New Elmar-M 50mm 2.8 question

darkosaric · Nov 21, 2012

Hi,

I have a chance to get black Elmar-M for relatively cheap price . As I already have summicron 50 type 3 - I am wondering about difference in character of those two lenses. Are they too similar, or it is worth to get Elmar-M as well?

thanks,

antmar · Nov 21, 2012

One thing I can tell you for sure is that I sold my black Elmar-M 50/2.8 to buy a Summicron type-3 50/2 just to earn this extra stop.
Now I am sure that I made a mistake. Elmar is a great performer, very "Leica", compact and very fast focusing. I always had my M6 in my pocket, now I can't.
I can't really find a disadvantage to Summicron but I just never "felt in love" with it.
The only drawback about Elmar-M is the flimsy apperture ring but not a big deal

georg16nik · Nov 21, 2012

Go for it!
Elmar 50 ƒ/2.8 got more character for B&W than Summicron 50 ƒ/2.
Sonnar 50 ƒ/1.5 got more character for B&W and for color than Summicron 50 ƒ/2.

darkosaric · Nov 21, 2012

I do only B&W - so I will go for it .
I have Industar 50/3.5 collapsible - and with that lens my M camera becomes pocketable. Industar is a good lens, but not excellent; I always think it is better to bring summicron. So I think elmar-M will be winning combo.

SFC · Nov 21, 2012

I had and sold an Elmar-M 2.8. It was a decent lens but one thing drove me nuts: When extended, the focus was quite stiff. Something about the extension/locking that caused binding. I would make sure the one you're looking at doesn't have this. Other than that, a decent performer with very little distortion.

georg16nik · Nov 21, 2012

SFC said:
I had and sold an Elmar-M 2.8. It was a decent lens but one thing drove me nuts: When extended, the focus was quite stiff. Something about the extension/locking that caused binding. I would make sure the one you're looking at doesn't have this. Other than that, a decent performer with very little distortion.

The black Elmar 50 ƒ/2.8 is pretty recent to have gummed helical lubricants etc. etc.
Perhaps You are referring to the 50's vintage or frankensteined lens?
The extension/rotate/lock is supposed to be reasonably tight, its like that on all collapsible lenses M or LTM. The "tail" wings are adjustable with a tool.

darkosaric · Nov 21, 2012

georg16nik said:
Perhaps You are referring to the 50's vintage or frankensteined lens?

I am thinking about new black Elmar-M, this example that I can get is from 1999.

georg16nik · Nov 21, 2012

I know, darkosaric, the black Elmar is recent.

darkosaric said:
I am thinking about new black Elmar-M, this example that I can get is from 1999.

I was referring:

SFC said:
I had and sold an Elmar-M 2.8. It was a decent lens but one thing drove me nuts: When extended, the focus was quite stiff. Something about the extension/locking that caused binding...

darkosaric · Nov 21, 2012

Thanks Georg, my bad

karl · Nov 21, 2012

Love mine. It seems to be the one Leica lens I always hold onto. Mine is chrome. Fast and smooth focus.

cliveh · Nov 21, 2012

I'm sure the modern versions are fantastic, but the 50mm 3.5 Elmar in my book is one of the best lenses ever made. Wonderful characteristics.

georg16nik · Nov 21, 2012

cliveh said:
I'm sure the modern versions are fantastic, but the 50mm 3.5 Elmar in my book is one of the best lenses ever made. Wonderful characteristics.

Amen to that!

Pioneer · Dec 1, 2012

cliveh said:
I'm sure the modern versions are fantastic, but the 50mm 3.5 Elmar in my book is one of the best lenses ever made. Wonderful characteristics.

+1

New Elmar-M 50mm 2.8 question

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