wilfredo Posted August 19, 2009 Share #1 Posted August 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would like to purchase a prime lens, 80mm or 85mm for my Canon DSLR and I've been considering the older version of the Summilux R (the new version is too cost prohibitive for me). I don't expect it to perform like the new ROM version, but after some PP, does it come close? With an adapter to the Canon, does the camera give you focus confirm when it senses the lens is properly focused? How does it compare to the Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Plannar? Canon has an L lens available for this focal length but I have not been very impressed by the examples posted on the various forums with this lens. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 19, 2009 Posted August 19, 2009 Hi wilfredo, Take a look here 80mm Summilux R. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
roguewave Posted August 19, 2009 Share #2 Posted August 19, 2009 Wilfredo, the 80 Summilux is the best of all the R lenses. Period. AF is not a good thing, even if it was available. It is the Nocti of R line. It's best signature is wide open and the DOF is very shallow. One is forced to make a choice of the most important feature that reveaks what you want the viewer to see. It however renders extraordinary bokeh and the smoothest transitions of any lens for use with the R mount. A much less expensive lens, but razor sharp is the 90 elmarit. It renders an extremely sharp image with great DOF for portraits at 2.8 & 4.0 while still providing a very pleasing OOF background. Two completely different looks. The elmarit can be bought on ebay for around 200-250 last time I looked. I use it as a complement to my R24 with my R8 when shooting film. You might want to scan Rob's images as he has an extensive catalog with which to view how the elmarit renders very crisp, clean & sharp lines within the focus plane & pleasing transitions to the OOF areas. It's not the 80 Lux, but is very nice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted August 19, 2009 Share #3 Posted August 19, 2009 Wilfredo, the Summilux-R 1.4/80mm lens came out in 1980 and its optical computation was, to the best of my knowledge, never significantly changed. Coatings have changed over the years, but even the original coatings were pretty good. Thus, no matter what vintage, all these lenses should perform about equal, provided they are in good order. Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted August 19, 2009 Ben and Andy, this is very helpfull information. The price difference is sooo staggering between the new Summilux version and the old version that I assumed the newer lens was that much better. It's also nice to consider the Elmarit as another cost effective option :-). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 19, 2009 Share #5 Posted August 19, 2009 Basically it is exactly the same lens as the Summilux 75 M Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted August 19, 2009 Share #6 Posted August 19, 2009 Wilfredo--run--don't walk--to get an R80 Lux. Heck, I might even buy a back up! This is from a 5d / 80 R lux since we're talking Canon here. Shot at f1.6 by window light with just a touch of fill flash...one of the best lenses ever made for 35mm IMO. @Jaap--it's not quite the same lens as the 75 Lux, though they are similar looking. Between 1.4 and 2.8, the 80R lux is much more like a Nocti IMO. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/93852-80mm-summilux-r/?do=findComment&comment=998490'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 19, 2009 Share #7 Posted August 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Erwin Puts: exactly the same design, with minor differences between the SLR and RF version. Basically the focal length has been shortened to make the lens slightly slimmer. But the differences in rendering are minimal. FWIIW. I found the 75 Summilux leaning towards the Noctilux wide open as well. Great lenses both - no argument there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted August 19, 2009 Share #8 Posted August 19, 2009 Erwin Puts: exactly the same design, with minor differences between the SLR and RF version. Basically the focal length has been shortened to make the lens slightly slimmer. But the differences in rendering are minimal. FWIIW. I found the 75 Summilux leaning towards the Noctilux wide open as well. Great lenses both - no argument there. Hmmm. Might be an M8 difference (or glass difference), but they still render quite differently to me. I'm sure minor glass changes were made over the life of the lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 19, 2009 Share #9 Posted August 19, 2009 Maybe one should try the Summilux 80 on the DMR and the Summilux 75 on the M8... The edge ray aberrations are of course the spice of the image... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted August 19, 2009 Share #10 Posted August 19, 2009 Maybe one should try the Summilux 80 on the DMR and the Summilux 75 on the M8... The edge ray aberrations are of course the spice of the image... Jaap, I will when I can find an 80 lux at a sensible price for my DMR! Charlie Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted August 19, 2009 Wilfredo--run--don't walk--to get an R80 Lux. Heck, I might even buy a back up! This is from a 5d / 80 R lux since we're talking Canon here. Shot at f1.6 by window light with just a touch of fill flash...one of the best lenses ever made for 35mm IMO. @Jaap--it's not quite the same lens as the 75 Lux, though they are similar looking. Between 1.4 and 2.8, the 80R lux is much more like a Nocti IMO. [ATTACH]157626[/ATTACH] This is really lovely. I love the texture. I'm starting to get excited. