Lens reviews

Orio · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 18167 Location: West Emilia

LEICA SUMMICRON-R 50
Third version (last version)

This lens was introduced in 1979, as the final evolution of the reflex version of Summicron 50, probably the most successful Leica lens of modern times.
Compared to the first version of this lens, released in 1964, this third version features, just like the second version (introduced 1976) a completely recalculated optical scheme, and a completely different barrel design. The most important change is of course the optical redesign, which improves the performance of the lens wide open, and improves the sharpness too, perhaps (like someone says) a little at the expense of wide open bokeh. There is no optical difference between the second and third version of the lens, the latter one being compatible only with the R reflex cameras (thus not any more with Leicaflexes).
This Summicron-R 50 third version was ranked second in a poll between photojournalists who had to decide about the best 50mm reflex lens of all time (the winner was the Zeiss Planar 1.4/50 in the Contax version).
This Summicron-R 50 is a very useful lens that makes it possible for the amateur photographer to get a taste of Leica quality at an affordable price. The performance wide open suffers a slightly bit from vignetting, but already at f/2.8 it reaches top quality, that lasts throughout the whole aperture range.
The colours of this lens have that slight cool cast that is typical of Leica lenses. Some people love it (as it makes for more realistic skin rendering), some people don't, but the latter can easily fix the problem by adding a good skylight filter in front of the lens. Digital camera users don't even need to do that as most digital reflex today offer automatic white balance.
The images produced by this lens feature the remarkable detail and clarity that people usually associate with Leica lenses, and they are sure to never disappoint the demanding photography passionates.
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LucisPictor · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject:

Cosina Wide-Angle 3.8/20 MC

My copy of this lens comes with the Nikon-F-mount and AI-functionality.
This lens is interesting since with its focal length of 20mm it provides wide angle photography even at a crop DSLR (at a Canon EOS 350D its FoV is similar to a 32mm lens at a full frame or film cam.)

The colours are nice and quite close to reality, contrast is fine but not too strong. The sharpness this lens produces is only mediocre and sometime leaves a bit to be wanted, especially when wide open. If you can shoot at f8, lack of sharpness is no issue any more.

Flaring is not a huge problem, either. In some difficult situations you can see some flares, but the coating seems to be a rather good one.

Some kind of drawback is the slight distortion. It is much better than you will find in most zoom lenses (even at 28mm) but it still is visible, also at a crop DSLR. So this Cosina is, as far as distortion is concerned, no match for the CZJ Flektogons which are much better corrected.

The best part of this lens is its price. You can get this lens for half the price of a Flek 4/20.

As a final verdict, I would say that the Cosina 3.8/20 will disappoint a pro but can be a very nice lens for somebody who looks for an affordable 20mm MF lens and is willing to accepts some faults that can be corrected with post-processing.
_________________
"KAPCTEH" | "Karusutenu" | "Carsten" | T-shirt?
Cams in use: EOS 5D, EOS 40D, EF/M, EOS 300, Spotmatic SPII, EXA 1c, Rollei 35XF, Minox 35 GL, Yashica Electro 35 GS, FED-3b, Kodak Retina Ia and some others...
Lenses in use: Asahi Pentax: 3.5/35;1.4/50;1.7/50;2.8/105;3.5/135 | Former GDR: CZJ Flek 4/20; Meyer 1.9/58; CZJ 4/135 | Leica: Summicron 2.0/35; Summicron 2.0/50; Elmar 4/180 | Mamiya: 1.8/55 | Nikkor: 2.8/24;1.4/50;1.2/55;1.8/85; | West German: Ludwig 2.9/50; Steinheil 2.8/85; Will 4.5/105; Zeiss 4.5/105; Schneider 3.5/135; Zeiss 4/135; Enna 4.5/240 | Olympus: 1.4/50; | Rikenon: 35-70 | Rollei: 1.8/50, 80-200 | Russian: Peleng 3.5/8; Zenitar 2.8/16; Volna 2.8/50; Industar 3.5/50; Industar 3.5/5cm; Helios 2/58; Jupiter 2/85; Jupiter 3.5/135; RF: Jupiter 2.8/35; Jupiter 2/50 | Soligor: 28-105;35-200;60-300;70-220 | Tamron: 2.5/135; 8/500 | Tokina: 28-85; 28-105 | Vivitar: 3.5/17;2/28;2.5/28 | Yashica: 2/5cm |
Green is the gear I use the most. More? http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65
AF-lenses: Canon: 1.8/50 | Sigma: 1.8/24; 28-105; 18-125 OS | Tokina: 12-24; 24-200; 28-70 | Tamron 80-210 | http://lucispictor.weebly.com/

LucisPictor · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject:

Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/35 (first version)

I guess it is time to write about this lens that has amazed me from the first moment on I held it in my hands.

