View Full Version : Smitten with a 50mm Summicron (Is there a cure?)
I have always been partial to wide angle lenses. Not too wide, mind you, but wider than normal. A 35mm or 28mm has always been my sweet spot. When I bought my IIIc, the first lens I acquired was a 35mm Skopar and a finder. When I bought my M2, I purchased my 'dream lens', the 35mm 4th ver. Summicron. I was in heaven.
I liked the qualities of my 35 'cron so much that I decided I should try to find a 50 that matched. Well, lo and behold, a well-respected member of LUG offered a mint 50mm tabbed Summicron and I bought it. I have always liked 50's for indoor and portraiture. Outside and on the street, however, was always the domain of the wides.
Then comes the RFF HCB contest. Although I don't need a new Zeiss Ikon (like I didn't NEED an M2, I just had to have one), I thought I would spend some time with my new 50 outside. I figured a month or so with a 50 wouldn't kill me.
Well, the first couple of rolls were painful. The 50 seemed so constraining. But, the qualities of the lens (sharpness, contrast, bokeh) were such that I continued. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, the field of view of the 50 became very comfortable. Looking at some of my negatives, I could swear that they were taken with a 35, but I know that they were taken with a 50. I was hooked.
Now, I can't take the 50 off of my camera. I almost have to force myself to mount a 35. What has happened to me? I have other 50's (LTM collapsible Summicron, Jupiter 8) and have enjoyed them, but they never threatened to become my standard lens.
So my question is this:
1) Do I have an incurable disease,
2) Is this just a phase (kind of like puberty),
3) Will I laugh at my angst once March 31st has passed, OR
4) Have I, in some bizarre metaphysical translation, become Frank?
Robert
You are hopelessly addicted to using a 50 now. Congrats, because so am I.
Some people see in 35 and some in 50. I'm one that see in 50.
Enjoy,
Ray
telenous
03-15-2006, 22:20
There is no cure. I use the Summicron 35 even less than the Elmarit 90. The RFF contest has been a great lesson in pictorial economy (and a debacle in economy of any other sort).
I was going to suggest that a cure for the 50 'cron might be a M-Hex 50/2 or some other quality 50, but then I read your post. IMO, our field of view is something closer to a 35, but I think we 'see' like a 50 when we look or concentrate on something.
When shooting, the 50 just seems to force composition a little more. I don't move around any where near as much when I'm composing a shot as I do with 50. I'll bet the guy in Sockeye's avatar has a 50 on the front of his camera, because I find myself getting like that with a 50, or feeling like that. :)
It's an excellent FL. No wonder people (like me) end up with a half-dozen 50's, or more.
Some people see in 35 and some in 50. I'm one that see in 50.
Me, too. In my eyes, 50mm = Truth.
...a mint 50mm tabbed Summicron...
I have the exact same lens. I think it's spectacular.
Ronald M
03-16-2006, 03:36
The only cure is a big enough bank account to try everything and good repair people to keep everything tuned to perfection. Then you just need time and energy.
Same here. 50 is my lens. I have bought and sold my 50 many times, many many times, and had replaced it with a wider and longer combo (like 35-75, 35-90) but I found it again and again that I can't live without a 50.
I recently got a 50mm Planar and I like it. It's the lens that I use most of the time now.
but once in a while I've the idea of trading my 50 planar for a summilux... ah... I have to stop buying and selling.
So my question is this:
1) Do I have an incurable disease,
2) Is this just a phase (kind of like puberty),
3) Will I laugh at my angst once March 31st has passed, OR
4) Have I, in some bizarre metaphysical translation, become Frank?
Robert
1) Nope, you're back to normal again..
2) Nope, the wides are just a passing folly; age equals focal length..
3) Nope, it'll only get better..
4) Nope, but maybe he'll adopt you..
:D
Oh, and for that matter, 50 is my favorite focal length too..
Gabriel M.A.
03-16-2006, 05:04
Robert, I used to be a wide-angle nut. Well, still am (in the SLR world). I hate how the 1.x "crop factor" really robs you out of...ok, won't go there; it's been discussed ad nauseum at PNut. Anyway, the 50mm focal length is my "standard" on my rangefinders. I just "see" differently, or better put, have a different "frame of mind" when using a rangefinder. That being said...
