The Leica Summilux 50mm 1.4 v1 e43 is a classic lens with an optical design that’s an upgrade from the Summarit 5cm f/1.5. At f/1.4, the image quality is already pretty good. I’ve heard people say this lens isn’t sharp enough at f/1.4, but I don’t agree. The f/1.4 aperture is often used in dark indoor situations, but I’ve found that I can get very clear photos when using it with the Leica M3. I think those who say this lens isn’t sharp enough may have encountered a lens in poor condition. After all, this lens was produced in 1958.
Affordable choice
The price of the v1 is lower than that of the later 50 1.4 v2 E43. The main reason is that the quality just isn’t that great. It’s also worth noting that the optical design of v2 has been further improved. In terms of the way it looks through the lens, the v1 is more like a mix of the v2 and the Summarit 50 1.5. From what I can see in the optical design diagram, it looks like it’s more like the 50 1.5 design.
Bokeh
The bokeh effect is a favorite among photographers looking to create unique and creative images. The out-of-focus edge spot of this lens will appear oval. It’s not as nice as the v2 version and looks a little messy. But in street photography and everyday photography, bokeh is still great for highlighting people in this kind of blur. The bokeh isn’t the v1’s strong point, but it’s not a dealbreaker.
In bright daylight, using wide apertures can cause overexposure. However, you can use ND filters to help you achieve your goal of reducing exposure. Sometimes I attach an ND filter to this lens and shoot at f/1.4 on the streets.
This was Leica’s first big step into the world of large aperture lenses with the Summarit 5cm f/1.5, which hit the market in 1939. At the time, it was tough to design a lens with a large aperture. This lens’s predecessor was designed and produced by Schneider. Later on, Leica used it to go up against Zeiss’ large aperture lenses. This lens is the foundation of Leica’s large aperture lens lineup. Leica’s later Summilux 50 1.4 v1 was based on this lens.
Bokeh
If the background isn’t too complex, the bokeh effect produced by the Leica 5cm f/1.5 Summarit softens the subject and can create a dreamy, ethereal effect. If you’re shooting people up close, like within two meters, you can reduce shadows and imperfections on their faces. To be clear, this lens isn’t sharp at f/1.5, and there seems to be a thin layer of gauze covering the front of the lens.
If you’re working with a complex background, like branches or leaves, the bokeh will look messy. The bokeh can be a bit intrusive and distracting. This can be a real turn-off for many people. One way to avoid this issue is to avoid shooting in areas with trees and lights in the background.
Affordable
Its price is pretty reasonable, about the same as the Elmar 50 3.5, but it’s a large-aperture lens with f/1.5. And it’s a Leica lens.
leica 5cm f/1.5 summarit + leica m3 + Black and white film
Leica has a reputation for high quality, and if you want a fast lens for a 35-millimeter film camera, this SUMMARIT model would be a great addition to your gear.Leica SUMMARIT 50-millimeter lenses were made in the 1940s and 1950s.
Pre oduction period: 1949-1960 Code: SOOIA(screw mount) SOOlA-M(bayonet) Serial#:740,001-1,537,000 Total production: ca. 65.000
Maximum aperture: 1: 1.5
Focal length(nominal): 50mm Angle: 450
Minimum distance: 100cm
Weight: 320 grams
Filter: E41 or slip on 43mm
Leica is all about keeping things small. The Leica Tele-Elmarit 90mm f/2.8 is known as the “Slim 9.” The previous version was a bit fatter and was called the “Fat 9.” The Slim Nine is a very popular travel lens that many people love. The latest version of the “Slim Nine” is prone to fogging and can’t be removed. Some people say it’s because of oil or coating problems. The buyer also discounted my lens because of fogging. Luckily, it’s not too expensive overall.
great
This lens is really compact and produces great images. It’s about the same size as the Minolta Leica Elmar-C 90mm f/4, but has a larger f/2.8 aperture. The picture quality is also excellent, with great clarity and high contrast. This lens is great for street photography and landscape photography.
bokeh
As you can see from the lens name, the Tele-Elmarit is great for shooting faraway objects with high definition. So, bokeh isn’t really its specialty. I don’t often shoot distant objects, so I’d say the Summicron-M 90mm f/2 E55 is my favorite lens in that focal length range.
