50 Lux or 75 Lux

[pcsmythe]

Debating between acquiring a 50 lux or a 75 lux. I have a 75 cron and a Noctilux, but not sure whether to go for the conventional wisdom (the 50) or live dangerously (the 75). One upcoming assignment involves creating a photobook for an overseas orphanage. I'd appreciate any tidbits of wisdom.

[rsh]

You have what you need for the project you are planning. Look for a lens in a focal length you do not have that will be useful.

[Photon42]

I don't see what you can't achieve with the lenses you own already.

[Bastian A.]

It might be more useful to buy a Summilux/-cron 35 or a Summicron/Elmarit 28 to complete your lenses with a shorter focal length ...

B.

[pcsmythe]

I have a 35 cron, but was looking to add one more lens.

[ho_co]

Peter--
I don't understand what you're trying to accomplish in duplicating focal lengths.

The 75/1.4 is discontinued. It's an older design, very usable despite its focus shift, but also very heavy.

The current 50/1.4 is, along with the 75/2 you already have, basically state of the art. It is a much more modern design than the recently discontinued 50/1, crisper and lighter but without the boke of the latter.

Some folks have several 50s for varying purposes, but my choice has always been just to get a lens that does what I want in a given focal length, and then make the next purchase in another focal length that I find desirable.

Enjoy the decision! The good thing about Leica is that all their lenses are good.

And remember that photokina is just three months away and will doubtless broaden the offering.

[JBA]

Why duplicate the 75? It would be much more practical to get a 50 Summilux asph., which would add versatility to your 50 lineup.

[lars_bergquist]

Three years ago, I sold my 50mm Summicron (current version) and bought the new Summilux instead. The reason was not that I absolutely needed or even wanted the extra f-stop, but that the 'lux is totally superior in the important field of suppression of reflexes and stray light. I still have it, even though I make all my pictures with a M8 now, simply because the clarity of its images is so lovely.

The old man from the Age of Max Berek

[kenneth]

It does sound as though you are buying for the sake of buying rather than buying for a specific need. I should hold on to your money and wait for the urge to strengthen- but of course that is me with my rational hat on

[pcsmythe]

Yes, as I already have a Noct and 75 cron, I am practically set and don't have a "need" to buy anything else. That aside, I was hoping to hear from someone who had experience with both lenses could give me two cents on his experiences and preferences regarding both.

As Rob Haggart points out, sharpness and perfection isn't everything (apologies to the M Campaign).

[rubenkok]

Hi Peter,
If I had the money I would go for the Summilux-M 1:1.4/50mm ASPH !
Have a look here: Summilux-M 1:1.4/50mm ASPH by Erwin Puts
All the best
Ruben

[tollie]

I'm a little surprised you are not considering the wonderful elmarit 28 2.8.

How about for architecture... a 28 will do the job. For placing people in context the 28 will really work better than the longer lenses. You can work close up with the wider lens as well... For me I would want fuller coverage than what you will get with a 50 and 75 alone.

Just my 2 cents... but I am curious as to why you would go without a wide lens.

Cheers,

Todd

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by pcsmythe

Yes, as I already have a Noct and 75 cron, I am practically set and don't have a "need" to buy anything else. That aside, I was hoping to hear from someone who had experience with both lenses could give me two cents on his experiences and preferences regarding both.

As Rob Haggart points out, sharpness and perfection isn't everything (apologies to the M Campaign).

Ok- point taken, for what it is worth I bought a Voigtlander 75mm 2.5 Heliar which is really very good. I could not justify a Leica lens of that focal length as I use it rarely. I love my Summicron 50 and 35mm Summicron asph which spend most of the time attached to my camera. I do not see the need for anything with a wider aperture than f2 and the brighter lenses are so heavy

[pcsmythe]

Todd, appreciate the suggestion, but I'm just not an architectural shooter. I have a 35, but rarely if ever use it. My eye is more prone to the 50 and 75 (larger than 50 is too much information for me to digest, I guess). Plus, I'm more of a portrait shooter.

Folks on the forum have spoken about the 75 lux and how there's not another lens like it so I thought I'd ask a few questions before deciding which lens to buy. The 75 summicron was my go-to lens for quite a while, but now since I've gotten the Noct, it sees less air time. The Noct is plenty sharp when stopped down to 1.4 or 2 and it seems to allow for much more creativity.

[ddp]

75 Lux is big....but for a Noct user, that's not an issue. When I picked up a used 75 Lux back in the early spring, the 75 Summicron was not a consideration. My shooting style is to go wide open when I can, and I like the look of the Lux. I got rid of my 90 AA to go 75 - and I like it much better for portraits. I haven't used a 75 Summicron so I can't make a comparison between the two.

As far as duplicating 50's go - I can see the justification for another 50 in addition to the Noct if you went that route as well. The Noct is different enough in it's lens signature that people shouldn't really be comparing to other 50's.

[pcsmythe]

ddp, thanks for the input. After thinking more about it, I will go ahead with the 50 lux for now. Part of the reason goes to your comment (consistent with others) that the Noct really cannot be compared to other 50s. In addition, we are heading out of the country on our shoot and it seems wiser to bring a lux rather than the Noct, at least for now.

By the way, the 75 cron is a very, very good lens. I'll probably use it more in the future, but right now I'm in a more creative funk.

[johnkuo]

I have both the 50 and 75. One thing I'd like to add is that the signature of the 50 asph is almost exactly the same as the 75 cron, not a surprise since they are derived from the same optical design. The 50 asph is such a versatile lens you will really enjoy it.