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted August 19, 2009 Share #12 Posted August 19, 2009 Maybe one should try the Summilux 80 on the DMR and the Summilux 75 on the M8... The edge ray aberrations are of course the spice of the image... Sounds like a great experiment! Though I use both all the time, I don't use them together much Maybe in the off-season... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted August 19, 2009 Share #13 Posted August 19, 2009 This is really lovely. I love the texture. I'm starting to get excited. Thanks Wilfredo! The texture out of the camera is of course, smoother; there's a little dodge and burn and Alien Skin stuff on the posted shot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgcd Posted August 19, 2009 Share #14 Posted August 19, 2009 Wilfredo, the 80 Summilux is the best of all the R lenses. Period.... It's a nice lens but in no way can compare to the 180 Apo-Summicron R, the 280 f/4 Apo-Telyt R, the 180 Alpo-Elmarit R or the 90 Apo-Summicron R. I always found it too soft. That said it's still a great lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted August 19, 2009 Share #15 Posted August 19, 2009 It's a nice lens but in no way can compare to the 180 Apo-Summicron R, the 280 f/4 Apo-Telyt R, the 180 Alpo-Elmarit R or the 90 Apo-Summicron R. I always found it too soft. That said it's still a great lens. Well, for sharpness (or contrast), it doesn't compare with the current 180 Elmarit APO--let alone the 'cron-- either. Stopped down it gets sharp and contrasty quickly though. So what I like about it is its dual character: opened up it's a wonderful soft/sharp lens, like a mini-cheap-small-format-Cooke The tele APOs aren't like that at all. Stopped down, it's very nice indeed and certainly sharp enough. FWIW, I also like working at 80mm distances from my subject; but I'm not doing PJ stuff with it Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted August 19, 2009 Share #16 Posted August 19, 2009 Sounds like a great experiment! Though I use both all the time, I don't use them together much Maybe in the off-season... Having shot with both kits here's my unscientific take: The M8 & 75 lux combo produces images that appear to have more contrast right out of the camera. I see this with all the older Lux lenses for M. I haven't as yet had the pleasure of the 21 or 24 so I remain unenlightened in that regard. There is a significant difference in the images from the DMR/80 than the M8/75. The DMR/80 Lux at 1.4 has more "air" in the image. It isn't brighter & the colors aren't washed out, but the bokeh is a bit more diffused and "wide open". The 75 appears to be sharper in the bokeh, to my eye is the increase in the contrast that the software produces in the M8. The lenses may have the exact same design, but the implementation in the 2 systems produces differences, both most lovely & unique. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhoersch Posted August 19, 2009 Share #17 Posted August 19, 2009 The 80 Lux is indeed one of the greatest lenses I have ever worked with. A note of caution, though: on a Canon DSLR no focus confirmation except with some very special adapters I have not worked with (and which don't seem to work with every Canon body), and on a standard Canon focusing screen somewhat difficult to focus in dim light. Since I've sold all my Canon gear I'm now using it on an R9/DMR and am very happy with it, indeed. At least as good as the 75 lux and better than the Nocti for the M... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted August 19, 2009 Share #18 Posted August 19, 2009 It's a nice lens but in no way can compare to the 180 Apo-Summicron R, the 280 f/4 Apo-Telyt R, the 180 Alpo-Elmarit R or the 90 Apo-Summicron R. I always found it too soft. That said it's still a great lens. I don't think these particular lenses are well suited for portraits of human beings, but just fine for those that shoot out in the wild. Sharpness is not beauty. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted August 19, 2009 Share #19 Posted August 19, 2009 Having shot with both kits here's my unscientific take: The M8 & 75 lux combo produces images that appear to have more contrast right out of the camera. I see this with all the older Lux lenses for M. I haven't as yet had the pleasure of the 21 or 24 so I remain unenlightened in that regard. There is a significant difference in the images from the DMR/80 than the M8/75. The DMR/80 Lux at 1.4 has more "air" in the image. It isn't brighter & the colors aren't washed out, but the bokeh is a bit more diffused and "wide open". The 75 appears to be sharper in the bokeh, to my eye is the increase in the contrast that the software produces in the M8. The lenses may have the exact same design, but the implementation in the 2 systems produces differences, both most lovely & unique. Ben--this is exactly my feeling about the differences, perfectly articulated! Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted August 19, 2009 Share #20 Posted August 19, 2009 The 80 Lux is indeed one of the greatest lenses I have ever worked with. A note of caution, though: on a Canon DSLR no focus confirmation except with some very special adapters I have not worked with (and which don't seem to work with every Canon body), and on a standard Canon focusing screen somewhat difficult to focus in dim light. {snipped} Agreed on the Canon focusing screen. But I had very good luck with the $75-ish HK "Happy" focus confirming adapters for the 1ds2 and 5d (it's how I got shots wide open with the 5d). Here's another one I love: 80 R Lux + 5d: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/93852-80mm-summilux-r/?do=findComment&comment=998678'>More sharing options...
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