Fed up of waiting for 50mm 'lux, thinking of 'cron

[Maximus]

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I've been waiting several months now for a new 50mm 'lux to become available, to no avail. I'd love that extra stop but really, all things considered, wouldn't I be better just grabbing a 'cron? Is the image quality really that different? Plus the 'cron is lighter and restricts the viewfinder much less.

 

Agonizing over this but need to make my mind up soon.

[JHAG]

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[Jager]

Seems to me the bigger answer to your question depends upon what lens(es) you have right now. How much the lack of of 50 is hurting you, in other words.

 

I have both the lenses. They are both exceptional.

 

The Cron is small, light, has the smoothest focus of any of my M lenses, and delivers crisp, wonderful images with outstanding bokeh. It was considered a benchmark in the Leica lineup for a long time.

 

The Lux ASPH is, simply, the best 35mm-format lens in the world, IMHO. It's produces sharper, higher contrast images than the Cron - or most anything else, for that matter. It would be the last M lens I would ever part with.

 

Not knowing how urgently you need a 50, here's a suggestion... buy a used Cron. Use it happily for however long it takes for the next production run of 50 Lux ASPH's from Solms, then sell it for what you bought it for when the Lux is available.

 

Or better yet, keep 'em both.

[Maximus]

Jager, thanks for that insight. It's useful to hear first hand experiences like this.

 

I'm new to Leica M cameras having just bought my M9 at the beginning of December. I ordered it with a 35 'cron which is a truly stunning lens. I'd like the 50 for shallower DOF and the bokeh that comes with it.

 

I'm not a professional. I'd just like some idea of how long I might have to wait for a 'lux. If it is a few weeks that's fine, but the uncertainty is off-putting and making me think I should buy a 'cron now. After all, life is too short.

[Rolo]

I'm not a professional. I'd just like some idea of how long I might have to wait for a 'lux. If it is a few weeks that's fine, but the uncertainty is off-putting and making me think I should buy a 'cron now. After all, life is too short.

 

I spoke to Ffordes about this two weeks ago. They had delivered one that day to a customer who had ordered it four months prior. They could not say when the next one was due, but no indication from Leica.

 

There was used one with Passport listed at Red Dot last night.

[andybarton]

Buy a Summicron. Probably the best 50mm f2 lens ever made. Sell it if you don't like it, when the Summilux comes through (probably around Easter time)

[andybarton]

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There was used one with Passport listed at Red Dot last night.

 

Not there now. Only a very old one.

[Pangur Ban]

Try a Voigtlander 50/1.5 or a Zeiss c-Sonnar 50/1.5 - both great lenses that will tide you over until the Summilux arrives and you'll sell them for close to what you paid for them.

[tdtaylor]

I bought the latest 50 cron with the M9, and am happily enjoying it. I've had an order in for the lux, and when, if ever, it shows up will be fine. I'll then decide whether to keep the cron, but I imagine I will.

 

Just get a used cron- it will take your mind off the wait and you'll have a lot of fun in the interium.

[el.nino]

i have both. lux and cron. to be honest, I only use the lux when I really need that extra stop.

the cron is so much more comfortable to use.

[nikau]

i have both. lux and cron. to be honest, I only use the lux when I really need that extra stop.

the cron is so much more comfortable to use.

 

That's my experience, too.

[lars_bergquist]

I agree that a good used 'cron would be a good answer. Another good answer however that I have not seen mentioned is a Zeiss Planar 2.0/50mm. This is an optically very fine lens with the same classical layout as the Summicron, in a well-made mount.

 

I would not bother with a 'Voigtländer' lens. I have yet to see one that does not exhibit noticeable decentering, meaning substandard assembly. Neither would I touch the C-Sonnar. This is a nostalgia lens harking back to the original 1930's Contax Sonnar 5cm, with most of its faults faithfully preserved -- including what is obviously very strong curvature of field.

 

The old man from the Age of the Contax II

[Pangur Ban]

I would not bother with a 'Voigtländer' lens. I have yet to see one that does not exhibit noticeable decentering, meaning substandard assembly. Neither would I touch the C-Sonnar. This is a nostalgia lens harking back to the original 1930's Contax Sonnar 5cm, with most of its faults faithfully preserved -- including what is obviously very strong curvature of field.

 

Gosh, I didn't realise so many people would be so wrong about these lenses, me included. All the Voigtlanders' I've seen have been fine.

 

The old man from the age of sweeping generalisation.

[Rolo]

Not there now.

 

Not surprised at that price.

 

Are you looking for one ?

[lct]

Recurrent question, recurrent response sorry.

Aside from non Leica lenses, the last pre-asph Summilux 50/1.4 is the only serious substitute to the asph version IMHO. It is slightly sharper than the Summicron at f/2, has the same overall qualitites otherwise but is less flare prone than the latter.

Code numbers of the last pre-asph Summilux: 11623 (black paint), 11856 (silver), 11868 (black chrome), 11869 (titanium).

[lars_bergquist]

Gosh, I didn't realise so many people would be so wrong about these lenses, me included. All the Voigtlanders' I've seen have been fine.

 

The old man from the age of sweeping generalisation.

 

I did never claim that there existed no Voigtländer lenses without decentering. I just claimed that I had never yet seen one. My generalisations are no more sweeping than yours.

 

As for the C-Sonnar, just look at the MTF graphs. Those curves are quite extreme; there is essentially no image in the corners at 1.5.

 

The old man from the Age of the Contax II

[lars_bergquist]

Recurrent question, recurrent response sorry.

Aside from non Leica lenses, the last pre-asph Summilux 50/1.4 is the only serious substitute to the asph version IMHO. It is slightly sharper than the Summicron at f/2, has the same overall qualitites otherwise but is less flare prone than the latter.

Code numbers of the last pre-asph Summilux: 11623 (black paint), 11856 (silver), 11868 (black chrome), 11869 (titanium).

I agree. I had a late silver one. It was (is still, I hope) a lovely lens in many ways, but if you wanted decently sharp corners, you had to stop it down to f:8. The ASPH has very nice bokeh too, and a serene clarity in the drawing of very small detail even at 1.4. It is simply wonderful.

 

The old man, drooling

[lct]

I...The ASPH has very nice bokeh too...

At f/1.4 and f/2 i feel it much acceptable but bokeh is sharper at slower apertures compared to the pre-asph which is much smoother. Modern sharpness and good old bokeh are hardly compatible. The last Elmar 50 does it, the Summicron 28 as well but the Lux 50 asph, all in all, i don't think so. YMMV.

[Pangur Ban]

I did never claim that there existed no Voigtländer lenses without decentering. I just claimed that I had never yet seen one. My generalisations are no more sweeping than yours.

 

As for the C-Sonnar, just look at the MTF graphs. Those curves are quite extreme; there is essentially no image in the corners at 1.5.

 

The old man from the Age of the Contax II

 

I think a little more perspective would be helpful here. The Voigtlander and Zeiss lenses are far from rubbish. I suggested the c-Sonnar specifically as it is an alternative to a Summilux - if the OP is going to get one of those then a little time with a different sort of lens could be interesting. As for "there is essentially no image in the corners at 1.5" I can only assume that, again, you've been terribly unlucky with your experience of this lens. I'd have a word with your dealer if I were you.

 

The old man from the age of heresy and iconoclasm.

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[doug_m]

My advice:

 

Buy whatever lens you want but in the end make sure you get a 50 lux ASPH one way or another.

 

It is worth the wait!