1) Do I have an incurable disease,
2) Is this just a phase (kind of like puberty),
3) Will I laugh at my angst once March 31st has passed, OR
4) Have I, in some bizarre metaphysical translation, become Frank?
1) Nein.
2) Like Scott from Kids in The Hall said, "a very long phase!"
3) Non.
4) :eek: (which one?)
und how dos zat make yu feel? :D
So my question is this:
1) Do I have an incurable disease,
2) Is this just a phase (kind of like puberty),
3) Will I laugh at my angst once March 31st has passed, OR
4) Have I, in some bizarre metaphysical translation, become Frank?
Robert
You forgot one thing:
5) Do I now need an M3?
I will let others answer. (Yes).
Tom
Robin Harrison
03-16-2006, 05:30
Now, I can't take the 50 off of my camera. I almost have to force myself to mount a 35. What has happened to me?
Can't say that's happened to me! Once the competition was announced, of course the 50 was the first lens on the camera. I was going out with the M6, Summicron 50 and slow-medium film, and the Canon P with 50mm f1.8 with fast film. All was going well. But since then, I've slowly but surely been moving back to 35. Last weekend I noticed I was out and about with the M6 and 35 Summilux, the Konica Hexar AF (with 35mm f2), and in my jacket pocket was the Oly XA (35mm f2.8)! This wasn't pre-meditated, it was instinct!
I've even just purchased a 35mm f2.8 Yashica ML lens for my Contax SLRs becuase I thought I was too often overlooking them due to the lack of a prime 35 in my outfit!
As the proud owner of a 50mm Tabbed Summicron, DR Summicron, Rigid Summicron and Collapsible Summicron I feel you are 100% normal.
The 50 is my thing as well.
I'm always surprised when I put my 35 cron on- it's a beautiful lens no doubt- but what do I do with all that real estate?
Having read about the m3 and the 50 combo, I tried it for a while and found that since I couldn't see outside the framelines, my beloved collection of vintage 50's seemed like they were 35's.
Where was the rest of the image? The outside part that helps me determine what's on the inside?
Needless to say, I don't have an m3 anymore. :)
I love 50's and have tried a lot of them. When I saw a great deal on a nice 50/2 'Cron DR I grabbed it. I am now in bliss. Nothing has it's character. I love it. Just go with it....
kvanderlaag
03-16-2006, 07:18
Hah. Yes, you're normal. The 50 is very normal as far as lenses go.
But really, if you ever get sick of any of your 35s, I could use one!
I have a 50 Lux ASPH and just recently acquired a 50 Cron DR.
Like some others have stated, you NEED to go lookd at the 50 Cron DR. It is an unbelievable lens.
Best,
Ray
I have a 50 Lux ASPH and just recently acquired a 50 Cron DR.
Like some others have stated, you NEED to go lookd at the 50 Cron DR. It is an unbelievable lens.
Best,
Ray
Definitely on my WTB/wishlist.
:)
Gabriel M.A.
03-16-2006, 11:23
As the proud owner of a 50mm Tabbed Summicron, DR Summicron, Rigid Summicron and Collapsible Summicron I feel you are 100% normal.
Ahh, makes me feel very normal: 50 f/1.5 Sonnar, 50 f/2 Sonnar, Summar, Summitar, tabbed Summicron, 50 Summilux, Jupiter-3, Jupiter-8, Canon 50 f/1.2 ...
that's it?
We're only counting rangefinder 50s, right? Hmmm...
How's that Jup-3? I'm thinking of getting one....
I guess admitting that I love using a 50 has me in good company. I think that, aside from the qualities of the lens, what I like about shooting with a 50 is the .72 viewfinder. The 35 pretty much fills the entire viewfinder. While I thought the 50 framelines were constricting at first, they have turned out to be quite helpful for composition. Seeing outside the frame makes anticipating the shot and composing the shot much easier. I really miss the space when I put on my 35.
