Need some help to decide which lens(es) needs upgrading

[colorflow]

I need some help in deciding which lens to go for if I ever get the new price list from Leicsa. I have been shooting film with M's for a while and have mostly pre-ASPH lenses. With my gen 1 M8 and the 1/3 off offer, I am considering upgrading to either the 35 Cron or Lux ASPH or the 50 Lux ASPH. I already have these:

35 Lux 7 element
35 Cron 8 element
50 Lux 11114 (1960 vintage)
50 Cron last pre-asph

Which ASPH will give the most improvement on the M8? (I already bought the 28 Cron ASPH)
Of course I could just forget the upgrade and go for the Nocti...

Thanks,
Alan

[Olof]

Go for the Lux 50mm, it has a outstanding performance and its even better than the Cron 50mm ! Its my first lens, and its really amazing....

[carstenw]

Which do you use most?

[colorflow]

Originally Posted by carstenw

Which do you use most?

For film I use the 35mm most, that's why I bought the 28 Cron for the M8. I think I'll use the 35 more than the 50 on the M8. Although did take some portraits with the 50 Lux a few days ago with some pretty amazing results. (I do desparately need some basic training in digital processing - WB, tone curves, etc)

What I am really interested in is which ASPH will show the biggest improvement over the lenses I have.

Also are the 35 and 50 Lux ASPH as sharp as their Cron counterparts when stopped down to say f/4?

Alan

[j. borger]

Originally Posted by colorflow

For film I use the 35mm most, that's why I bought the 28 Cron for the M8. I think I'll use the 35 more than the 50 on the M8. Although did take some portraits with the 50 Lux a few days ago with some pretty amazing results. (I do desparately need some basic training in digital processing - WB, tone curves, etc)

What I am really interested in is which ASPH will show the biggest improvement over the lenses I have.

Also are the 35 and 50 Lux ASPH as sharp as their Cron counterparts when stopped down to say f/4?

Alan

Unless you shoot mainly f 2.8 and below.... you will see far less improvement than you might expect with either 50 or 35 ASPH lenses.
THe 50 lux vintage is an excellent performer for the portraits you mention (not so harsh with great bokeh).....and the 50 cron is an excellent performer too, not far "below" the 50 asph lux.
For the 35 range .... some people prefer the look of the pre-asph lenses!
Since you have the 28 cron asph on order .. i would waite and use the lenses you have for a while and see how they compare to your new cron....

[Eoin]

Seeing as you already bought the 28 Summicron Asph, I'd pop for the Noctilux or the 50 Summilux Asph if your not keen on the size of the Noctilux. I don't think your 50 Summicron is any different from the current summicron as neither are Asph, so there is no point upgrading that.

The 35 Summilux and summicron you have will show some improvement if upgraded to Asph versions with the Summilux showing the most improvement over it's previous non Asph version. But I'd question this focal length versatility given you already have a 28 and 50 Summicron,