50mm Summilux ASPH and 50mm Summicron ASPH

[egrossman]

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I own both lenses. I love the Summicron but bought the Summilux for the extra stop. Is there any reason I would want to keep both lenses? I'd hate to sell it only to regret it later.

 

I use them on an M9. I use 50mm 90% of the time.

 

Thanks.

[JosefSchachner]

Keep the 50mm Summicron ASPH, its going to be a collectors item (and never ever use it)

 

Ok, you likely made a typo, there is no 50mm Summicron ASPH, scrap the ASPH ;-)

 

I would keep the Summilux.

If you are in the must have each of every kind lens category never mind, keep 'em both....

[k_g_wolf ✝]

>> egrossman

 

Keep the 50mm Summicron ASPH, its going to be a collectors item (and never ever use it)

 

 

I would also keep the SUMMICRON, but for a different reason: In case you plan to photograph under rougher circumstances than normal, you could choose the SUMMICRON to relieve the more expensive lens.

 

It´ s always good to have something as a substitute when things go wrong ...

 

 

Best

GEORG

[Shootist]

If you haven't noticed the 50 Summicron (No ASPH) is a excellent lens but the 50 Summilux ASPH is a spectacular lens and 1 stop faster. I've had both at the same time and simply stopped using the Cron because the Lux was just better (I liked the image more from the Lux) so I sold the Cron and never missed it.

[bybrett]

I own both lenses. I love the Summicron but bought the Summilux for the extra stop. Is there any reason I would want to keep both lenses? I'd hate to sell it only to regret it later.

 

I use them on an M9. I use 50mm 90% of the time.

 

Thanks.

 

How often do you shoot at f1.4?

[el.nino]

I own both and almost exclusively use the the Cron.

It's just so much lighter and "easier" to use.

So keep it!

The time will come when you're fed up shooting wide open.

[egrossman]

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Sorry for the typo (I know there is no summicron ASPH). I just got off a plane from Asia (I live in the Bay Area of California) and was kind of groggy when I posted!

 

What I've noticed is that the Cron has a very beautiful way of rendering portraits; it smooths out the skin but the edges are very sharp. The Lux is razor sharp everywhere. Perhaps not as flattering as it shows everything.

 

Anyone else notice this?

[lct]

I use both. The 50/1.4 asph is always sharp. The 50/2 is softer at f/2. If you like sharp portrait, the 50/1.4 asph is the way to go. Otherwise i would choose the 50/2, or preferably the last pre-asph 50/1.4 that i use as well.

[beoon]

How often do you shoot at f1.4?

 

The Summilux can be a Summicron by stopping the lens down.

But it is impossible for the Summicron to be a Summilux when you need that extra stop.

[adli]

I sold my cron when I got the new lux, the size difference is not that big. But then my compact/light weight lens is the 35 cron v/IV.

[yanidel]

I own the 50mm Summicron and tried a 50mm Lux Asph for a month.

 

In the end, I gave back the Lux because though it is very sharp and has very smooth bokeh, I prefer lenses with a bit more fuzzy bokeh. Therefore I use mainly the 60mm Hexanon as superfast lens and go with the Cron when I need something lighter.

 

I do agree that there is something special about the Cron for portraits wide open.

[fotofoto]

I had both and I sold my Cron and for the money I bought a beautyful refurbished

Leica M2. In an ideal world I would like to have all lenses in chrome and black, a

vintage and an brand new asph version...

 

I felt, there was not that much difference between both beginning from f2. And to

be honest, I noticed some strange sensitivity againts frontlight by the Cron. So

everything the Cron has as positive points the Lux has this as well and you have

additionally one stop less. For more softness I would chose an older Lux or Cron.

 

best

 

mich

[tgray]

I sold the Summicron to fund the ASPH and haven't regretted it one fraction of a second. A better lens in every way in my book, except for price. It is a bit bigger, but not enough to cause me concern.

 

My backup 50 is a Nikkor 50/1.4. $200 and a very different look.

[egrossman]

Thanks everyone for the input. I'm very happy with the Summilux and I think I'll sell the Summicron.

[menos I M6]

Keep the faster lens. It is not really that much heavier and bigger, but you will love, to have the wider aperture, when you need it without switching lenses.

 

For the very same reason, I leave my 35 Cron at home, most of the times.

The 50 Lux ASPH has had very little use as well, after it came back from Solms (I bought an intermediate Noctilux, which turned out, to be getting my favorite 50mm lens).

[lars_bergquist]

I too have owned both. I exchanged the 'cron for the 'lux, not because the 'lux is faster, but because it is more reliable. The 'cron is very susceptible to internal reflections and stray light. Its worst trick is when you shoot a fairly dark subject with a lightly overcast sky above it -- sometimes not even within the image. Then the lens does often produce a quadrangular patch of flare in the lower half of the picture -- which of course ruins it totally. This does never happen with the 'lux ASPH. In fact, it did not happen with the pre-aspherical 'lux either, which was also a very reliable lens. That lens plus the 'cron helped to finance my 'lux ASPH, which I bought in 2003, when the lens was still obtainable ... I would never sell it except at gunpoint, even though I am very much a 35mm man (and the v.2 35mm Summilux ASPH is also a wonderful lens ...)

 

I want lenses I can trust.

 

The old man from the Age of the 5cm Elmar

[lct]

...The 'cron is very susceptible to internal reflections and stray light. Its worst trick is when you shoot a fairly dark subject with a lightly overcast sky above it -- sometimes not even within the image. Then the lens does often produce a quadrangular patch of flare in the lower half of the picture -- which of course ruins it totally...

Would you have a sample of this by chance? I've never got such flare in 30 years use of mine but i could try to repeat your experience eventually. According to my own experience, so far, other Mandler lenses like 35/2 IV are more flare prone than the 50/2.

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[lct]

...This does never happen with the 'lux ASPH. In fact, it did not happen with the pre-aspherical 'lux either, which was also a very reliable lens...

+1

[enboe]

If finances permit, I always recommending keeping your glass. There is a very good chance you will re-purchase another example in the future.

 

The Summicron is from a prior generation of optical design. It does not use aspherical elements, which means you compromise some correction of errors, but achieve a superior out-of-focus rendering, or bokeh.

 

If finances dictate, then I would keep the Summilux ASPH. It is accepted as one of Leica's best all-time designs.

 

(O.K. I admit to breaking my own rule. I have sold off some 1950's vintage lenses after acquiring 21st century equivalents. The new lenses are more in line with my personal taste, and it helped a friend re-enter Leica shooting.)

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[SteveYork]

Sell the Summicron. The 50mm Summilux ASPH is a special lens.