The Leica R Lens Price Guide (http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/b.htm) estimates this lens at about $150,-, whereas Kadlubek estimates it at about $296,- and in the 2007/08 FM list it is listed as approx. $220,-. If you watch this lens on ebay or ask sellers on a camera fair about this lens, you will see that a mint copy goes for between $200,- and $280,- in most cases.
I paid €100,- (ca. $140,-) for it, because it has not been cleaned beforehand. Kind of silly, really, but very good for me!

According to the serial number, my copy was built in 1964, in the first year this lens was produced. This might be another reason why I got it for such a "low" price. Furthermore it is, if Rarity Ratings is right, not a very rare lens. Well, as I said, good for me. I want to use it and not to find a collector's item.

Karen Nakamura (from Photoethnography) describes this lens like this: "The only wide-angle R lens that I have is the first generation 35mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R, which was originally released in 1964 for the Leicaflex. Mine is the first version 7-element in 5-group lens with 2-cams for the Leicaflex SL. The contrast on this is rather low and it flares out pretty easily. A hood is essential.
The 35mm Elmarit-R was recomputed in 1973, gaining a group (7 elements in 6 groups) and contrast is much higher. This version apparently has excellent close-up performance, even surpassing the 35mm Summicron-R." (See: http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?Lens-R.html~mainFrame)

And the Japanese site "Play with lenses" (nice title) says: "This is the first Elmarit-R 35mm/f2.8 introduced in 1964. Very similar looking to Summicron-R 50mm/f2 (Type I). When you take this lens and you feel its density through its weight despite of its compactness. It suffers from flare, distortion and low contrast, however, thanks to the modern films which are too contrasty, would help this lens's defects turning into the advantages. Well stop-down is necessary if you require the best result ... With R7, you feel the dense force from it. And you can not resist against the temptation, better give it up!"[sic!] (See: http://rlfc.world.coocan.jp/PlaywLense/pwlensemenu.html)

Hmmm... these descriptions comply by no means to my experiences with the Elmarit (except the last sentence Wink

).
If it "flares", I cannot really say, since I normally use a lens with a hood. In none of my frames so far I have realised some flare problems.
EDIT: After several test shots some in really demanding light conditions, I can say that "flares" are no problem at all if you use a hood! I don't know what these "reviewers" did. Shocked

"Distortion" must be a joke. But OK, this might be caused by me shooting with a crop-DSLR.
"Low contrast": I neither would call this a problem. Either I have fuzzy eyes, my lens provides more contrast than theirs or it again has to do with the fact that I shoot digitally. I cannot complain about the contrast behaviour of this Leica lens at all.
I will have to test the Elmarit on film, though.

The impressions that I got of this lens reads like this: a very sharp and contrasty lens that renders colours neutrally if not a little cooler than reality - perfect for skin colour. It is extremely well built and handles excellently. The apertures "snap in" and the focus ring turns very smoothly with a perfect level of resistance, a feeling that I like to call "velvety". It generates images that are both usable directly from the cam and perfect material for post-production.

It might be that this lens has the above mentioned drawbacks, but at a crop-DSLR such as my EOS 350D, this lens seems to be almost perfect. Thus I rated it with 9 /10 points on my lens website, a result that only the Nikkor-S.C 1.2/55 and the Nikkor-H 1.8/85 also were able to achieve. I would even rate it slightly better than one of my favourite lenses: Nikkor-O 2.0/35 (8.5/10 pts.)
(Just for comparison reasons: Yashica ML 2.8/28 - 8/10; Pentacon auto 1.8/50 - 7.5/10; Jupiter-9 2.0/85 - 8/10; Jupiter 37-A 3.5/135 - 8.5/10)
_________________
"KAPCTEH" | "Karusutenu" | "Carsten" | T-shirt?
Cams in use: EOS 5D, EOS 40D, EF/M, EOS 300, Spotmatic SPII, EXA 1c, Rollei 35XF, Minox 35 GL, Yashica Electro 35 GS, FED-3b, Kodak Retina Ia and some others...
Lenses in use: Asahi Pentax: 3.5/35;1.4/50;1.7/50;2.8/105;3.5/135 | Former GDR: CZJ Flek 4/20; Meyer 1.9/58; CZJ 4/135 | Leica: Summicron 2.0/35; Summicron 2.0/50; Elmar 4/180 | Mamiya: 1.8/55 | Nikkor: 2.8/24;1.4/50;1.2/55;1.8/85; | West German: Ludwig 2.9/50; Steinheil 2.8/85; Will 4.5/105; Zeiss 4.5/105; Schneider 3.5/135; Zeiss 4/135; Enna 4.5/240 | Olympus: 1.4/50; | Rikenon: 35-70 | Rollei: 1.8/50, 80-200 | Russian: Peleng 3.5/8; Zenitar 2.8/16; Volna 2.8/50; Industar 3.5/50; Industar 3.5/5cm; Helios 2/58; Jupiter 2/85; Jupiter 3.5/135; RF: Jupiter 2.8/35; Jupiter 2/50 | Soligor: 28-105;35-200;60-300;70-220 | Tamron: 2.5/135; 8/500 | Tokina: 28-85; 28-105 | Vivitar: 3.5/17;2/28;2.5/28 | Yashica: 2/5cm |
Green is the gear I use the most. More? http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65
AF-lenses: Canon: 1.8/50 | Sigma: 1.8/24; 28-105; 18-125 OS | Tokina: 12-24; 24-200; 28-70 | Tamron 80-210 | http://lucispictor.weebly.com/

