50mm f/2 : Finger tab v.s. 6-bit

[n_e2]

I own 2 Leica M 50mm f/2. One is the finger tab version, another is current 6-

bit. Should I keep both of them or sell any one of them. Thank you.

[kenny_c]

WTF

[dan flanders]

Several had finger tabs, some with infinity lock; which one do you have?

[jerry_pfile3]

Get a finger tab installed on the 6 bit lens. Since optically they are the same, then you'll have both.

 

Jerry

[n_e2]

Thank you everyone.

 

Dan, my lens doesn't have infinity lock. It is the one before current version with build in hood.

[Uhooru]

That's a good lens, keep it.

[alan_wilder1]

It depends on the camera body used. Optically, we know they are the same but opto-mechanically I have always found the tabbed version to focus slightly differently where it focuses slightly behind the intended subject and the later built-in hood version will focus slightly infront of the subject. What it means in practical terms is that the tabbed version better compensates for focus shift wide open rendering a sharper plane of focus at f/2 compared to the later version which favors f/4 and smaller apertures for sharpest possible focus. I have found this consistent with several samples and believe it's an intentional change on Leica's part. An easy way to tell is that the tabbed versions falls slightly short of coincidence at infinity and the later versions focus slightly past infinity. Some have commented on back focus issues with the M8 vs. a film body M and I would base my decision on which works beat with the body you use.