Elmar-M 50mm 2.8 II

[raid]

These are beautiful images.

Originally Posted by mfogiel

This lens is truly great. I only shoot B&W, and there it certainly shines. I think the main point about it, is the right type of contrast/sharpness/bokeh combination. There is also very little flare to speak about.
Here are some examples:


201211419 by mfogiel, on Flickr


201214706 by mfogiel, on Flickr


201211121 by mfogiel, on Flickr


201213315 by mfogiel, on Flickr


201210008 by mfogiel, on Flickr


201211403 by mfogiel, on Flickr

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Bingley]

Marek, Erik, Daan - Wonderful photos with this lens. Thanks for posting them.

[Dralowid]

The Elmar M goes everywhere with me, I must have had it for 15 years or so. It has been dropped, been underwater briefly and generally abused. It is my favourite for all sorts of reasons and quite different from its ancestors. I suppose being chrome it is a bit heavier than a black one but it is so small anyway.

At one point I did have to send it away because it had developed some slack in the mounting. All it needed was a little grease.

[Erik van Straten]

I agree, Michael, it is one of the best modern Leica lenses.

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Dralowid]

South African oranges East of the Iron Curtain? What on earth has the world come to?!

Great picture, keep them coming!

[Erik van Straten]

I don't know, Michael.
This is the eigthteenth century synagogue of Stolin in the south of the Belarus republic. On their way to Moscow in 1941/1942 the Germans killed all the 12.000 Jewish inhabitants of this town.

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[dogberryjr]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

Wonderful photo.

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, dogberryjr!

[Erik van Straten]

Nice one, Daan!

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Dralowid]

[quote=Erik van Straten;2198269]I don't know, Michael.
This is the eigthteenth century synagogue of Stolin in the south of the Belarus republic. On their way to Moscow in 1941/1942 the Germans killed all the 12.000 Jewish inhabitants of this town.

I think Stolin featured in a BBC programme called 'Who do you think you are?' in which 'well known' people retrace their ancestors. Unfortunately I cannot remember who the programme was about.

Maybe another BBC watcher can help?

[Dralowid]

Coming back to the beginning of this thread who is going to volunteer to accurately describe, in words, the very real differences in rendering between the Elmar M and what I shall call the Elmar 2.8 (ELMOM)?


I'm not up to it.

[Erik van Straten]

The coating of the Elmar-M is more effective, therefore there is more contrast: the blacks are deeper.
On the other hand the diaphragm of the Elmar-2.8 has fifteen blades or so - I've never counted them - and therefore the bokeh is sometimes better. The Elmar-M has only six blades. The diaphragm of the Elmar-2.8 is situated between the first two elements of the lens and that of the Elmar-M between the the last two.
The sharpness of both lenses is about the same I would say.

Erik.

[Dralowid]

Certainly agree with your comments about the effects of the better coating.

Haven't experienced anything different re aperture so can't comment.

Michael

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Joe AC]

Does anyone know if this lens can be collapsed on an M9?

Thanks
Joe

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[mfogiel]

Great photos as usual Erik !
Re: the two Elmar versions: In my opinion the old one has better bokeh and less contrast, but in the sharpness comparison there is an abyss, the new one is far sharper wide open, than the old one at f 8.0.

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Marek, but the sharpness of the old Elmar f/2.8 is really as good. The sharpness of the old Elmar f/3.5 in M-mount is even better. Contrast is however more important for the quality of the image, so the Elmar-M is the best.

Erik.

[noisycheese]

While I have never shot with one, I have read nothing but praise for the Elmar 50/2.8 - seeing all the great images here makes me want one...

[JHP]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.


[img]

Amazing as always. How do you achieve these tones? Muted greys etc. Beautiful.

[Erik van Straten]

I have an Epson V600 scanner. You can adjust the histogram with the aid of a densitometer.

Erik.

[chrishayton]

Untitled by chrishayton, on Flickr

[chrishayton]

Untitled by chrishayton, on Flickr

[Joe AC]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

I have an Epson V600 scanner. You can adjust the histogram with the aid of a densitometer.

Erik.

I don't want to hijack the thread but I was wondering if you ever print the scans from your V600? If so, how big, and how's the quality? I have one and am not very good at making scans with it.

Thanks
Joe

[Erik van Straten]

No, I never make prints from scans. I only make silver/gelatine prints with a Focomat IIc.

It is a bit too complicated to explain exactly how I make the scans. I make them in the professional modus. I use a "better scan" piece of anti-newton glass. I use the densitometer to find the lightest and darkest parts of the image. I choose 3200 dpi.

I clean the scan from dust in Photoshop. I sharpen it a bit. For web use I use the "save for web" option of Photoshop @ 1200. The results from this I reload in Photoshop to adapt the histogram a very little bit to make the darkest parts a bit darker, when needed.

For more details please PM me.

Erik.

[Brian Legge]

Add me to the list blown away by your work here Erik. I think a thread dedicated to your processing and workflow would be highly educational.

[Joe AC]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

No, I never make prints from scans. I only make silver/gelatine prints with a Focomat IIc.

It is a bit too complicated to explain exactly how I make the scans. I make them in the professional modus. I use a "better scan" piece of anti-newton glass. I use the densitometer to find the lightest and darkest parts of the image. I choose 3200 dpi.

I clean the scan from dust in Photoshop. I sharpen it a bit. For web use I use the "save for web" option of Photoshop @ 1200. The results from this I reload in Photoshop to adapt the histogram a very little bit to make the darkest parts a bit darker, when needed.

For more details please PM me.

Erik.

Thank you. I will try again using your recommendations and PM you.

Thanks again

Joe

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[jonmanjiro]

After getting the loosey goosey aperture ring fixed so that it stays at the selected aperture, this has become my favourite 50. Fantastic little lens!


Streets of Tokyo by jonmanjiro, on Flickr


Sarajevo 2013 by jonmanjiro, on Flickr

[Erik van Straten]

Great pics, Jon!

Leica M3, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

[Joe AC]

After going through this thread multiple times, I feel that I really need to find one of these lenses. I'm on the hunt.

Joe

[alan davus]

I remember a few years ago ordering and paying for a new Elmar M from a well known online HK Supplier for about $750. A couple of days later an email arrived saying my money would be refunded as the lens was out of stock and the listing from his website was then removed. But amazingly several weeks later it reappeared with a $300 dearer pricetag. I spat the dummy and bought a like new Hex 50 2.4 collapsible for $500. It is a stellar lens and Erwin Puts certainly compared it favourably with the Elmar. I also have the 2 CV 50 collapsibles, the nickle 3.5 and the black f2 that came in a kit with the R2M 250 anniversary release. Both these are also terrific. Would still love to get a Elmar M so as to have a complete collection of the modern 50 collapsibles. But they have really gone up in price over the last couple of years. (p.s. Erik you certainly know how to use yours. Love your work.) Cheers, Alan

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Alan.

I bought mine ten years ago for 500 euro secondhand. The price since then has doubled because they are used on the digital M-bodies.

Erik.