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35 Summilux FLE v. Zeiss 35 f1.4 ZM


LD_50

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Does anyone have experience with the 35 Summilux FLE and the new Zeiss 35 f1.4 ZM?

 

I've read the articles on Diglloyd's site as well as a few reviews of the new ZM but I've not seen direct comparisons. There seem to be few reviews, professional or user, for the new Zeiss.

 

I currently own a Sony RX1 and I've been very pleased with the Zeiss 35/2 on that camera. I would like to add a 35 for my Leica M-P and I want to ensure I'm making the right decision between the Leica and Zeiss.

 

From the little I've been able to read, the Zeiss may be better in image quality overall but the Leica is substantially smaller and lighter. I am leaning toward the Leica because it appears to offer a similar rendering to my 50 Summilux and it is quite small for the level of image quality it offers. I have yet to see any photos showing the Zeiss VF blockage or the overall handling in comparison to the Leica. I would love to see comparison images as well.

 

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

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I don't think the lens has been released for general sale yet.

 

Sean Reid has a very good review but it is a paid subscription site. Considering what you're looking at spending the relatively small cost of the subscription may well be worthwhile.

 

The lens is very interesting considering it's better corrected optically albeit at the expense of size. As I already have the 35 Summilux FLE, and the inconsistencies described across the field have never bothered me, I wouldn't be looking at changing over.

Edited by MarkP
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I previously had a subscription to Sean Reid's site and may consider it again. The site's use of Flash (as a copy-protection method I guess) and the inability to view on my mobile devices made it a frustrating user experience for me.

 

Does his review compare with images to the Summilux?

 

I tend to believe the curved focus field described by some with the Summilux won't cause me many problems in real world use. Of course a flat field would be preferred but I don't this as a problem when I review images made with the lens.

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I tend to believe the curved focus field described by some with the Summilux won't cause me many problems in real world use. Of course a flat field would be preferred but I don't this as a problem when I review images made with the lens.

 

The ZEISS has higher resolution wide-open and at every f-stop, less distortion and no focus-shift whatsoever (The FLE still has some)

 

Technically, it is clearly the better lens. However, that's not the end of the story, at least for me. Handling and rendering at just as important

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Thanks for the replies.

 

I went ahead and picked up the Summilux yesterday from the LA Leica store. Although I love my 50 Summilux the chrome Noctilux was calling my name. I need to stop going in that place.

 

Hard to go into the store and not spend any money, thats why I don't go in. lol.

 

To the OP. I love my FLE, its my only lens; I think you made a good choice.

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Seems from this, Lloyd and Sean Reid that the Zeiss is technically superior and the lens to go for if you don't already have the Summilux. The reservations are that it is larger than the Summilux and not enough of an improvement to be worth upgrading (despite Lloyd selling his Summilux and declaring this the best lens available for the M system, from a technical performance perspective.

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the zeiss looks like a great lens but I do wonder about the wobble that is said to appear after a few years on some zeiss lenses. I don't know the actual stats here

 

there are other questions:

1. the build

2. the draw

3. the focus throw

4. the size

 

also the results are not a slam dunk. looking at the DXOMARK tests it seems that the sFLE is better in the centre wide open, although I think here the results are all so close

 

Zeiss

web_zeisszm_fig4-bbee6.jpg

 

Leica FLE

web_zeisszm_fig5-d15b2.jpg

 

I would be tempted to buy the zeiss but need to see more pictures. the 35mm FLE still blows me away. if they were the same price I would definitely still go for the FLE (for my taste) but at the retail price the zeiss is very tempting.

Edited by colonel
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I have never seen those DXO figures before, do they have other M lenses listed?

 

My French language skilles are not that good :)

 

Thanks

 

 

I just copied them from the article

I have been unable to find them independently on the DXOMARK website and therefore perhaps we could assume that the review has used the DXOMARK optics pro software and technique to rate the lenses rather then the review actually being done by DXOMARK themselves

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Both Reid and Chambers arrive at the same technical conclusions about the Zeiss' superior numbers across the frame and at all apertures (near-zero focus shift and all) and so the data above doesn't jibe. While Lloyd quickly dispensed with his FLE (his bias toward Zeiss rendering is no secret), Sean's preference was for the Leica on account of its handling. I think he mentions something like an 18% view finder blockage for the ZM 1,4/35.

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I did some test shots with the Zeiss, (no comparison ones with the Summilux) and was very much taken with the clarity and "transparancy" it produced. Measured figures do not hold much interest to me, it is the result that counts. A few Lp/mm are neither here nor there.The size is a drawback, but for me would not be a deal breaker.

Build quality felt excellent, I don't think that would be a consideration for one lens over the other. If I were to obtain a fast 35 I would go for the Zeiss.

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