Which Leica 75mm to buy?

[carlosecpf]

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Dear all,

 

I have an opportunity to buy a Leica 75mm Summicron APO or the Leica 75mm Summilux (German version). What do you guys recommend? Have any of you had both and can offer first hand recommendation? I must be honest and say I am falling for the Lux, but it's potential focus shift problem might be a deal breaker for me. BTW I will be using one of them on my Monochrom and M8.2.

 

Thanks in advance!

[John McMaster]

Depends on what you shoot and what results you like, you will probably end up with both (like me) ;-)

 

john

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[jbl]

John has a good point. I have the summicron and it's a very nice lens. One thing that makes it better than a 90mm is that it focuses at 0.7m which is a big advantage.

[AlbertTRAL]

The Summicron 75 APO is the best lens that has been manufacture in these range of 75-90mm focal length. Designed by Karbe as a spin off of the lux 50 asph design, keeping the floating element together with the asph surface and the high index materials with anomalous dispersion to reduce the Petzval sum in order to reach an unmatched performance in the close distances with an incredible flat curvature of field and very low CAs.

This lens together with the 28mm Elmarit Asph, are clearly the inheritor couple of the historical Hektor set.

Followed closely by the Sonnar 85 f/2 (quite difficult to find one) and as third in the party de cron 90 APO but with less performance in close ranges (no FLE).

 

The lux 75 is in a complete different league. As already pointed, you should have both... An spherical design from Mandler in the '80, based on a spin off of the lux(II) 50mm. It has a medium contrast/definition fully open which makes it a lens looking for candid head to shoulder portraits. Softness in the corners will be always there, but, who cares for this type of portraits?

Edited April 20, 2014 by AlbertTRAL

[MarkP]

As already pointed, you should have both...

 

Well I bought the 1.4/75 Summilux with plans to sell the 2.0/75 Summicron ASPH once I'd had a chance to use the Summilux.

 

However, I can't just can't come at selling the Summicron .

.

Edited April 20, 2014 by MarkP

[JWW]

My 75mm Summilux is a keeper lens for me, with its unique look. Since it's not in production anymore, it will be harder to find one in a good condition than the Summicron. I don't recall this lens having a focus shift problem, however the DOF is razor thin and each lens and camera combination may need focus calibration. I sent mine in to DAG in order to fine tune the focus.

[Gerard]

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If you photograph people, you'll find the Summilux has a very unique way of rendering flesh. I find the results very flattering, without being soft. For landscapes, I'd plump for the Cron.

 

The shift is not bad on the lux, it just moves a little from front to rear as you stop down. You'll learn it within days.

[Paul J]

The Lux is one of the most enjoyable lenses I own. There is nothing like it. I was going to buy the Summicron also but after I sent it off to Solms for repair and CLA, it came back a wholly different lens and no need to buy the Summicron as well.

 

Taming it, which is not particularly easy but certainly not particularly hard is a very rewarding experience and I am still gobsmacked by what this lens produces.

[gpwhite]

Hi Carlos, great to see you on the forum!

 

I have used both lenses a little bit... enough to have some comment for you. I owned an APO 75 for a few years and was never that excited about it on my M8.2 (yes, you know that body well ). The images were crisp, but overall contrast never seemed bright. I tested two 75 Summilux on my M240 and decided to go with a 80 Summilux via adapter. There is very definitely substantial focus shift between f/1.4 and f/2 or f/2.8 with the 75 Summilux.

 

For me, the character of the two lenses is so different that you could easily have both if you really like the perspective of 75mm. The APO has well controlled colors, high micro contrast and would focus more predictably on your MM. The 75 Summilux renders very smooth lines and gives beautiful twinkle in the OOF at widest apertures, along with tons of CA that you can edit out in your M8.2 files, but will dilute your MM files.

 

My bottom line opinion: if you want really good colors, beautiful rendering as well as a perfect mate for your MM, try the APO 90 Summicron. It is exceptional. If you want a portrait lens, the 75 Summilux might work if you can master the focus shift.

 

best,

Peter

[jbl]

All good points. A big difference for me is that the 75APO focuses 1/3m closer than the 90APO (I have both). They're both excellent, excellent lens but both would have less character than old, spherical designs. I find the 90 a bit easier to compose with in part because I find the 50/75 frame lines a bit hard to work with on the 75mm side. That may just be me though.

 

 

-jbl

[otto.f]

I don't recall this lens having a focus shift problem, however the DOF is razor thin

 

Totally agree, I had no problems focusing on M9 or MM, no need for calibration.

