Fred Miranda
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 p.2 #11 · Close-up Mod - Leica Summicron 50mm F2 Rigid with a MFD of 0.75m | |
EMH2025 wrote:
Fred like you I have a quite good copy of the rigid, mine is second ver 1966 build. I also have the LLL elcan and I have written here before on FM I am very fond of it. It is indeed a difficult choice, so this is how it is seeming to break for me, If I am out with my current apo summicron 50 and I want a more character lens in my pocket for supporting role and this happens often, I want small and a bit more character and the elcan is my choice, however if I am out and intending a "vintage" outing and maybe not taking the apo summicron, although sometimes I take the CS 3.5 50 as a proxy, then it is a vintage character outing and my rigid is my choice for the day. The rigid does indeed perform better for me, especially on outdoors distant photos, but there is something special about the elcan when there center is the center of attention.On the rigid days out it is a deliberate choice to walk in the shoes of the photographers of the 1960s whether film or dig and there is something emotionally satisfying to use that original rigid..... I like the look of the silver LLL clip on hood on my rigid. Other hoods of course work fine, but this is a lens look I like a bit of a pricey indulgence to dress up my rigid, it deserves it. The rigid looks good on my M11 EV1, my safari M11P and all my film M4 Mp and M4-2s, I have even adapted to the focus lock.
With that out of the way---- I also have 3.5 50 elmer days, which is a remarkable lens stopped down, or since my visit to Japan last couple of weeks my new to me V1 collapsible summicron, thorium glass, and I got a great copy. It does not resolve like a rigid but it does have character and a lot of it. I expect I am going to have the same internal debate rigid v something even older like the first summicron.m The collapsible summicron was a cartier-bresson fav so who I am I to question that. It collapses safely on a M11.
these are good problems to have it is all good (catch line borrowed from three blind men and an elephant).
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Rendering-wise, I find them very similar, though not identical. The Rigid shows a bit more field curvature, which can make the edges appear more in focus than they probably should be. The Elcan is surprisingly better controlled in that regard. The Rigid also has slightly more pronounced outlining and shows more optical vignetting (that cat's-eye look) compared to the Elcan. In the center, my two copies are very close in resolution and contrast, which is impressive for the Elcan considering it has fewer elements and is much more compact. The Elcan does veil flare a bit more, but it's usually in a pleasing way.
Ergonomically, the Elcan wins for me. No infinity lock, so focusing at long distances is smoother and more intuitive. It also has a proper focusing tab, whereas the Rigid has that little stick, which I'm not a fan of, so I usually just turn the ring itself. Both of my copies focus down to ~ 0.7m, but for unmodified Rigid models, the m minimum focus distance is definitely a downside for the Rigid.
Overall, both look fantastic on the camera (mine are both silver), and image quality and rendering are very close when I compare them side by side. The Rigid leans more into that classic look with slight more outlining and more cat's-eye vignetting, and it's a touch better in IQ off-axis. That's really why I keep both...they are more alike than different, but each has its own subtle flavor and shooting experience.
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