For a 90mm focal length lens, it’s got f/4, but the aperture could be better. However, many people like this lens, which is made up of three pieces of glass. It actually has excellent optical quality and vivid color contrast. Collectors like it because it was produced in small quantities. This also makes it cost more than the regular version. What makes it special is that it uses more advanced glass than the previous version, with only three pieces, while the previous version had four pieces.
There are 5,947 M-mount lenses and 543 L39 screw-mount lenses. The lenses were made between 1964 and 1968.
High definition, high contrast
The Elmar 90mm f4 3-element is noticeably sharper than previous versions. It’s better than the Elmarit 90mm 2.8 V1 at f/4. The picture is much more vivid than the Tele-Elmarit 90mm 2.8. This lens is really sharp.
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The Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 has the largest aperture of any Leica lens. It can capture light in really low-light conditions. He’s known as the “King of the Night” to many fans. Even the light from a street lamp is enough when using this lens. The lens is made from a combination of aluminum and brass to make it durable and heavy-duty. The “floating element” design ensures high image quality even when shooting close up.
The Noctilux lens, which came out in 1966 with an f/1.2 aperture (about 1,500 units were made in total), was more of a tech demo and marketing gimmick than anything else. The optical improvement of the Noctilux f/0.95 is pretty significant. This is a reliable, high-quality lens.
Bokeh
The Noctilux 50mm f/1.0 and Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 are sharper than the Noctilux f/0.95 when they’re wide open at f/0.95. They also produce a unique and distinctive aesthetic effect. The bokeh effect of the Noctilux 0.95 is similar to that of the Noctilux 1.0, with background light points becoming ovals towards the sides of the image. The 0.95 bokeh is great, and has a three-dimensional effect similar to that of a twin-lens reflex camera with an 80mm f2 lens. This feature is unique to this lens.
Focus Speed
It’s a common complaint that large aperture lenses make focusing difficult on rangefinder cameras. The Noctilux 0.95 focus ring has a relatively short travel, which makes it quick to focus in street photography. This feature isn’t available in other versions of the Noctilux. The only downside to using this lens is that it’s on the heavy side. I don’t think focusing is an issue.
Purple Fringing
If you’re using a digital camera and you’re facing a strong light source, you might see purple fringing. For a lens with an f/0.95 aperture, it’s not a disadvantage and is normal.
Viewfinder blocked
The Noctilux 0.95 is a lens that many photographers dream of having. Just a heads-up: Before you buy, think about these three things: cost, portability, and viewfinder occlusion. After using the Noctilux, I found that after installing the Noctilux lens, a large part of the field of view in the lower right corner of the viewfinder is blocked. This is a big problem for people who need to communicate with precision, but it’s fine for me.
Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH
The extremely shallow depth of field at open aperture produces portraits and detailed studies of unequalled aesthetic effect.
Brand Leica
Lens Type Standard
Compatible Mountings Leica M
Camera Lens Description 8
Maximum Focal Length 50 Millimeters
If you like the Leica Super-Angulon 21/3.4, you might also like the Leica Elmarit 28/2.8 v1, as they have similar color performance. It’s possible that the designers of the Elmarit 28 v1 were inspired by the Schneider Super-Angulon, despite their different focal lengths.
28mm for Street Photography
A 28mm lens is great for street photography because you can capture a lot of environmental details. This focal length is perfect for travel records and life captures, which is why the iPhone has had a 28mm lens for many years. The main issue with 28mm is distortion control. If it’s distorted, it’ll look unappealing. However, the Leica Elmarit 28/2.8 V1 has perfectly controlled distortion, making it the best 28mm lens I’ve ever used, even better than later versions. The advantage of nearly zero distortion is that you can capture photos as you like, even at close range, without any strange feeling.
28mm lens that brings out the 35mm frame line
The first camera with a 28mm frame line was the Leica M4-P, which came out in 1980. They didn’t meet in 1972. It’ll bring out the 35mm frame line on the Leica M2, M4, M6, M7, MP, and M9. This is a 28mm lens that brings out the 35mm frame line. Just a quick reminder: Normally, I use the edge of the viewfinder as the 28mm frame line, and it works pretty well.
Avoid m5 and cl
Just a heads-up: The rear lens group is much longer than an ordinary lens and will be inserted into the camera body, which might affect the metering module of the Leica M5 or CL.
Just a heads-up: Leica product number 11801 with a serial number lower than 2314921 can’t be used on M5 and CL models. It’ll damage the metering arm. You can also use this lens with all other Leica M cameras, including digital M cameras.
