david_clark4 Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Does the Summarit have "optimal" f-stop for contrast and sharpness? I noticed that the f-stop scale is such that mid-point is between 2.8 and 4. And I thought maybe lens design would put the best performance in the center of the scale. Also I suppose a designer would naturally think someone buying this lens would intend on using it between 1.5 and 4 or 5.6? Anyone have experence with this lens that could give me a few ideas on how to get the best results out of it? Thankyou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das_glas Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 What focal length? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huw_finney Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 f5.6 to f11 is sweet, as with most lenses. I quite like the look at f1.5 for centraly placed objects (portraits for example). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das_glas Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Mine (21mm) works very well over f5.6, that's when colours become saturated, beautiful, and the price is justified. But. That's only my opinion. DG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das_glas Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 ops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_clark4 Posted May 29, 2006 Author Share Posted May 29, 2006 I'm sorry for failing to indicate it was a 50mm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_lehrer Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Das Glas und David,-- My records do not show any Summarit other than a 50mm lens. So when you say "Summarit", it is known to be 50mm. The old traditional rule of thumb indicated that two stops down from wide open would be optimal. Though most users of the Noctilux prefer to use it wide open. (Notice; no focal length given) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eliot_rosen1 Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Why "Q"? Anyway, the earliest 50/1.5 Summarits had the European aperture system, while the later ones had the international aperture system (except for the the maximum aperture of 1.5). This lens reaches its optimum performance somewhere are F/8 give or take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_werbeloff1 Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Q = "Question"? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_george3 Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 Actually they call the 40mm f2.4 lens on the various compacts a Summarit. Don't know whether it is actually any relation, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vidom Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I have recently got one and was quite surprised: I think it is better than it's reputation. From the few test shots I have taken I can tell that it is fairly soft wide open, better but still soft at f 2 and becoming contrastier and sharper from f 2,8. My one seems to be on par with the coated post war Elmar 3,5/50 from f 4. I'd think the sweet spot is between f 5,6 and f 8 when the edges of the frame gain contrast and resolution. The wider apertures may be nice for a semi soft-focus-like pictoral effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mukul_dube Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 A Summarit 1.5, which cannot but be f=5 cm., is arguably best at f/5.6, or f/6.3 on the Continental scale. Closing down one stop makes no appreciable difference, though. Wide open, it is soft. At all apertures, it is prone to flare. The glass is delicate (and the coating where there is any), so it isn't easy to find a good example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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