75 cron vs lux

[innerimager]

I'll be using my discount for one of these lenses. People seem to like them both a great deal! I'm not concerned with weight, just image quality characteristics. Does anyone have experience with both, especially on the M8? thanks....peter

[eronald]

Originally Posted by innerimager

I'll be using my discount for one of these lenses. People seem to like them both a great deal! I'm not concerned with weight, just image quality characteristics. Does anyone have experience with both, especially on the M8? thanks....peter

At the moment the battered Lux 75 I bought cheap with the M8 is my only lens on the M8.

The Lux is a soft and gentle lens when open until F4, it gets sharp when stopped down. Hard to focus exactly on the M8. Main issue on the M8 handheld is camera shake. I have a habit of using this focal length reasonably open (F4), it's my style. Bokeh is exceptional.

If you mainly need sharp you might decide to use something else. I don't really care. This lens is considered one of the least sharp in the Leica range, but that range is exceptional and in practice camera shake will be worse than any lens unsharpness, so who cares ?

Summary - good portrait lens.

Edmund

[arminw]

I can only say my 75mm Summicron-M is perfect and very sharp indeed . Keeping in mind that you can set the ISO on the M8 accordingly you don't really need to go for the 1 stop faster lens.
It's also the later lens if I am correct .

Greetings Armin

[rami G]

my first post here, got my M8 silver an hour ago, battery is charging now...

I have the 75 lux and was using it on Leica M for years and in the last two years on R-D1. The lens is razor sharp and very sharp even when wide open. I don't know how anybody could claim otherwise. It is much sharper than my Canon L 85 1.2, I never found the 50 cron any sharper. Apparently, the 75 cron is sharper, I never tried one and never felt the need to. The lux is one of my favorite lenses. It has many very unique characteristics but it definitely does not have any problem with its sharpness. it is very hard to focus when wide open so if you have any problem with your rangefinder's alingment you will not get a sharp image. that will show in close focus even at 2.8, so that might be the source of the problem. It is a very demanding lens, no doubt. But I got pictures with it at 1.4 which are unbelivably sharp. BTW, check the MTF, if you want more objective data.

[jaapv]

The Summilux is my favorite lens. I use it about 40% of the time.It is magically three-dimensional. The Summicron is to good-harsh for me.

[cocker]

Peter,

I can offer the other perspective - I got a new 75 cron with my M8 and am very pleased with it. Its not tooo large or heavy and is nicely sharp at the apertures I've used. Edmund is right about shake. You need to remember the magnifying effect of the 75mm. But I guess thats the same for both the cron and the lux. The image below was taken with the 75 cron 1/90 sec at 1250 iso

[grober]

I have owned and used both. If you ABSOLUTELY need the speed of the 'Lux, go for it.

I sold mine as soon as the Summicron was announced because I didn't like the considerable weight of the Summilux and I never seemed to shoot at its maximum aperture. The Summicron continues to be everything I need in the particular focal length. It's a joy to use.

-g

[wparsonsgisnet]

I have been using the 'Lux for several years, now, and really like it.
With the M8, the 1.25 magnifier is recommended.

As neither lens will disappoint you, you have to decide if you want the extra stop. I need it and have used this lens very happily.

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by grober

I have owned and used both. If you ABSOLUTELY need the speed of the 'Lux, go for it.

I sold mine as soon as the Summicron was announced because I didn't like the considerable weight of the Summilux and I never seemed to shoot at its maximum aperture. The Summicron continues to be everything I need in the particular focal length. It's a joy to use.

-g

The Summicron is a top lens - but the weight difference is not that much: The Summilux weighs 560 grams, the Summicron 430 grams.

[pesche]

I own and love both lenses. For me, the main difference is the contrast wide open, the 75 cron is a high contrast lens at all apertures, the 75 lux has less contrast and smoother out of focus areas. I choose the lense according to subject.

I hope the two pictures illustrate what I mean.

75 lux.jpg

M8, 75 lux, 1.4, 1/60, ISO 640

75 cron.jpg

M8, 75 cron, 2.8, 1/250, ISO 320

Two other aspects to consider: The cron can focus faster (120 degrees from infinity to close distance vs 180 degrees for the lux) and can focus closer (70cm vs 75 cm). The fast focus has also its challenge - it is easier to make a small error, at f 2.0 I have more accurate focused images with the lux.

Peter

[xjr]

Tried them both and unless you want the extra stop the 75mm f2.0 is the better optic....and lighter.

[kidigital]

Excellent examples Peter.

I've had both and chose to keep the lux. I gravitated to M's from the R line and the DMR where my favorite lens was the 80lux. With practice and over time, I have become familiar with monitoring the speed when handholding the lens wide open to make certain that my images are sharp. As others here have mentioned, there is a difference in sharpness and bokeh between the two ... but, I still am sticking with my favorite imperfect perfect lens.

Kurt

[ptomsu]

own the 75 lux and love it, but would go for the 75 cron today, since much sharper, lighter and handier !!!

[eronald]

Originally Posted by kidigital

Excellent examples Peter.
still am sticking with my favorite imperfect perfect lens.
Kurt

Indeed, the Summilux is a perfect imperfect lens - good description.

The Canon 85/1.2 is basically welded onto my 1Ds, and has the advantage of being able to deliver soft or sharp pictures according to aperture. I have used it for probably over a hundred thousand frames by now - the camera is on its third shutter. The problem is simply the weight of the combination.

Edmund

[innerimager]

thanks everyone for making a hard decision impossible! I welcome more confusing input! Peter, you're 2 lovely portraits speak 2 thousand words, and there is no "better" here, just difference. I do tend to go with a less contrasty look, especially with digital as it helps expand the palette and it's much easier to add contrast than regain lost dynamic range. But both lenses look great, no question about it. best.....Peter

[carstenw]

I would love to see a portrait at f/2 from the Summicron 75 if someone has one. Even better would be similar shots, both at f/2 from both lenses, and at f/1.4 from the Lux...

[jonoslack]

Originally Posted by pesche

M8, 75 cron, 2.8, 1/250, ISO 320
Peter

Just lovely Peter - I guess she might not be so pleased, but I think that's a wonderful, wonderful shot.

thank you! You've just cost me £1200!

[frc]

Lux in low light wide open on MP, Fuji Sensia, 1/15th.

[carstenw]

frc, is there a picture coming?...

[frc]

Uhhh..........
Ahhhhhhh.....
Photo, yes.