Images made with Elmars

[Barry Kirsten]

I've just managed to track down an image that's stuck in my memory for years, made with an uncoated Elmar on Tri-x - here:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/index.php?media/downtown-san-francisco.43931/
I'd love to see some more work done with these wonderful old lenses.

 

[anfenglin]

Happy to help.

7 by 安峰林, auf Flickr

Ecke by 安峰林, auf Flickr

 

[Barry Kirsten]

Thank you anfenglin, very nice. Exquisite detail and tonality. Love your work on flickr also.

Any more from anyone else?

 

[Trask]

I recall that when I saw that same photo, Barry, I too was struck at how well that 35mm f/3.5 Elmar performed -- and so I bought one to try out, and not coincidentally make for a very pocket-able Leica IIIa. I've attached a few photos, all shot on expired Panatomic-X, developed in D-76 1:1, and the lens probably had a yellow Leitz filter on it, too. One of those funky slip-on-and-set-screw early filters. In general, the lens performs well -- and note that the smoker photo is a cropped image, probably 60% of the full-frame image. In the restaurant photo, the slats on the french shutters are a good indicator of resolution.

 

[Barry Kirsten]

Thank you Trask, very impressive. I'm certainly drawn to the 'look' of these images created with older lenses and emulsions. So different from modern day films and lenses. I don't have a rangefinder at present, but can see one on the horizon. Thank you again.

 

[gorbas]

Hi, You did not specify what Elmar we are talking about? 35, 50 or 90mm? Here you can find pictures taken with Elmars 3.5/35 and 3.5/50mm

 

[Barry Kirsten]

Hi Goran, no I didn't specify which lens. The original image that caught my attention was made with the Elmar 35 3.5. Likewise yours made with the Elmar 50 3.5 are outstanding. Thank you so much for sharing them.

 

[BMbikerider]

Back in the 1960's there was a very good magazine sold in UK called simply 35mm Magazine. They conducted a test using almost every 50mm lens made by Leitz since
19 somethin. (I can't remember the exact year) they tested the 3.5and 2.8 Elmars, both coated and uncoated. the Summar, Sumitar and Summicron. The camera was a Leica 3G. The tests were made using Ilford Pan F and a developer called Definol made by Johnsons of Hendon, at the time a well known UK manufacturer, Each negative was enlarged 16 times and to be honest there was not a great deal of difference between any of them. Yes the contrast was better with the later lenses and the Summar was a little fuzzy in the corners at full aperture but all versions of the Elmar were simply very good, possibly as good as, or better than the Summicron. the later coated Elmar knocked the socks off the principal current other 50mm lens used at the time - the Zeiss Tessar which was used as a comparison

I believe the current F2.8 Elmar is probably up amongst the best 50mm lens ever made by anybody - ever.

(As a footnote, I was sorry that magazine went out of print because it was simply a no-nonsense, straight forward publication where the reader was not swamped with pages and pages of adverts all more or less pushing the same product, Well written and supported by good photographs).

 

[Jim Jones]

I found the earlier f/2.8 Elmar to be one of the sharpest of many lenses tested years ago. The only others in its class were the 45mm GN-Nikkor (another Tessar formula), the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5, and the 50mm EL-Nikkor 50mm.

 

[Dali]

Elmar without coaating are somewhat low in contrast. Post-war coated lenses are better in this respect but are difficult to find in acceptable condition. Most suffer from haze, scratches when it is not fungus. Solution is to find a recent (modern) 2.8 / 50mm Elmar but for the asked price, I would favor a Summicron (faster lens, better ergonomics, strong optical quality).

 

[BAC1967]

I love my Elmar lenses, have two LTM f/3.5's one that goes to f/16 and the other to f/22. Like Trask said, they do make for a very compact camera to put in your pocket. Here are a few examples from me.

Half Dome by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Sweat Lodge by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[Barry Kirsten]

Amazing image quality. Words aren't necessary. Thanks for sharing them Bryan.

Thanks for other comments, too.