R80 summilux vs M75summilux sharpness

[Peter E]

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Hello,

 

Do you know if there is a sharpness difference hetween the M 75 and R 80 summilux at f1,4?

I have a R80 summilux and I find the shapness a bit low at 1,4.

Yesterday I had the oppertunity to compare it to the M75 summilux, I've installed both lenses on a Sony Nex because I've the adapters to test them both on the same body.

 

The M 75 lux is much more sharper at 1,4 then the R80 and the M lens is rendering a more 3D effect even wide open.

The R80 is razor sharp at f2,8 but very soft at 1,4

 

I appreciate any input on this.

 

Thanks already!

Best regards

Peter

[Paul J]

According to Erwin Puts the M75 out performs the R80. I would imagine it would be negligible though.

 

I think the biggest issue, in that period of lower build tolerances, is more likely to do with sample variation and also things needing repairing and adjusting because of their age. My 75 Summilux was a bit soft until I sent it in to Solms and it turned out it was out of adjustment and had a broken part.

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[Peter E]

Hello Paul,

 

Thank you for your anwer!

 

I did some tests with different subjects and portrets.

The difference between both is huge, especially the 3D look you get from the M75 and not with the R80.

I can always send it to Solms but this lens is like new and I want to be sure if a R80 can be razor sharp at 1,4 like a M75 does.

 

Thanks and best regards

Peter

[cpclee]

the 80 summilux I had was never sharp at 1.4 (or 2.0), despite being sent to Germany for calibration

 

but it was insanely sharp stopped down (in a good way)

[Guest]

...

 

If I have understood correctly what I was told at the Leica service, most Summilux-M 1.4-75mm won't be able to show its excellent sharpness at close range at the right position, because they have been adjusted at the factory for a minimum front or back focus of the rangefinder at aperture 2.8.

Perhaps users of the M-240 with electronic viewfinder might confirm or correct this?

[NB23]

If I have understood correctly what I was told at the Leica service, most Summilux-M 1.4-75mm won't be able to show its excellent sharpness at close range at the right position, because they have been adjusted at the factory for a minimum front or back focus of the rangefinder at aperture 2.8.

Perhaps users of the M-240 with electronic viewfinder might confirm or correct this?

 

Absurd Leica myths made to excuse poor QC. Enough with this already. Poor QC, that's it.

[A miller]

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My 75 lux needed a LOT of adjusting at Leica in order to be precisely tack sharp on my digital Ms. When i first got the lens (which hadnt been used on a digital camera before), it was soft and front focusing. Leica explained the very extreme lack of tolerance that digital sensora have relative to film. I dont recall exactly, but it was something like 1/500 of a millimeter of tolerance (for digital).

 

Meanwhile, my 50mm elmar screw mount that i was using with perfectly normal results on my film cameras was blurry as hell on my digital Ms. Turns out the lens barrel was lose which threw the lens out of tolerance in an off the charts way; i didnt even notice this on my film cameras. I have since had the lens tightened and it is now tack sharp again on my digital Ms.

 

My 75 lux came back from Leica with brilliant sharpness and accuracy. Couldnt ask for anything more

[Peter E]

the 80 summilux I had was never sharp at 1.4 (or 2.0), despite being sent to Germany for calibration

 

but it was insanely sharp stopped down (in a good way)

 

So, I can assume that nothing is wrong with my R80, it's just the nature of this lens..?

[Peter E]

Thank you all for your answers, I really appreciate this.

 

I performed the tests on my Sony Nex with viewfinder on a tripod and timer, focussed with max magnification on both lenses, just to be sure and do an even compare.

 

I thought that the R80 renders the same as the M75 but It isn't.

[algrove]

Since you own the 80 and not the 75, why not send your 80 into Solms for a CLA?

[Peter E]

Since you own the 80 and not the 75, why not send your 80 into Solms for a CLA?

