I have a 1950s vintage Leica Summicron in Leica Screw mount that
has this yellow tinge too. I bought a hand-held Geiger counter recently
for a trip to the Trinity (first A-bomb test) site in New Mexico. I had
heard that this Summicron was maybe radioactive and when I tested it
with my Geiger counter it sure enough was - Reading 1000 counts/minute
with my Geiger counter held right up to the front lens element.
I had assumed the yellow in the glass was a result of the radioactivity
affecting the glass and or coatings -- I didn't think this lens came with
the yellow tint in it when new. I assumed the same thing about the 55/1.2
Zuiko -- is this not the case and did these "radioactive" lenses come from
the factory with their glass having a slight yellow tinge??
Also, what other lenses in the Zuiko lineup have radioactive glass (if any)?
Mark Hammons
> The 50/1.2, being only a bit less than 1/2 stop faster than the 50/1.4, is
> probably not a must have if you can more easily get a very late variation of
> the 50/1.4.
>
> However, there is something aesthetically pleasing about that big fat chunk
> of glass hanging off the front of of your favorite camera body with limpid
> pools of green and magenta reflections to stare into.... But if you like
> yellow, the 55/1.2 would be ones choice of course.
>
> On further reflection (heh,heh) on the 55/1.2, I wonder if that intense
> yellow reflection bouncing off the front element of that lens is intended
> (courtesy of it's single coating) as an attempt to dump a bit of yellow
> light to compensate for the slight yellowish cast of it's rare earth
> element?
>
> Chip Stratton
> cstrat@xxxxxxxxx
>
> >
> > The 50mm f1.2 is one of the rarer lenses, like the 90mm f2 as I have not
> > seen one for sale in the last 3 months of looking. Is it really worth the
> > money? The radioactivity thing is not that worrying; and the cast I can
> > handle. I have so many standard lenses I think that I would be
> > admitting to
> > Zuikoholism if I buy a 50mm 1.2.
> >
> > Do you think it offers alot above a 55 1.2, or 50 1.4?
>
>
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