Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/03/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Peter The Summicron DR is not only a superior lens - but its build, heft and finish hark back to halcyon days of Ernst Leitz - when quality and finish were the order of the day. I own a near mint and treasured piece. Joseph Low Singapore --- Peter Klein <pklein@2alpha.net> wrote: > I hope the following is a practical rather than theological > question. Sitting around recovering from the flu while reading all > this > "favorite lens" talk got me thinking. > > Many years ago, I owned a Dual-Range 50 Summicron. Which I stupidly > sold, > along with my first M2, in my post-college poverty. > > I've been using a 1980s (fifth version) Summicron with focusing tab > in the > last several years. As I understand it, this has the same optical > formula > as the current 50 'Cron. It is my favorite lens most of the time. > > Every so often I get exasperated with the tabbed "Cron, because it > seems > like if there is a specular highlight in the outer 1/3 of the frame, > there > will be a flare spot in the opposite corner. I don't recall the DR > > Summicron doing this, although I do recall occasionally getting > veiling > glare from contre-jour light. I use(d) the vented hood with either > lens. > > I don't have any direct comparisons between the lenses, but it seems > to me > that the current formula 'Cron is better wide open for available > light > shots--crisper. But for everything else, the DR has a lovely > quality that > I can't quite describe. I can sense this quality both on Tri-X and > Kodachrome. > > Can someone enlighten me? And if somebody has comparison pictures > taken > with each lens that might show the difference, please post them. > > I have a feeling that the difference may be somewhat analagous to > the > reason why I couldn't bear to sell my pre-Asph 35 Summicron even > after > buying the 35/1.4 Asph. I still use the older lens unless I know > I'm going > to need f/2 and f/1.4. > > --Peter > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more > information >