rather than employing those surfaces for higher correction. I know, I might not want to pay for it, but still. You never know.This is not true. I’ve owned the V1 collapsible, multiple V2 rigid and DR, V3, V4 a few Elmar and the prized 50mm f1.2 back in the 70’s.
The difference in the v2 rigid and DR is the close focus and that’s it. The lens cells unscrew from the mount in all v2 rigid versions I’ve owned. I currently own a rigid v2 and the cells unscrew and mount in an adapter just as the DR for use on a bellows or Visoflex.
No all DR versions are not 51.6mm. They’re just like all the Leica lenses of that era and each one will vary in FL. The mounts are individually adjusted for its exact FL.
In the Leica guide for normal people, the author states the V3 has a tab, my version I bought new around 1970-71 did not have a tab. The V3 has some very good qualities. I mentioned I had a 50 Noctilux 1.2 around that time. It wasn’t a high resolution lens especially at apertures fellow f4 but where it excelled was in situations where a light source might be in or on the edge of the frame. In the earlier lenses flare could veil the image rendering it unusable and at the least flare around light sources could be extreme. The Noctilux brought that under reasonable control. Why I mention that, the V3 has similar qualities but higher resolution with slightly less flare control. I always thought of it as the poor man’s Noctilux.
The V3 controlled flare much better than previous lenses, the DR and Rigid v2 and v1. The v3 struck a very good balance between contrast and resolution. You can appreciate that if doing night shots and ones with backlighting or sources of light in or near the edge of the frame.
In real world photography the resolution difference is not anything you’ll ever see but you will appreciate the flare control.
I don't know why you say that all DRS versions are not 51.6mm. I'm pretty sure all DRS are identical in focal length, and fairly sure about that dimension. There was a reason for doing it that way. Yes, the tolerances in focal length were/are accommodated in most others by mating them to a focusing mount of matching length and thread pitch. But not the DRS. It's in my reference material someplace. I'll try to find the time to look for it. The production lens cells of the required focal length were reserved for the DRS, while the remaining ones were available for the rigid.
tcmx3
Established
First of all, I stand corrected on the lens cell being removable on the rigid. By the way, I own most of the 50's you mentioned, and some you didn't, as well. I have the v. 3 and v. 4 Summicron, and like yours, my v. 3 does not have a tab. I've had two v. 4 Summicrons. My first had the tab with the semicircular opening for the finger; my current one has the so-called "bear claw." That took a little getting used to, but I like it better. Some bemoan the lack of character in the v. 4; I'm a little annoyed that four surfaces were left flat, rather than employing those surfaces for higher correction. I know, I might not want to pay for it, but still. You never know.
I don't know why you say that all DRS versions are not 51.6mm. I'm pretty sure all DRS are identical in focal length, and fairly sure about that dimension. There was a reason for doing it that way. Yes, the tolerances in focal length were/are accommodated in most others by mating them to a focusing mount of matching length and thread pitch. But not the DRS. It's in my reference material someplace. I'll try to find the time to look for it. The production lens cells of the required focal length were reserved for the DRS, while the remaining ones were available for the rigid.
I get where you're coming from about the "economizing" in the 50 Cron, but Zeiss did use curved surfaces in the 50/2.0 ZM Planar and as far as I can tell it mostly just traded some edge/corner sharpness for midfield, which tbh probably is a good choice, but it's not clearly better than the far older design of the Leica.
It's only cheaper than the Leica by virtue of being made by Cosina, I suspect. I am guessing due to the fact that the 15/2.8 ZM is deep, into Leica glass money.
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