I have not used an M3, but I think that I would miss the extra real estate that I get with my M2. Shooting my 90 Tele-Elmarit on an M3 would be cool, though.
billwheeler
03-16-2006, 12:52
1) Yes.
2) No.
3) Yes.
4) No.
Cure: Give away the lens. :-]>
MelanieC
03-16-2006, 16:27
The Summicron 50/2 is the only lens I own for my Leica. Glad to see it is so popular because it means that my only lens is a good one!
back alley
03-16-2006, 16:35
i'm starting to feel that way but about the 25...i think everbody should try one!!
:)
You can never have enough 50's! :)
Post deleted by posters request
I think that, aside from the qualities of the lens, what I like about shooting with a 50 is the .72 viewfinder. The 35 pretty much fills the entire viewfinder. While I thought the 50 framelines were constricting at first, they have turned out to be quite helpful for composition. Seeing outside the frame makes anticipating the shot and composing the shot much easier.
I completely agree. I have always been most comfortable with the 50mm focal length, in large part because that was my first lens and I spent several years working exclusively with it when I first started out in photography (SLR world). But one of the things that has me the most excited about my new Leica is the space outside the 50mm framelines. I think that I compose images better through the 50mm 'cron on my M4 than I do through my SLR because the .72 viewfinder of the M4 makes me more aware of the ways in which I am composing a 50mm image out of a larger scene.
I have read a lot of posts from Leica users stating that 35mm is their "natural" focal length. For me (in the short 3 1/2 months that I have had my Leica), the "natural" focal length has definitely been 50mm. I hope that I am not hijacking this thread by asking this question, but I was wondering whether a few of you 35mm folks wouldn't mind sharing your thoughts on why you love your 35s so much.
i'm starting to feel that way but about the 25...i think everbody should try one!!
:)
50? 35? Nah, for me the 28 is a natural, followed by the 21, 15 , and the 12!
35mmdelux
03-17-2006, 14:44
use your 35mm cron for a month and then it will become your favorite lens:-)
Gabriel M.A.
03-17-2006, 15:05
Nah. 50mm 'lux. And 45 RPM records, not the 33 1/3 RPM or CDs. Cars built only in the year 1999. And chocolate is the only sustenance that humans should strive to. Universal truths, flawless and inequivocal. ;)
Magus - my 50 'cron is the 5th version, which I believe to be optically the same as the current version, only without the built-in hood. It was made in Canada in 1985. My 4th ver. 35 'cron was made in Canada in 1988. If I am not mistaken, both lenses were designed by Walter Mandler. I find the two lenses to be very compatable with similar signatures. The main difference is the 50 has higher contrast and edge sharpness at 2.0 and 2.8.
Robert
...the 50 has higher contrast and edge sharpness at 2.0 and 2.8.
I find it makes the most technically satisfactory wide-open pictures I've ever gotten, and can ever imagine getting. The photos simply have no induced shortcomings that I can detect. I want to eat them.
The bokeh plain freaks me out. Totally neutral. No doubling; no juddering; round lights stay round; just a gradual whooosh as the background recedes.
Damned thing's become my optical totem. May not have a lot of imposed character, but it seems supremely, almost brutally competent at sending light to the film. And I'm okay with that.
Gabriel M.A.
03-17-2006, 16:34
Biggles and Honus: are we talking about the same 50 'cron, the 1979 version? Mine is from the mid 80s (tabbed, from Germany --go figure). I find the bokeh a little bit funky under certain conditions, but in general it's "neutral" as you say. The main differences I've noted in that area in the various versions is just how it dissolves, and I have to admit that the collapsible, rigid and DR have the smoothest.
And I agree, shooting the 50 'cron wide open is a delight; I have a 0.9 ND filter for it too, so I won't have to stop it down any more than I have to when shooting outdoors.
Mine's serial number says it was shipped in 1993. Fifth version, with a focus lever sorta like a pair of horns; without integral hood. German-made. Black.
Easily the best-performing lens I've ever owned. I think my 40mm Summicron may be even sharper, but it seems to give noisier pictures- less brush and more cymbal, if I can be permitted a 50s jazz analogy.
Tomorrow, though, I go to the post office to pick up a 1964 50mm Summilux.
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