asiafish wrote:
Or the M6's more functional sister, depending on your point of view.
I could have bought an M6 quite easily, and used to have one. I HUNTED for a really good M5.
Never said it wasn't functionally inadept. Quite a leap, in fact. Just not easy on the eyes. Sitting next to an M2, M4-P and a IIIf, the design contrast is striking. Or lack thereof.
I think most can agree that the M5 is an acquired taste aesthetically, which is to say nothing of its capabilities. That settled...
I can now add for the next person researching my question: there's nothing wrong optically with the Summicron-R 50mm E55. [Understatement expressed in bold.]
In this 50mm focal length I've owned/used Canon's EF f/1.8 mkI, f/1.4, Sigma's f/1.4, Nikon's AI-s f/1.4 and 1.4g. After walking around with this Summicron-R mk2 for two days, I can say I strongly prefer it. This copy has been outfitted with an EOS mount and focus confirmation chip.
Here are a few samples from the last 2 days, more or less straight from camera:
I can see criticism of the busy-bokeh wide open, but what I like about this photo is the natural colors, realistic skin tones--even in harsh side lighting.
It appears that the focus confirmation chip sent me forward-focusing more often than not. e.g., in the above photo, it's my daughter's eyebrow that is in exact focus, not her eye. I'll micro-adjust backward a skosh first. If that fails me, I'll buy a new screen for the 1Ds III better-suited for manually focusing. Is that the right path?
Yet, Dr. Mandler, the designer of this (and many other Canadian manufactured lenses) is German. Could this make it less boring for those set on nationalistic stereotypes?
I remember having tried a Cron 50 made in Germany and one made in Canada. The lens coating color was different and the German sample simply felt better in the hands. We could not tell of any difference in the pics.
If I am given a choice of two lenses with similar condition, I would go for the German sample.
The question mark is why only the less stellar lenses have been produced in Canada and the stellar top ones in Germany?
You might wish to look at the Leica R lens list made in Canada:
- 50mm f/2 Summicron-R II
- 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R II
- 90mm f/2 Summicron-R
- 100mm f/4 Macro-Elmar-R
- 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R I
- 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R II
- 180mm f/3.4 Elcan-R
- 180mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt-R
- 180mm f/2.8 APO-Elmarit-R I
- 180mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R I
- 250mm f/4 Telyt-R I
- 250mm f/4 Telyt-R II
- 350mm f/4.8 Telyt-R
- 400 f/6.8 Telyt
- 500mm f/8 MR-Telyt-R
All other lenses whether Module or Lux or Crons or Elmarits or Varios were produced in Germany.....and there is your answer!
Almass wrote:
All other lenses whether Module or Lux or Crons or Elmarits or Varios were produced in Germany.....and there is your answer!
Except, of course, for the ones that weren't. (Minolta, Sigma, and Kyocera all made Leica R lenses in Japan. Even Wetzlar couldn't manufacture the most complex Leica lenses.)
Assuming arguendo that the top R lenses were made in Wetzlar, I would point out Erwin Puts' observation that Wetzlar focused its interest in aspherical elements and Midland focused on apochromatic correction. Perhaps combined with their glass research lab, Wetzlar was in a much better position to design and manufacture aspherical lenses, which are generally the most celebrated today. However, for lenses that did not require aspherical construction, Midland was by no means an inferior place to manufacture lenses. Midland was where the short-run military optics were made, and I'm not going to be convinced that those contracts would have tolerated inferior manufacture.
The Summicron-R 50 was made for over 30 years. Saying that one was better because it was made in Germany might neglect the fact that it was made 20 years later (explaining the different lens coatings) and had suffered 20 years less use (explaining the better feel).
It is unavoidable that some lenses made in Germany are better than some lenses made in Canada. This does not lead to the conclusion that German lenses are better than Canadian.
Wow, great thread – wish I'd seen this 6 months ago when it was active!
Love the 50 Summicron and its a relative bargain largely because so many were made as it was often the 'kit lens' back in the day (Funny how kit lenses have gotten worse/not better over time – but a completely different topic for another time).
Here are some of my favorite Leica Rs, all of which happen to have been made in Germany – includes the 60 Macro:
19mm Elmarit v2
28mm Elmarit v2
35mm Summilux v2
50mm Summilux E60 v2
60mm Elmarit Macro v2
80mm Summilux
90mm Summicron APO
100mm Elmarit Macro
180mm Elmarit Apo
28-90mm Vario Elmarit Asph
70-180mm Elmarit Apo
To this day these continue to represent some of the very best lenses in their focal lengths (imho). Not only are they technically incredible but i find they often capture the spirit of a place or subject in a way that make many other lenses seem boring/sterile by comparison. For instance, I've found Zeiss renders more exacting/precise, whereas Leica Rs images are more organic/alive.
And those are only ones I've had the pleasure of using. There are several others that would probably make the list too, including 15mm Elmarit v2, 280mm, etc.
