i always thought that the Leica 50 summicron (latest version) does not flare even when pointed directly to the sun. well, i just got my new M6 and 50 summicron, and this image came out my first roll:

i'm no expert...but this is flare, right? i'm upset now...how come this happened? or am i expecting too much from this lens? i am using a Leica UV filter on the lens.

an explanation will certainly help before i collapse into a coma. thanks...

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001

Answers

darn. this always happens... :-)

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

I was surprised and disappointed at the degree of flare when using my new summicron 50 and forgetting to pull out the built-in hood. Otherwise, I love the thing!

-- Dave Carlisle (dave_carlisle@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

Try it again without the filter.

-- Wihlmen (bmitch@home.com), December 19, 2001.

The 50/2 doesn't ever flare? That sounds like an exaggerated claim. Looks as if the sun may have been just outside of the angle of view. Were you using the hood? (Any filter, with or without the hood, has the potential to worsen flare problems.)

-- Richard Saylor (rlsaylor@ix.netcom.com), December 19, 2001.

You're expecting too much.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), December 19, 2001.

I was rather shocked myself with the flare of the current formula. I didn't get to see your picture (I got a red X) but that's OK, I've seen the flare in my own shots. At this point I have the impression that my earlier Summicrons (I have a few) flare less. But I won't be able to make that claim responsibly until I've taken the same shot with the several lenses. BTW, when the sun is just outside the frame, that's a real danger zone for flare!

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), December 19, 2001.

come to think of it...maybe i didn't. but for the sake of argument: let's say i didn't use any hood. does it have to flare THIS bad?

ok. i'm probably just worrying too much. but i also have this other snapshot from the same roll of film...this time i'm sure i didn't use the hood...how come it's not that bad here?

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

OK, now I saw your picture. Yup, that's flare. But you know, as flare goes, it could have been worse.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), December 19, 2001.

And now I've seen your second shot. I think the flare might be worse in the first shot, for the reason I mentioned: the sun (or other intense light)being just outside the frame, may, in fact, be the worst possible spot from a flare-inducing standpoint . . .

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), December 19, 2001.

Looks to me like both shots are partly overexposed, as well as having some flare present, which maked the flare appear worse. My current 50 Summicron has been flare free in general use, but I don't think I've actually pointed it right at that sun. (don't want to burn a hole in the shutter!) I don't think any lens ever made is "totally flare free"

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), December 19, 2001.

If your first photo had been taken with my old Rollei 3.5E, (Xenotar) the photo would have been mostly washed out! Even an unshaded human eye lens has as much flare as the 50mm Summicron! That is a good shot, given conditions.

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

Same applies to the second shot. The 75mm Xenotar, 6 element of the Rollei 3.5E, would have been in trouble with the light source directly in front. I've often wondered about the vaunted Planar, another lens available for the Rollei 3.5E. To look at drawings of the Xenotar & Planar (75mm 3.5), they look like peas in a pod.

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.

Take off the filter and try it again.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), December 20, 2001.

Assuming you didn't use the pull-out hood in the first shot, the flare would have been much less (or even eliminated) if you had used it, and take off that d@mn UV filter! There ain't no UV contamination problem with modern films and lens coatings. (If you're concerned about protecting the front lens element, get a rigid lens hood and use it.)

-- Richard Saylor (rlsaylor@ix.netcom.com), December 20, 2001.

You have shared a perfect example of veiling flare... You almost certainly have a protective UVa Leica filter on front of your lens, yes? If so, remove it, keep the front element of your lens clean, and the odds of getting that type of flare with the 'Cron drop down into near insignificance!

;-) Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), December 20, 2001.

Dexter: All lenses flare to one degree or another, depending on the lens and its relative position to the source of flare. Also, using a lens shade is a big help, especially those shades that are of the proper length. I also always use a filter, mainly for front element protection. This can also be a source of flare. Experiment using the process of elimination. Best of luck.

-- John Alfred Tropiano (jat18@psu.edu), December 20, 2001.

I have been lucky so far, no flare at all with this lens. I get flare from the 90 Summicron APO, however. Bob

-- Bob Haight (rhaigh5748@aol.com), December 20, 2001.

50mm f/2.8 Distagon F. No shade, no filter.

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), December 20, 2001.

Flare facts and myths are sometimes hard to seperate. I still have not seen a single "before and after" shot with and without a quality filter that proved the filter caused the flare-especially shots into the sun. I've tried to do this myself, but it always was inner elements responsible for the flare, and the shots without the filter had exactly the same flare. Another mistaken flare myth is that a hood will help reduce flare when images are taken with the actual light source in the frame. (like both shots above) How can a hood shade the front or inner elements if the light source is in the frame?

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), December 20, 2001.

I use the 50 Summicron all the time (with a B+W UV filter) and don't seem to have a problem with flare. I am aware of shooting into a point light source, and generally avoid placing the source in the frame. Andrew may indeed be correct, but I also have purchased multi-coated filters for my lenses. The Leica filters (and I have several) are NOT multi-coated; at least they do not appear to be. You can place the B+W, Heliopan, or other MC filter next to a Leica filter and discern the light transmission differences.

-- David (pagedt@chartertn.net), December 20, 2001.

Peter:

50mm f/2.8 Distagon F. No shade, no filter.
and no Leitz lens ;-)

(Don't take it seriously - just had to say that)

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), December 21, 2001.