ELMAR-M 2.8/50
This is a record of using the ELMAR-M 50mm F2.8, a standerd lens for the Leica M, with a digital camera.
Table of contents
Gallery
Photo example by LEICA M8 / M9
Impression
In the 2000s, new Leica lenses could be purchased for around 100,000 yen, the lowest-priced lenses available at the time.
Even though it was a low-priced lens, the construction was solid, the lens had a good weight for a small lens, and the sinking cylinder operation was smooth.
The focus ring has a small angle of rotation, and the helicoid is lightweight and easy to use at F2.8, so there was no need to worry about focusing accuracy. The smooth helicoid of old Leica lenses was clearly different. However, I have only used old Leica lenses that had deteriorated grease or had been used after repair, and I have never strictly experienced a new focus ring, so I cannot say which is true, but the focus ring of this lens felt as light as that of a Japanese lens.
I have used this lens with the M8 and M9, and it is able to take full advantage of the resolution of the M8/M9 sensor, especially on sunny days, and provides pleasing photos with good color rendition. However, the brightness of F2.8 sometimes became a bottleneck in terms of camera shake in evening and night scenes.
I had many 50mm lenses and sold them because I did not have more occasions to use them. I also owned a silver lens for a while but sold it soon afterwards and did not fully utilize it.
Specification
LEICA M mount standard lens.
About 17,000 units were manufactured between 1994 and 2007.
The silver lens is about 80g heavier than the black lens because the barrel is made of brass.
The hood is a 39mm screw-in type, and both the silver and black lenses have the same model number “12549.
A code can be added to lenses without a lens recognition 6-bit code.
Some lenses were sold with the 6-bit code added, depending on the year of manufacture.
| Item | Value | note |
| focal length(mm) | 50 | |
| Maximum aperture | 2.8 | |
| Minimum aperture | 16 | |
| Lens configuration | 3groups 4elements | tesser type |
| Minimum distance(m) | 0.7 | |
| Lens length(mm) | 37.6 | Distance from lens mount flange |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 52 | |
| Filter diameter(mm) | 39 | |
| Weight(g) | 170(Black) | 245(Silver) |
Reference links
広告
