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Can someone explain leica lens names

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EssexAsh

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Ok im looking for a 50mm lens for my m3. Browsing around i can see...

Summicron

Summilux

Summarit

Elmar

Elmarit

All with various letter after their names.

So is there some sort of order of quality that these names go in? Im sure theyre all nice, but which is generally better than the rest.

Thanks :)
 
The names depend on the maximum aperture of the lens, like so:

Noctilux f/0.95, f/1 and f/1.2

Summilux f1.4

Summicron f2

Summarit f2.5

Elmarit f2.8

Now, which one is best... I think optically they are all very good, so it all depends on your budjet and the maximum aperture you need (and the weight you are prepared to carry, as the Nocti is heavy).

In general, everyone dreams about a Noctilux, some lucky ones have the summilux, but most have the summicron. If your budget is small go for the summarit or an alternative lens from Zeiss or Voigtlander.

I have the Summicron and I am very happy with it. If you have the budget go for the Summilux otherwise go for the Summicron .

Best, D
EssexAsh said:
EssexAsh wrote:

Ok im looking for a 50mm lens for my m3. Browsing around i can see...

Summicron

Summilux

Summarit

Elmar

Elmarit

All with various letter after their names.

So is there some sort of order of quality that these names go in? Im sure theyre all nice, but which is generally better than the rest.

Thanks :)
Click to expand...
 
that's great, thanks :) Never would of realised the names related to the aperture!
 
The original "Summarit" was a 50mm F1.5 lens, it is an improved Xenon formula lens. The Summarit name appeared in the 1940s. It was retired when the Summilux was introduced in the late 1940s. Leica brought back the Summarit name for it's deluxe point and shoot "Minilux" film camera of the 1990s, and most recently as a less expensive series of M-Mount lenses.
 
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Leica also seems to have trademarked a new name for the new lens designed for Micro-FourThirds: the "Nocticron-DG 43.5mm f/1.2".
 
BSweeney said:
BSweeney wrote:

The original "Summarit" was a 50mm F1.5 lens, it is an improved Xenon formula lens. The Summarit name appeared in the 1940s. It was retired when the Summilux was introduced in the late 1940s.
Click to expand...
I still have one of the 50mm F1.5 Summarit lenses :) Works quite well :)
 
tony field said:
tony field wrote:
tony field said:
BSweeney wrote:

The original "Summarit" was a 50mm F1.5 lens, it is an improved Xenon formula lens. The Summarit name appeared in the 1940s. It was retired when the Summilux was introduced in the late 1940s.
Click to expand...
I still have one of the 50mm F1.5 Summarit lenses :) Works quite well :)

--
tony
http://www.tphoto.ca
Click to expand...





Summarit 50/1.5 on the M Monochrom, at the Quantico Marine Museum.

I have one in M-Mount, that I optimized for F1.5. The original Summarit 50/1.5 was optimized for F2.8. I moved the rear optics on mine.
 
BSweeney said:
BSweeney wrote:
I have one in M-Mount, that I optimized for F1.5. The original Summarit 50/1.5 was optimized for F2.8. I moved the rear optics on mine.
Click to expand...
Mine is an M-mount as well. What is the procedure to move the rear element ?? It is something that I might be interested in doing.
 
tony field said:
tony field wrote:
tony field said:
BSweeney wrote:

I have one in M-Mount, that I optimized for F1.5. The original Summarit 50/1.5 was optimized for F2.8. I moved the rear optics on mine.
Click to expand...
Mine is an M-mount as well. What is the procedure to move the rear element ?? It is something that I might be interested in doing.

--
tony
http://www.tphoto.ca
Click to expand...
I photographed the procedure, will need to upload.

Basically: I used a 0.2mm shim to increase the spacing between the front and rear groups. This increases the focal length slightly, and shifts the focus slightly back towards infinity. 5 Summarits that I've examined are 51.1mm. A standard Summarit will front-focus used at minimum distance, meaning the optics are too far from the sensor. The rear groups are held in with a retaining ring, but need to be pushed out through the front. The lens splits apart at the aperture. Took about 30 minutes.
 
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