Attila · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 27518 Location: Budapest,Hungary

Nice reviews! Thanks!
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Folder cameras: Konishiroku Pearl, Bessa RF Heliar,Bessa I Color-Skopar,Ercona II Tessar,Franka III Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar
[color=black][b]35mm rangefinderKonica III,Bessa L,Yashica Electro GN,Canonette QL 17
35mm SLRKonica FM,Konica FP,Konica FT-1,Konica FC-1,Konica TC4,Nikon FA,Exakta VarexIIa,Fujica ST801
Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon:2.8/20mm, 2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/85mm,2/85mm,2.8/135mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,3.5/55mm macro,2/90mm macro,35-70mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro
Konica:21mm f4, 28mm f3.5,35mm f2.8,50mm f1.4,57mm f1.2,85mm f1.8,100mm f2.8,135mm f3.5,135mm f3.2,200mm f3.5,4/300mm,40cm f4.5
Please visit my Ebay shop
and my company site
http://www.hqdesign.eu/

huhging · Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 228 Location: New York

Leica Elmarit R 28/2.8 ROM (latest version)

I was fortunate enough to find this len used.
This lens is known as the best 28mm lens ever....
However, the older version is not so good.
The difference between the old and new version is that the new one has a built-in sliding square hood. The key word is Built-IN.
I took few shots with this lens, and it truely is a wonderful lens.
You really need to stop down only to have more DOF. The lens is tak sharp wide open.
The huge plus for this lens is that it can be cloe-focus because it has floating element...
The negative side of this lens is that it comes at a very high price...
$1200-$1300 used...
But, I've never regretted paying for it.
I wanted something wider than Canon 35/1.4L, which I had.
I sold the 35L to buy this lens...it's that good.

Attila · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 27518 Location: Budapest,Hungary

Wow! A dream lens! Thank you for your report!!
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Folder cameras: Konishiroku Pearl, Bessa RF Heliar,Bessa I Color-Skopar,Ercona II Tessar,Franka III Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar
[color=black][b]35mm rangefinderKonica III,Bessa L,Yashica Electro GN,Canonette QL 17
35mm SLRKonica FM,Konica FP,Konica FT-1,Konica FC-1,Konica TC4,Nikon FA,Exakta VarexIIa,Fujica ST801
Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon:2.8/20mm, 2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/85mm,2/85mm,2.8/135mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,3.5/55mm macro,2/90mm macro,35-70mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro
Konica:21mm f4, 28mm f3.5,35mm f2.8,50mm f1.4,57mm f1.2,85mm f1.8,100mm f2.8,135mm f3.5,135mm f3.2,200mm f3.5,4/300mm,40cm f4.5
Please visit my Ebay shop
and my company site
http://www.hqdesign.eu/

piticu · Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 533 Location: Romania

huhging · Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 228 Location: New York

Will have to see the end of the bidding as far as the price is concerned, but it really looks nice on the pictures...

Seller says...
There are some spots on the rear element however, this may or may no affect quality.

This is the only thing that kinda bothers me, but who knows...

LucisPictor · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:21 am Post subject:

Bobby, I get you will not find a better zoom than your Leica 70-180!

