Leica 50mm Elmar-M f/2.8

Review Date
October 24, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Reviewed by
Michael J Hoffman , Expert

Price Paid
$845.00 at B&H

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
This is the best general purpose camera lens I've ever used. The lens is sharp and very contrasty. The build and finish is absolutely top quality. Mechanical operation has to be used to be appreciated. Images from this lens are better than from any other lens I've ever used. This lens is a top-quality product for which you pay top-dollar. It is no bargain, but for me it is worth every penny. The Leica M system provides a different way of working which, for my needs, is invaluable. All components of the M system contribute to the unique approach it provides to photographic composition.

Strengths
outstanding optical performance
top quality build
precision mechanical operation

Weaknesses
prohibitively expensive

Similar Products Used
Canon EF 50/1.8 Mk I

Customer Service
not yet needed

Review Date
June 17, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Reviewed by
RRoss , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00 at eBay

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
The Leica Elmar is beyond any doubt a superb lens.
It is constructed to the very highest standards of excellence (mine is a silver chrome type). It is remarkably heavy for such a small lens, but that is no disadvantage.

It handles like a dream.

But best of all is the truly wonderful optical performance. It is not simply that it is sharp, it is absolutely pin sharp. But it produces an image with wonderful depth and form, a 3 dimensionality that is very rare. Its colour reporduction is also first class.

Strengths
Build, materials, size, image quality of the very highest standard.
Outstanding

Weaknesses
Wildly, madly expensive new (but not too expensive secondhand).

Similar Products Used
Prime standrad lenses from, for example, Canon, Contax (SLR and G types), Voigtlander, Russian lens, Nikon (1.2 and 1.8), Leica Summicron (M and R types).

Review Date
April 2, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 10 votes

Reviewed by
Mike Johnston , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
Give me a break. A 50mm f/2.8 for $700 is high value? It's close to the worse value in the entire photographic Universe. You can get better, faster 50s for much less money from almost any manufacturer. In you have to have a Tessar-type like this one, you can buy new ones from Contax or Nikon (45mm f/2.8 Tessar and Nikkor-P 45mm f/2.8 respectively) for less than $300. Or, if you insist on having Leica lens, then you can buy a 50-year-old Elmar that is better made--again for less money. I compared this lens directly with the old version. Holding both in your hands, it's painfully obvious that the old one is both better made and better finished than the new one. The old one locks in place more positively and is actually more rigid!

The Elmar-M is indeed extremely sharp. However, it's an exaggerated sharpness that has none of the fabled "roundness" that Leica lenses used to be famous for. And like all Tessar-types it has excessive curvature of field wide open. I prefer the image quality of the old one.

Toss-up whether to give this two or three stars. I chose three because it IS very sharp, and will serve you well if you like it. But it's really a lens that is a non-starter for almost any prospective user.

Review Date
November 12, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Reviewed by
chris tremlett , Casual , from stavanger norway

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
Much the same sentiments as Jorge. I actually prefer results from my elmar to those from my summicron f2/50mm (yes I have both - it's a long story why. Mostly it's about tone, limited flare and contrast control. The elmar delivers while the summicron has yet to convince me of its superiority over the elmar (apart from lpmm guff)or even my nikon 50mm/f1,8 auto.
Maybe I just have an anomalously questionable summicron, but to all those out there considering the choice of 50mm elmar vs 50 mm summicron (and there seems to be an overwhelming response in net threads in favour of the summicron) I would urge you to at least try both before you buy and study the results. In my experience they ARE different and it's down to personal taste as to which you ultimately prefer.

Strengths
size, tonal qualities of images and, relatively (for leica) cheap

Weaknesses
(i) setting up in a hurry is a hastle (extending & locking lens)
(ii)performance at f2.8 isn't so wonderful

Similar Products Used
summicron 50f2, nikon 50f1.8, OM zuiko 50 1,8

Customer Service
none required so far

Review Date
December 29, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
Jorge Diaz , Intermediate , from Boston, Ma. USA

Price Paid
$560.00 at Photo Village

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
This is a revival of the old flame Elmar 50.Revised glass and computations on this very simple lens.Collapsed makes the Leica M a jacket pocket camera.Optics need(admittedly)to be stopped down for competitivity and once done rivals the big guys.I have done 11x14" color enlargements that I feel rival medium for-
mat.The quality at this size is so good I expect no problems maybe up to 20x24.I shoot wide open so there's a little negligible corner fade but still amazing for a lens this simple.Beautiful like a jewell.

Strengths
Simple,straightforward and strong construction.I got the Chrome version and so far I can't see any barrel scratches.
It logically grows on you.Makes you work and think like an expert should and the rewards are many.Eminently portable.Good looking/nicely finished.Economically priced for a Leica product.

Weaknesses
When carried in a jacket pocket it tends to collect bumps and knocks right on the filter thread ring which ,as things brass,
distorts.Leica should revise this and bring back the 50's ring design which was so much stronger and prettier.Or you would just have to be more mindful of carrying it in your pocket.Keeping a strong filter in place
strengthens the design.

Similar Products Used
Scores of standard lenses from just about every manufacturer

Customer Service
3 year passport so far untapped.If feels unlikely necessary.