50 Summicron-R versions

[marco_grande]

Does anyone have experience with both 50 Summicron-R verions (German v1 vs Canadian v2).

 

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Thoughts on differences, signature, quality, etc?

 

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TIA, Marco

[dave_saalsaa]

Hi Marco,

There is no difference between the two lenses. All of the

Summicron-R 50mm lenses were designed by Elcan (Ernst Leitz Canada)

and as far as I know all of the optics were manufactured in Canada

for this particular lens. If your Summicron says made in Germany,

it may have been assembled there. Snob appeal for genuine German

lenses may make the going price higher on the the marked German

lenses but there is NO difference in quality, signature or whatever

you want to call it. Some of the very best Leica lenses were

designed and built in Canada.

Dave

[dave_saalsaa]

Hi Marco,

I went back and reread your original question and found I didn't

aswer it correctly. Sorry, I must learn to read more carefully.

Let's try it again. Yes, there are some differences in the version

1 to version 2 Summicron-Rs. They are both Canadian designs but the

2nd version has a different lens arrangement. Six elements in 4

groups for the 2nd version and six elements in 5 groups for the

first version. Some of the lens elements were produced in Germany in

the first version and the lens elements were produced in Canada in

the second. The Second version is lighter in weight and has

slightly better wide open performace interms of resolution and

contrast over the first version. Quality of construction on both

lenses is very good but the second version has a lighter weight

barrel constructed of more aluminum alloy components to cut down

overall weight. I prefer the 2nd version as I find slightly less

flair when shooting into a light source.

[jay_.]

I've got a 2-cam 1st version and a 3-cam 2nd version. Very, very

slightly better contrast at f/2-f/2.8 in the later lens, otherwise no

difference I can tell...and my 2-cam has a tiny coating defect near

the outer edge of the front element. The biggest drawback to the

earlier version is the filter situation: serie 6 w. retaining ring

(allows only one filter at a time)or E44 which is very hard to come

by. If you have an R3 to R8 (not an SL/SL2) there's an R-cam-only

version of the later lens which usually sells for about the same

price as a 3-cam 1st version.

[Robin Smith]

Marco

 

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They are both superb optics. The earlier one takes the series filters

which can be a pain if you are a filter kind of person. It also has a

detachable lenshood. But the quality of construction is superb, much

better than the current version. I have the current version because it

is lighter and has a built in lenshood (I like them). The current lens

has higher contrast wide open, but both produce beautiful images. The

older one has a more pleasant tactile feel to it, but for pure purely

practical terms I use the current version. Either one is an excellent

choice - your choice should probably be based on ergonomics or weight

preferences rather than performance issues.

[henk]

The only real difference i noticed is the slightly better contrast of

the canadian lense at ap 5.6, but i didnt really test it. I use the

canadian type mostly because its mechanically better than the old

type. If you plan to use the lense alot i would suggest you buy the

canadian version of the 50cron. It will also get historical value

eventually ;)

[cing_dao_kan1]

I was wondering if the 2nd version of the 50 Summicron-R has the same

optical formula of the current 50 Summicron-M.

[adam_lang1]

>I was wondering if the 2nd version of the 50 Summicron-R has the

>same optical formula of the current 50 Summicron-M.

 

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In a word, no.

Different back focus distance.