Leica is often seen as expensive, but there are actually plenty of second-hand lenses that are not very expensive. For instance, the Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39 is quite old but still works great and is very cheap!
Paired with Leica iiig
The early 90mm lens looked a bit awkward when mounted on an M camera. So I decided to mount it on the IIIg, and they look quite nice. The Leica ELMAR 90mm f4 is excellent and rivals all modern Leica lenses. It’s a little too sharp, but it’s totally worth it. Maybe the F4 aperture is too small, and modern people pursue large apertures. Even at f/4, the 90mm lens can still produce beautiful bokeh effects. The aperture factor is one thing, but bokeh also depends on the distance between the lens and the subject. The closer the subject, the more obvious the bokeh.
90mm Street Photography
Saul Leiter uses a 90mm lens and does not rely on bokeh or atmosphere. He is a true master of 90mm. I think using a telephoto lens for street photography is an elegant act. You know, it takes a lot of courage to take a close-up shot with a 21mm lens, and it’s easy to spot. But the closer you get, the easier it is to get powerful photos. Street photography with a 90mm lens requires a strong sense of observation. To be honest, I’m not good at 90mm photography and prefer to use a 35mm lens.
Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39
info
Focal Length: 9cm (90mm) Mount: LEICA SM Min. Focusing Distance: approx. 1m (3ft) Minimum / Maximum Aperture: f/36(f/32 N)~f/4.0 Filter Attachament Size: E39 Weight: approx. 240/300g
Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39
The Summitar 50 f/2 is the predecessor of the Summicron 50mm f/2. This lens uses new glass and a new design, which brings its optical level up to a higher level than its predecessor. At the same time, it also has the same compact structure and light weight as its predecessor lens. But what really sets this lens apart is that its glass is radioactive.
Radioactive Yellow Glass
The main source of radioactivity in lenses is the use of thorium oxide as the glass component in the lens elements. Thorium oxide glass provides a high refractive index and low dispersion, which helps lens designers minimize chromatic aberration and reduce curvature. However, the presence of thorium in the glass can cause the lens elements to yellow over time.
Is Radiation?
If you use these lenses correctly, there’s no risk to your health from the thorium in the Leica Summicron 5cm lenses. I’ve got five of these lenses and I’ve measured their radiation levels one by one. The radiation levels are higher in the early stages than they are in the later stages. However, prolonged exposure to this radiation can damage the eyes and cause cataracts and other vision problems. The main source of radiation is within ten centimeters directly in front of the lens. The radiation value behind the lens is pretty much nothing.
Radioactive yellow glass serial number: NR 920××× NR 921××× NR 922××× NR 993××× NR 994××× NR 995××× No. 1009××× Nr102×××× No. 104××××
Clarity
When you stop the lens down to f/2, it delivers excellent subject separation, background blur, and low-light performance without sacrificing too much sharpness. However, if you stop the aperture down to f/4, it’s really sharp and captures all the detail you could ask for. It’s a lot better than the Summitar.
Maybe a small, exquisite, and beautiful 35mm lens can change your view of photography or give you a different photography style. The Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 Asph is the key to opening the door of street photography for you.
Versions
The Leica Summicron lens has always been a popular choice for street photographers and report photographers. Before the 35mm asph version, there were already four versions without asph. Their optical quality was really impressive, way above what you’d get from other brands of the same era. In terms of optical technology, asph is a big step up from previous versions.
Just wanted to let you know that the asph version has two generations now. I use the first generation asph. It comes in three colors: black anodized aluminum and silver brass chrome. There is also a brass black lacquered version, which is pretty rare. The second generation asph has the same optical design as the first, but with the addition of the aperture blades. I’m happy with the first generation.
Golden ratio
I think the Leica Summicron 35mm lens paired with an M camera is the most beautiful combination. I think it’s a great combination, and my favorite so far. I don’t like to install lens hoods because I want to maintain the golden ratio of lens to camera.
Rainbow
I think the anti-glare capability could be better. With backlighting or side backlighting, it’s easy to create a beam of light that damages the screen. But many people think it’s a wonderful rainbow and have fun with it. I’m not a big fan of it, though. I prefer more classical flares such as large light spots and reduced overall contrast.
Conclusion
I’m amazed that this lens was made in 1997. It works perfectly with digital cameras and produces rich colors and great sharpness. Leica lenses are really good quality. This lens is built to last a lifetime.