Edited April 20, 2014 by otto.f

[swamiji]

I have had the 75 Lux for some years, I think of it as the perfect portrait lens.

 

I had the Summarit until January, when I upgraded it to the 75 APO. It seemed a better choice on the MM.

 

For me they render so differently I see no overlap, just a shared focal length. I love them both for quite different reasons.

[carlosecpf]

Guys,

 

Thank you so much for all the replies. Such a wealth of information and experience in this community.

As all of you have stated, it's clear to me now they are very different lenses, having way more differences than just 1 stop apart. Before I commit to any of them, I will test them both and see which render more to my liking.

I might even purchase the inexpensive 75mm Voigtlander Color Heliar just to check if that focal length is to my liking before I commit considerable cash on the Cron or the lux. I've started considering the 75mm focal length because after considering buying the 90mm Cron for a while, I've purchased the Minolta 90mm C f/4 just to check if I like that field of view. The truth is that after 20 days using it, I feel 90mm is a bit to tight for me. So a 75mm seems to fit the bill more appropriately.

 

I will definitely let you guys know how it goes!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Numbers]

I shoot primarily architecture and landscape. The 75 Apo is one impressive lens when it comes to sharpness and contrast and colours. It is just so crisp and clear. I have done some really nice "in situ" portraits with it as well. It is not very big either and still pocket friendly.

I have seen some wonderful portraits with impressive bokeh with the the 75 lux, that the APO Cron would not be able to produce as well. for the portrait genre it is probably more interesting. 75 mm is a great focal length for portrait. So get the one that fits what you like to photograph most. Or get both as some like to do.

[carlosecpf]

Hi Carlos, great to see you on the forum!

 

I have used both lenses a little bit... enough to have some comment for you. I owned an APO 75 for a few years and was never that excited about it on my M8.2 (yes, you know that body well ). The images were crisp, but overall contrast never seemed bright. I tested two 75 Summilux on my M240 and decided to go with a 80 Summilux via adapter. There is very definitely substantial focus shift between f/1.4 and f/2 or f/2.8 with the 75 Summilux.

 

For me, the character of the two lenses is so different that you could easily have both if you really like the perspective of 75mm. The APO has well controlled colors, high micro contrast and would focus more predictably on your MM. The 75 Summilux renders very smooth lines and gives beautiful twinkle in the OOF at widest apertures, along with tons of CA that you can edit out in your M8.2 files, but will dilute your MM files.

 

My bottom line opinion: if you want really good colors, beautiful rendering as well as a perfect mate for your MM, try the APO 90 Summicron. It is exceptional. If you want a portrait lens, the 75 Summilux might work if you can master the focus shift.

 

best,

Peter

 

Hi there, Peter!

 

That m8.2 lives with my Hexanon Dual Lens 21-35mm glued to it. It is such a perfect travel combo offering me two great FOV: 28mm and 50mm. Now my quest is to have a different and great travel combo for my MM. I already have a 35mm lux asph and I am looking for adding a 75mm fast lens. My logical half (no, not my wife. She thinks that the 75mm CV Heliar is the one to get has it clear that the cron apo is the perfect lens technically speaking: sharp, small and light, not to mention the great minimum focus distance. My illogical half believes that the only the lux will offer that je ne sais quoi look, despite of its big size, weight and possible focus shift. I need to shoot some frames with both and let my heart choose the most appealing result.

By the end of the day, I know I cannot go wrong with either of them. This is truly comforting and makes this situation a lot easier to deal with.

 

Unfortunately I can't try the 80mm lux on either of my camera bodies. It a hell of a lens from what I heard!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[otto.f]

I owned the CV 75 Color Heliar before I got back to my lux75and I must say it is a very pleasant lens for portraits and in my perception a bit underrated. Easy handling too and you won't leave it at home which occurs with the lux75 sometimes when you want go quick and light.

I am not sure if you can't go wrong with the cron75 because I heard some guys on the forum who sold it because they found it a bit clinical

Edited April 21, 2014 by otto.f

[sharookh]

This is shot with the 75mm Summarit f2.5, if that interests you. Sharp with terrific contrast.

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[bruniroquai]

This is shot with the 75mm Summarit f2.5, if that interests you. Sharp with terrific contrast.

 

 

Wowwww

 

Which camera have You used?

[pico]

I have an opportunity to buy a Leica 75mm Summicron APO or the Leica 75mm Summilux (German version). What do you guys recommend?

 

May as well get the Summilux and try to work with it. They are becoming more expensive every day, so if does not work out, you can sell it probably at a profit and work with the Summicron.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jaapv]

But it is a very heavy lens. I sold it for that reason.