The close-up Summicron from Leica is a special optic. I've been interested in it for a long time and now I was able to get my hands on a lens that's in good condition. The 50mm lens convinced me after the first film.
The special thing about the Nah-Summicron-M 2,0/50mm
The Nah-Summicron is a special variant of the Summicron 50mm. At Leica the name means Summicronthat the starting aperture is at f/2. Due to the rangefinder principle, Leica has the design disadvantage that a minimum distance of 70cm must be maintained. Earlier lenses usually used a minimum distance of 90cm. The Noctilux for example, even today you still need a distance of one meter from the object to be able to take a sharp picture. The close-up Summicron is an old lens and was built between 1956 and 1968. What makes it special is that it has a second distance setting. This allows distances between 48cm and 90cm. The SDPOO "glasses" are then required to compensate for parallax. Sounds complicated, but it is fascinating how Leica technically overcomes disadvantages through the design of its camera. In the picture above you can see the lens with the viewfinder attachment attached.
Why me?
Of course I didn't buy the lens because I like taking macro photos. Especially since I really know better alternatives than using Leica cameras. In addition, this optic can only be used to a very limited extent on a digital camera. The worm gear of the 7-lens with 10 aperture blades protrudes so far into the housing of a digital Leica at infinity that the sensor would be damaged.
The Summicron 50mm is actually said to have special optical properties. In addition, it allows portraits from a closer distance with 50mm. I also come from the generation that says "you can never have enough 50mm lenses." All reasons to look out for the optics. The problem with this old lens is that the coating wasn't that great back then and the front lens can become cloudy. Cleaning it can ruin your Summicron.
Ultimately, after a lot of searching and research, I got a really well-preserved one from 1961 on Saturday Master Camera acquired. Of course, I immediately inserted a T-Max 400 into my Leica MP and took a few test shots.
First pictures with the close-up Summicron
I am absolutely thrilled. My wife also immediately noticed the drawing, the sharpness and the details.
PS: The Leica experts will have noticed that I am not using the original lens hood. Although I could use normal 39mm filters, I already had a Series VII filter from my Summilux-M 35mm. This first variant of the Summilux uses this special size filter that is inserted into the sun visor. Fortunately, this lens hood fits the Nah-Summicron and I can save myself having to buy a new filter for black and white films.
<3
nice nerd stuff
Thank you!
I'm happy for you and hope you have a lot of fun with it. But I'm also extremely jealous. Especially when I see what great pictures are posted with it in this FB group: "We the lovers of old lenses/old glass (Meyer, Zeiss, Helios, ...)" https://www.facebook.com/groups/125253260992306/
Hello my name is Michael Lienhoop I recently bought the summicron 50mm DR. But I can't put it on my M6 with the glasses on because a small spacer next to the round lens in the glasses prevents this.
Question: Which cameras is this lens compatible with? M7 or M6 for example?
Maybe you can help me with that.
Greetings Michael Lienhoop.
Hi,
You first have to "screw" the lens onto the camera and then put the glasses on. The "spacer" is there to ensure that the glasses stay in the right place and don't slip.
Thank you for the excellent report. I used the lens with my M6. May I ask if it works on the M11? With other digital M's there was a compromise with the exposure meter. Thanks!
Hello and thank you. On the M11 you can use the lens at close range with the optical viewfinder or in LiveView. You just need to press the decrease button to switch to close range and back to normal range.
Everything you write is true. I took photos with the M6 and Summicron-M with a close-up attachment.
My conclusion: is it even possible to produce even more sharpness.
The woman I portrayed just said that there are wrinkles visible on my face that I have never seen myself.
Plus wonderful colors, i.e. very natural.
What can new high-performance lenses actually do better? Mine. Opinion nothing at all.
Kind regards from Düsseldorf
Joachim Storch
Question: the close-up attachment doesn't work with the m 5?
Greetings again
Joachim Storch
Unfortunately I'm stumped. I (unfortunately) never had an M5 in my hand.
Doesn't work with the m5. I tried, but unsuccessfully.
One thing to note: the M5 is unpopular with “Leica purists” because it deviates somewhat from the “common” model.
But: it sits better in the hand than the M6 or M0 - because it has more weight - and allows you to release it up to 4/1 without blurring, at least it works - sometimes - and the release is even quieter - that's my subjective impression - than the dear other M-Leicas.
Greetings from Düsseldorf
I know that the M5 is considered an “ugly duckling”, but technically it was certainly at the highest level at the time.
Thanks for trying out the Nah-Summicron on the M5!