Can anyone tell me witch of the lens is better for the CL between the Summicron and the Rokkor? Thanks!!

-- Mitch Li (mitchli@pacbell.net), September 10, 2001

Answers

I used them both, and they seem about the same to me. The coating is better on the later CLE 40mm Rokkor (multicoated while the Summicron is not. That lens also has the same cam profile as the regualr M lenses, while the earlier 40's were designed for the CL's short rangefinder base. In practice, didn't find this to be a problem. The Leica badged lens seems to cost more and takes an odd filter thread pitch. Both are suberb and are as good as the pre- aspherical 35mm Summicron in my experience.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), September 10, 2001.

Does the Rokkor have the same Leica characteristic?(picturewise)

-- Mitch Li (mitchli@pacbell.net), September 10, 2001.

There are 2 types of Rokkor's the one for the Minolta CL and the other for Minolta CLE. The later one for the CLE as Andrew has pointed out is Multi-coated while the Leica and early Rokkors are 'said' not to be multi-coated. The picture quality is identical with all 3. The Rokkors take 40.5mm filters and the Leica lens takes series 5.5 filters (Hard to find) alot of people roughly fit 39mm filters on instead. Some on earlier threads have reported that B+W filters in 39mm size do screw on without problems. I have ordered one for mine so I will report later to you on that. But I would base your purchase on whichever you can get at the best price and generally the Minoltas seem to win out there. But its a great lens, and my favorite one at that. The later CLE 40mm has a different designed tab to the other 2 which is how I easily spot which lens is which and also the later CLE lens does not have its serial number on the outer front ring with the rest of the lens details.

-- Joel Matherson (Joel_2000@hotmail.com), September 10, 2001.

I prefer the Rokkor, it is cheaper and takes easier to find filters. But you might find it easier to focus the camera using the summicron as the cam is different and designed for CL use (steeper). But the Rokkor works fine too in my experience.

------------------------------ "Does the Rokkor have the same Leica characteristic?(picturewise"

Yes.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), September 10, 2001.