As far as price-performance-ratio / value is concerned, I am convinced that the Tamron SP 60-300 is on of the best lenses around.
_________________
"KAPCTEH" | "Karusutenu" | "Carsten" | T-shirt?
Cams in use: EOS 5D, EOS 40D, EF/M, EOS 300, Spotmatic SPII, EXA 1c, Rollei 35XF, Minox 35 GL, Yashica Electro 35 GS, FED-3b, Kodak Retina Ia and some others...
Lenses in use: Asahi Pentax: 3.5/35;1.4/50;1.7/50;2.8/105;3.5/135 | Former GDR: CZJ Flek 4/20; Meyer 1.9/58; CZJ 4/135 | Leica: Summicron 2.0/35; Summicron 2.0/50; Elmar 4/180 | Mamiya: 1.8/55 | Nikkor: 2.8/24;1.4/50;1.2/55;1.8/85; | West German: Ludwig 2.9/50; Steinheil 2.8/85; Will 4.5/105; Zeiss 4.5/105; Schneider 3.5/135; Zeiss 4/135; Enna 4.5/240 | Olympus: 1.4/50; | Rikenon: 35-70 | Rollei: 1.8/50, 80-200 | Russian: Peleng 3.5/8; Zenitar 2.8/16; Volna 2.8/50; Industar 3.5/50; Industar 3.5/5cm; Helios 2/58; Jupiter 2/85; Jupiter 3.5/135; RF: Jupiter 2.8/35; Jupiter 2/50 | Soligor: 28-105;35-200;60-300;70-220 | Tamron: 2.5/135; 8/500 | Tokina: 28-85; 28-105 | Vivitar: 3.5/17;2/28;2.5/28 | Yashica: 2/5cm |
Green is the gear I use the most. More? http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65
AF-lenses: Canon: 1.8/50 | Sigma: 1.8/24; 28-105; 18-125 OS | Tokina: 12-24; 24-200; 28-70 | Tamron 80-210 | http://lucispictor.weebly.com/

WallyJr74 · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 110 Location: Canada

Thanks for the wonderful reviews. Very Happy

francotirador · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 230 Location: Buenos Aires

Very good information, thanks to all.
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Canon 5D,
CZJ 180 2.8 P6 - Pentacon 135 2.8 preset - CZJ Sonnar 135 3.5 - Nikkor P 105 2.5(desing sonnar) - Biometar 80mm 2.8 P6 - Rokkor 58mm 1.2 - Pancolar 50mm 1.8 MC - Flektogon 35mm 2.4 MC - Sigma Super W II 24 2.8 K Mount - Tokina ATX Pro SV 28/70 2.8
& Matte Box & filters 4X4
www.isgleasphoto.com

The life is more easy with this forum ....

francotirador · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 230 Location: Buenos Aires

Here is a good test of this lens
http://slrlensreview.com/web/carl-zeiss-slr-lenses-51/telephoto-slr-lenses-95/400-carl-zeiss-jena-mc-sonnar-135mm-m42-f35-lens-review.html
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Canon 5D,
CZJ 180 2.8 P6 - Pentacon 135 2.8 preset - CZJ Sonnar 135 3.5 - Nikkor P 105 2.5(desing sonnar) - Biometar 80mm 2.8 P6 - Rokkor 58mm 1.2 - Pancolar 50mm 1.8 MC - Flektogon 35mm 2.4 MC - Sigma Super W II 24 2.8 K Mount - Tokina ATX Pro SV 28/70 2.8
& Matte Box & filters 4X4
www.isgleasphoto.com

The life is more easy with this forum ....

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 117 Location: Charleston

Here is a slightly edited version of a report I recently contributed to a forum thread...

My newest lens addition is the Vivitar Series 1 200mm f/3. I'm still getting to know this lens. I am discovering in addition to the focusing challenges, there are other characteristics that must be considered and managed in order to get the best images. The lens definitely has its strengths and weaknesses. Despite focusing challenges, which might be more of a focusing screen issue in the camera, and which also might at times lead one to question resolution, the lens is actually quite sharp. It is a wonderful close focus lens with a minimum distance of 120cm or just under four feet. Honestly, I thought I was even closer than that. The surroundings here have been rather bland since this is winter, so it's hard to evaluate the color, although initially I will have to say neutral. The bokeh is quite interesting, very creamy wide open and busy but still interesting when stopped down.

The lens has much more CA than I had expected; in fact, more than any other lens I've used. This requires one to use the lens cautiously in high CA type environments. Stopping down helps, but the improvement is more gradual than I would like. In the most severe situations, it may take f/11 to fully escape CA. The big issue with the CA problem is that it limits your ability to take full advantage of the lens' wonderful bokeh when fully open. Although, when fully open it might also be subject to ghosting, although that goes away very quickly with an aperture change.

Once finding this lens' strengths and understanding its weaknesses, it can be a great contributor and provide wonderful results. It is especially nice as a close focus lens. And although longer than a customary portrait lens, I do like the portrait image it provides.

Wide open is reasonably sharp, but loaded with CA:

Stopped down to around f/8, gets very sharp and CA all but gone. Bokeh gets busy:

At f/5.6 it is very sharp, but traces of CA remain:

And stopped down to f/11:

Tripod mounted, mild 25% Crop:

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Regards,
Woodrim