Leica 50mm Summicron-M f/2 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: harbormor
(Expert)

Review Date
October 1, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.86 of 5,
7 votes

Review 6 of 19

Price Paid: $0.00 from Don Chatterton.com

Summary:

My new 50 Summicron, compared to the 50mm collapsible (circa 1959-61)is no better in terms of sharpness; all the way to the edges. What it's better at is color rendition...very very accurate.

Strengths:

Sturdy construction; performance that equals if not exceeds the best 50's out there.

Weaknesses:

None, really. But I don't like the built-in lens shade. I prefer the clip-on.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Patrik
(Professional)

Review Date
June 8, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.50 of 5,
2 votes

Review 7 of 19

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

I tried this lens on a M6 for a weekend and shot film of Fuji Reala. I find it hard to fucus on my little doughter while she was running around. But the nature/scenery pictures I took are just as sharp as it can possibly be ! Stunning ! I use Canon L´s but Summicron 50 2,0 is just fantasic ! I have been critical in the past over how people can say that their pictures look 3-D from the summicron 50,I thought that it was just an incompetent way of expressing how good the lens was. When I look on my prints they do look like 3-D !? There is aboslutely no cromatic aberrations or vigetting or any distubing things at all and that is probably due to the benefits of an RF-camera. I´m very surprised over this mythic lens. SUPER !

Strengths:

Sharp.No cromatic aberations,not even wide open.Contrasty...etc...

Weaknesses:

I have some difficulties to focus with RF-cameras(but that is not caused by the lens).

Similar Products Used:

Zeiss planar 45mm for G2.Canon EF series.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Polarinda
(Intermediate)

Review Date
November 17, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 8 of 19

Price Paid: $450.00 from Singapore

Summary:

SIMPLY STUNNING. This legend is a notch above CZ 50/1.4 Colour tone is very natural, pleasing and yet not over-saturated. Black and white is super sharp and well balanced. Used wide opened at f2 beats all lenses at sharpness and contrasts. I use this with a M3. This is the ultimate combination. The absolute greatness attained in my 10 years of photographic experience. For all leica beginners, I plea you to get a used M3 and this GEM as a start. I promised you on my life you WILL NOT REGRET. 10 stars.

Strengths:

super super super lens, especially in low light and used wide opened. Everything said about this lens is true. There is absolutely no competition here.

Weaknesses:

Z E R O

Similar Products Used:

CZ 50/1.4 (super, but below summicron) NIKKOR 85/1.8(GREAT LENS TOO) minolta 50/1.4(great)

Customer Service:

none

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Rating
Reviewed by: Crutchfield
(Professional)

Review Date
August 14, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 9 of 19

Price Paid: $500.00 from Ebay

Summary:

Try it with a fine grain B&W film, see for youself. Others complain about the price but the lens has no compitetion. The look of the images are unique to Leica

Strengths:

It's the best 50mm lens I ever used. I own the Zeiss 45mm for the G2 its also a great lens, but there is no substitution for the Summicron. Even the out of focus photos apear sharper.

Weaknesses:

It's missing the handy focusing tab. The tab allows for quicker focusing. It's still a "10"

Similar Products Used:

Contax G2

Customer Service:

N/A

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Rating
Reviewed by: Mark Wrathall
(Intermediate)

Review Date
May 10, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Review 10 of 19

Price Paid: $433.00 from Used, Photo Boerse

Summary:

A truly lovely lens. Mine is a 70's black Wetzler, and I love it's look. Since falling in love with this lens, I have no real desire to buy another lens for my beat up M2.

The only sharpness test I every did was to compare it to a Canon 28-80/2.8-4L shooting a newspaper on the wall. I couldn't see much of a sharpness difference. The lesson, this is not a lens for shooting newspaper, use it to shoot life!

Strengths:

Wow! It really has a look, lovely Bokeh, three dimensional. Small, light, excellent build. No light fall off, no distortion.

Weaknesses:

pricey

Similar Products Used:

Canon FD 50/1.4 EF 28-80/2.8-4L

Customer Service:

Needs a CLA but haven't done it yet.

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