Well, now I am thinking of the Elmar 50mm since it collapses almost flat (I would use it for random shooting during business trips).

How is the Elmar 50, in terms of performance? Would I be better off just putting up with the extra bulk of rigid lens (i.e., Summicron)? Thanks everyone, you have all been very helpful thus far... Phillip

-- Phillip Silitschanu (speedin_saab@hotmail.com), January 13, 2002

Answers

(Yawn) This question gets asked at least once a week, every week.

Scroll down the main topic index page and look at all the other times this lens was discussed. Also, search google.com for the lens using "host:greenspun.com" as an additional search term.

-- Andrew Nemeth (azn@nemeng.com), January 13, 2002.

The third topic at the bottom of this Leica Forum is "Classic" and the next to the last thread is "Elmar 50mm lens." Check it out.

-- (bmitch@ome.com), January 13, 2002.

Phillip, I'll ghive you my opinion without you having to research. I've used old screw-mount Elmars with adaptors on M very successfully. They would be the most compact arrangement. But, the newer bayonet-mount are superior. For one thing they are coated and reduce flare. One caveat: always use a lens shade...that goes for ALL lenses, but is especially important with an Elmar. Faster film speed will make up for a slower lens very nicely. The new fast films available these days are superb. An Elmar is a great lens, in my opinion, but nothing matches a Summicron, period! Good luck

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

Now that we've got you convinced to change lenses, how about if we try to get you to change the camera it goes on. :-) I pack my IIIa for the kind of stuff you're thinking about, because that body is soooo small.

If the frameline-free Voigtlander finders for their 15 and 25 don't drive you crazy, then you're already softened up to use the frameline free finder in the LTM cameras, which I've found to be surprisingly accurate, if a tad cramped. Good IIIa bodies are common, and cheap, relatively, and that way, when you lose your briefcase you'll have lost a IIIa and an Elmar, rather than an M6 and brand new Summicron. :-)

Go to a camera shop and check out the combination--take your M6 along so you can see the difference. I love traveling with my IIIa--with the Voigtlander 25, and a 90 Elmar it's a tiny load.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), January 13, 2002.

Here's a rather lively recent debate:

50mm Elmar discussion

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 13, 2002.

Among my vast 50mm lens collection is an old Elmar with strange f- stops (6.3, 18, etc.) and a f-stop tab near the front element. Guess which of my cameras adores this lens? Yes--the Hexar RF. I took it to Paris once to save weight, and, of course, for the fun of it. It's a very good lens actually. I got a few candid portraits with it that I cherish.

And it is so light! Imagine this: Hexar RF, Elmar 50/3.5, Summilux 35/1.4, new Minolta 28/3.5, VC 15/4.5. In combination with TX-1 with 40/4 and 90/4.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), January 14, 2002.

The 50 Elmar is a lovely lens for all around use.

It sounds like you have an M, so the 2.8 and 3.5 are available with the E39 filter and outside aperature ring and proper coating. The M series Elmar is far preferable to a screw mount w/adapter. The front aperature ring and A36 filters are inconvenient at best, and may put you off to whole thing.

I've used a prewar-uncoated 50 and 35 Elmar for nearly all of my photography (black and white,hiking/art, weddings and theater when asked). Mine are 30's uncoated on a model III. My attachement to this combination is compactness and minimal investment. A screw mount Leica, particularly pre-war, takes a great deal of understanding to use well. Most technical problems discussed by others can be prevented by getting a copy of the Leica Manual by Morgan and Morgan for the era of the camera bought.

-- Thomas Berthe (Thomas.Berthe@pwc.ca), January 15, 2002.