 

If I understand it correct from cpclee (citaat #4), it seems that the R80 is not razor sharp at 1,4 even after a CLA. If I can be sure that a CLA can make the difference I would for sure send it to Solms.

I still hope that somebody will reply here with a R80 that's razor sharp at 1,4

[A miller]

I would highly recommend that anyone seriously interested in the perforance of the 80m lux send a pm to Ben ("Roguewave") as he regularrly uses this lens on his R and is quite a master. He street portraits posted mostly in the "People" forum showcase the brilliance of this lens (as well as Ben's shooting and PP skills)

[algrove]

If I understand it correct from cpclee (citaat #4), it seems that the R80 is not razor sharp at 1,4 even after a CLA. If I can be sure that a CLA can make the difference I would for sure send it to Solms.

I still hope that somebody will reply here with a R80 that's razor sharp at 1,4

 

Keep in mind part of your issue could be the adapters you are using on your Sony. I did not see mentioned which NEX-R adapter you are using. Is it the same adapter manufacturer for both adapters?

 

There are many more variables in your mix than many here might encounter on an M240. For sure the Leica M-R adapter is first rate. Plus one can select the lens from an R lens drop down list. Does the M240 correct for R lenses on that list? I do not recall.

[Peter E]

Keep in mind part of your issue could be the adapters you are using on your Sony. I did not see mentioned which NEX-R adapter you are using. Is it the same adapter manufacturer for both adapters?

 

There are many more variables in your mix than many here might encounter on an M240. For sure the Leica M-R adapter is first rate. Plus one can select the lens from an R lens drop down list. Does the M240 correct for R lenses on that list? I do not recall.

 

I'm using Novoflex adapters for both lenses.

To be honest, I want to use the 80R on my D800 and in the future on the M240(when my M9 is retired ) At this moment, I don't know anybody with an M240 to test this R80 on it, so to check the difference I've put them both on my Sony Nex5R.

The reason that I've buyed the R80 is double, first of all, it's a lot cheaper then the 75 and second, I want to use it to make studio portrets with my D800, this gives me some benefits, high resolution, tethered shooting,...

In the end, I think I'll get the 75 lux too

[Peter E]

I would highly recommend that anyone seriously interested in the perforance of the 80m lux send a pm to Ben ("Roguewave") as he regularrly uses this lens on his R and is quite a master. He street portraits posted mostly in the "People" forum showcase the brilliance of this lens (as well as Ben's shooting and PP skills)

 

Thank you for this tip, I've just found him and pm him soon.

He shoots amazing pictures and street portraits. I alo saw that there's a certain depth in his images, this is what I like, I'm curious if he's using the R80 mostly and what his opinion is about my problem.

[jaapv]

Absurd Leica myths made to excuse poor QC. Enough with this already. Poor QC, that's it.

 

Focus shift equals QC?

[colorflow]

Here is an example. Lux 80R @ F1.4 on Sony A99. Very difficult to nail focus. Especially hand held. Over-exposed by >2x since I fogot to stop down. LR was able to recover.

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Edited July 10, 2014 by colorflow

[NB23]

Focus shift equals QC?

 

Focus shift wide open???

 

Now this is a first.

[roguewave]

I have shot thousands of frames with my 80 Summilux R. I have used it with my DMR & more recently with my D800.

 

Although there can be legitimate differences of opinions regarding differences of the R verses the M versions, I would think that the images are nearly identical. Either versions of these lenses require extremely accurate focus, wide open. Wide open, I think the 80 Summilux is Mandler's finest design. The super thin dof requires lots of practice.

 

For the past 18 months the 80 Summilux has remained attached to my Nikon D800 & there it shall remain. I believe that having the ability to "see" the focus before shooting is the key element when using this lens wide open. At f1.4 the dof is razer thin and the bokeh is the finest I have encountered in all the years I have been making images. For me this is the pinnacle of perfection.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jaapv]

Not really. If the lens is adjusted to focus correctly at 2.8 as the post you responded to states, it will shift when you use it at 1.4.