Didn’t I already write about the 1949 Leitz 5cm 1.5 Summarit? Why yes, I did, but in light of several recent conversations about this controversial fistful of German metal and glass, I want to make it clear, THE LEITZ SUMMARIT 5CM 1.5 DOES NOT SUCK!
Okay, so you might not be into swirlios and soft focus. I get it. I really do. I sort of had to acclimate my taste for that on other lenses too. But I think MOST photographers can agree on appreciating SHARP images, right? It’s usually the first compliment someone gives a lens. And who loves sharp lenses more than grain-sniffing Leicaphiles?!
I really feel like much of the criticism of this lens comes from folks who don’t want softer full aperture images (which is fine) and folks whose gear isn’t serviced.
So look, follow this explicitly, okay?
If you stop down a properly hooded (Leica XOONS), recently cleaned, calibrated, 100% functional mid-century Leitz 5cm Summarit, on an equally well-maintained M39 or M mount body, you WILL get images that I think most of us can agree, are, by conventional definitions, GOOD. Below is my proof.
Before we get started, I just want to thank Dan Tamarkin of Tamarkin.com for selling me my Leitz Summarit. He had two copies in stock at the time, one was more costly than mine due to its cosmetic perfection but I explained that I’d be using this lens, not adding it to a museum collection, and he was more than happy to sell me the cheaper lens and a cheaper matching brassed hood to go with it.
Here we go,
Objects:
People:
Ilford Delta 3200 @ 6400 | Kodak HC110b | Levels Adjustment in Photoshop
And if there was any doubt, here’s a 16th shot of me with my Summarit and hood, just to prove that I didn’t swap in a 50mm Summilux Aspheric 😉 :
So whaddya think? Is the Leitz Summarit worthy of a spot in your camera bag? Is a $500 Leica 50mm 1.5 just a dream or a dream come true? I get it, you want these results at full aperture? I mean, you’re just going to have to spend more, right? But for the price and with that added “soft focus swirlios feature”, I am still madly in love with my Leitz Summarit!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and see your examples!
Thanks for reading and happy shooting!
Follow, Favorite, Like, Add, Insult, Contact Johnny Martyr
The Thoughts & Photography of Johnny Martyr 
I love my summarit 50 but lens flare is a constant problem. Your shots seem to have better control when backlit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are you using a hood and has he lens been cleaned? As long as the front element coating is in good shape, you should only have to worry about very specific situations.
LikeLike
Lens is clean but I am not using the original square lens hood. At around $200 I avoided the cost. Might have to rethink.
LikeLike
I bought my hood and lens together knowing that flare is a real concern with LTM Leitz lenses. Dan Tamarkin must have given me a deal because I don’t recall having paid that much. Whatever you do, don’t buy one of those Chinese Summicron style hoods that are popular on eBay. They’re made of a very brittle aluminum and the thread pitch isn’t accurate, as you can imagine, so they strip and can become stuck on a lens. I will have a look around for a user condition original and let you know if I find anything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If my Summarit had cost $500 then I wouldn’t have bought it (and I think buying a lens hood would just about double what I paid). But all our talking has made me want to load up some Tri-X in the Canon 7 and break out the Summarit again! Thanks for challenging me.
On a different topic, I will say though that looking at 100% crops, you would definitely benefit from something better than a flatbed scanner.
LikeLike
Sadly, it sounds like got what you paid for then. I’d rather pay the right money, support a reputable shop and have s working, useable lens than just have another broken thing laying around the house while the seller gets a nice dinner out of the deal!
I’m glad you’re interested in giving it another go though! Maybe use your hand as a hood?
I use s flatbed bed for numerous very specific reasons that work for my business. Images print nicely on silver gelatin up to about 11×14. When my wife gets her new D5 I will snag her old full frame for scanning! But that’s going to be s big rework of my production methods and time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just put an Orange filter on the Summarit and put it on the M Monochrom. I’ve taken apart six of these now, optimized 3 of them for close-up/wide-open use. By design the Summarit tends to front-focus at F1.5, is optimized for F2.8. The Orange filter tends to shift focus towards infinity- so F2 will most likely be the sweet spot on my unmodified lens.
https://cameraderie.org/threads/tales-from-the-greasy-side-leica-5cm-f1-5-summarit-optimize-for-wide-aperture.39389/
The Summarit tends to get haze built up on the surfaces on each side of the aperture blades. Figure very 10~15 years it’s time to unscrew the front section and clean the glass. I’ve had my Summarit long enough to know.
Filter and Hood hint: Look for a Tiffen #611 series VI adapter, usually on Ebay “below the RADAR”. Easy to find S VI filters and Hoods once you have the adapter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the link, I believe I read that discussion some time ago. Good information. Very impressive.
LikeLike
Great write-up and sample images. I bought mine from Dan Tamarkin as well and got a less than flawless copy with a fair price to match. I tend to shoot zone focused stopped down so I’ve found the sharpness to be very acceptable.
LikeLiked by 1 person