Is the 50/1.5 Summarit really THAT bad ??

Very helpful, thanks.

I've posted this in other threads but I love what it can do to OOF areas. Very painterly. Not at all sharp, of course. Never had that reputation.

 

This is shot wide open on an M240.

 

The 5cm F1.5 Summarit is optimized for ~F2.8 at closest focus and for F1.5 at infinity. I've taken apart 5 of these, all were scribed "51.1" internally- slightly shorter than the Leica standard. Optimize at F2.8 for closest-focus, means that at F1.5 the lens will front-focus. As the focal length is slightly shorter than what the RF indicates, F1.5 will be in focus at infinity.

 

I changed the spacing of the front/rear group on my lens to increase the focal length, optimized for F1.5 at closest focus.

Brian, can you post a close shot at f1.5, I'm curious how it will look compared to what I'm getting.

I used a Summarit for a few years in the early 00s. Then I bought a Zeiss Plannar ZM & sold the Summarit. I liked the lens and have a lot pictures that I am happy with. Just get a nice one and have it serviced.

Although expensive and perhaps hard to find, the Summarit specific cast metal lens hood does help with the flare problem. Except for one corner where there is a cut out, it does not blank out the viewfinder. I'm looking forward to using mine for Fall foliage and comparing to a Summilux 50.

I had SK Grimes make a special adapter to use 39mm filters and have a groove cut in it to use the Summicon-M clip on vented shade. I should have kept it but I sold it with the lens.