50mm Summarit


But, the price for the hood is crazy $$$. :p

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Some guy bought this from me real cheap (in a moment of weakness of course :confused:).

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well, from my understanding, Summarit f1.5 is a very soft lens, softer than the lux type 1 (sharper only right in the middle). It is the closest lens with bokeh like the Canon Dream Lens f0.95. From the MTF chart, it renders less micro details than the lux type 1 which is already very low. Rumor has that a higher index glass was deployed after the Xenon f1.5 to improve performance. So far to me, their pictures look identical (of course I haven't given up on my eternal search for a minty piece of Xenon f1.5 yet if Stephen wants to sell me his) ;)

Summarit flares alot and should always be used with the hood hence the problem, filter size is E41 or slip-on E43, quite hard to find. Not a fantastic lens for color unless you like to PP after scanning. But I dare say it is one of the best lens for women portrait (after the noctilux) and before the Elmar 50.

Conclusion, it is a fine lens alright but dont expect top-notch performance. It has high risk of flaring and you risk that your best shot of the day has flare inside. The problem I find with Summarit nowadays is the extremely high price. I wouldn't bet on it, you are better off with a Russian Jupiter 3. It has higher contrast, less flare and is a Sonnar type but less swirls in the bokeh department of course. The new line of Summarit lenses are VERY fine. Top-notch performance. I don't have complains for any of them to be frank. Almost perfect if you are not looking for extreme speed.
 

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well, from my understanding, Summarit f1.5 is a very soft lens, softer than the lux type 1 (sharper only right in the middle). It is the closest lens with bokeh like the Canon Dream Lens f0.95. From the MTF chart, it renders less micro details than the lux type 1 which is already very low. Rumor has that a higher index glass was deployed after the Xenon f1.5 to improve performance. So far to me, their pictures look identical (of course I haven't given up on my eternal search for a minty piece of Xenon f1.5 yet if Stephen wants to sell me his) ;)

Summarit flares alot and should always be used with the hood hence the problem, filter size is E41 or slip-on E43, quite hard to find. Not a fantastic lens for color unless you like to PP after scanning. But I dare say it is one of the best lens for women portrait (after the noctilux) and before the Elmar 50.

Conclusion, it is a fine lens alright but dont expect top-notch performance. It has high risk of flaring and you risk that your best shot of the day has flare inside. The problem I find with Summarit nowadays is the extremely high price. I wouldn't bet on it, you are better off with a Russian Jupiter 3. It has higher contrast, less flare and is a Sonnar type but less swirls in the bokeh department of course. The new line of Summarit lenses are VERY fine. Top-notch performance. I don't have complains for any of them to be frank. Almost perfect if you are not looking for extreme speed.


U say it all bro. :)
I seen really good picture with russian RF lenses. :thumbsup:


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Awesome bokeh-ing! :bsmilie:
:thumbsup:
 

Just manage to get hold of one Summarit before CNY and gotta chance to try it then. Shots are taken without the hood, cos I still cant find one yet and all on films and no editting. All taken wide open at f1.5
Things seem to vapourise when OOF and all seems soft, but I like its character so far

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Boy, Thanks for all the replies!

After looking at some of the samples and further searching on flickr, i think the softness is quite a small price to pay for the amazing bokeh!

I think i'm just going to spend some time looking for one! the Rigid's bokeh is nothing like that!

Just a query, what makes bokeh swirlly?

Thanks!
JT
 

Summarit flares alot and should always be used with the hood hence the problem, filter size is E41 or slip-on E43, quite hard to find.

You sure you want a Xenon? It is uncoated and will flare even more! BTW, can use a 40.5mm filter, that was what I used on the M8. Also, I prefer the Summarit M-mount and not the LTM version. Canadian Midland version costs double.....:cry:
 

After I seen all the pic here, awesome! It's definitely a nice lens for portrait, like the softness..
 

well, from my understanding, Summarit f1.5 is a very soft lens, softer than the lux type 1 (sharper only right in the middle). It is the closest lens with bokeh like the Canon Dream Lens f0.95. From the MTF chart, it renders less micro details than the lux type 1 which is already very low. Rumor has that a higher index glass was deployed after the Xenon f1.5 to improve performance. So far to me, their pictures look identical (of course I haven't given up on my eternal search for a minty piece of Xenon f1.5 yet if Stephen wants to sell me his) ;)

Summarit flares alot and should always be used with the hood hence the problem, filter size is E41 or slip-on E43, quite hard to find. Not a fantastic lens for color unless you like to PP after scanning. But I dare say it is one of the best lens for women portrait (after the noctilux) and before the Elmar 50.

Conclusion, it is a fine lens alright but dont expect top-notch performance. It has high risk of flaring and you risk that your best shot of the day has flare inside. The problem I find with Summarit nowadays is the extremely high price. I wouldn't bet on it, you are better off with a Russian Jupiter 3. It has higher contrast, less flare and is a Sonnar type but less swirls in the bokeh department of course. The new line of Summarit lenses are VERY fine. Top-notch performance. I don't have complains for any of them to be frank. Almost perfect if you are not looking for extreme speed.

Bro...u said it well.

:)
 

Test shot of the lens using M8.2 mounted on tripod

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Shot wide open
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:)
 

Just wondering, what would you pay for a clean summarit these days. My last look on ebay, the price came really close to a v1 lux. Thinking about it now, it might actually make more sense to go for a V1 lux or maybe even cough out the extra for a V2.
 

I have been using this for a long time. Great lens but very prone to flare. In fact I brought 3 copies and non has no haze in them...

Only works well for digital user with lots of tweaking ...
 

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I have been using this for a long time. Great lens but very prone to flare. In fact I brought 3 copies and non has no haze in them...

Only works well for digital user with lots of tweaking ...

This is useful advice - regarding the tweaking, that is.
 

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