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Summicron 50 APO Disapointing?


~lumiere

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I am interested in the Summicron 50 APO but I am not convinced by the images that I have seen online.Black and White pictures don't seem to have anything that shows the apparent character of the lens.

 

Is this lens really worth it?

 

I have the Summilux 50mm which I really like but I would like a sharper and smaller lens to use with both the MM and the M240.

Edited by ~lumiere
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I am interested in the Summicron 50 APO but I am not convinced by the images that I have seen online.Black and White pictures don't seem to have anything that shows the apparent character of the lens.

 

Is this lens really worth it?

 

I have the Summilux 50mm which I really like but I would like a sharper and smaller lens to use with both the MM and the M240.

 

Yes. It is whole hardily worth it. Unless you feel it is just too much money to spend on such a fine lens. Then, I have to agree that is it isn't worth it and the character of the B&W images you have seen don't have anything.

 

I hope this helps. :rolleyes:

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I am interested in the Summicron 50 APO but I am not convinced by the images that I have seen online.Black and White pictures don't seem to have anything that shows the apparent character of the lens.

 

Is this lens really worth it?

 

The lens is as close to technical perfect as technology can achieve at the moment.

Technical perfection in practice means the removal of as much character as possible. ;) To preserve the reality of the image. Perhaps what you're after is a sprinkling of imperfection.

Edited by Mornnb
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… Black and White pictures don't seem to have anything that shows the apparent character of the lens. ...

That's by design I think. 'Character' in a lens shows up largely from optical aberrations such as coma, spherical aberration, haze, distortion, chromatic aberration etc but the APO 50 corrects these effectively and what you see in a picture approaches what you would see viewing the scene yourself.

 

… I have the Summilux 50mm which I really like but I would like a sharper and smaller lens to use with both the MM and the M240.

Have you viewed (enlarged) prints from the 50 APO, which is where I'd expect sharpness (depending on what one determines that to be) to be seen. Regrettably, images on computer screens can be subject to a number of factors that can degrade apparent sharpness such as the resolution of the screen, the resolution of the image, sharpening in pp, monitor calibration etc.

 

Pete.

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I don't think it is fair to evaluate any lens by what you see online, usually in small dimensions and low-resolution display. Much better to see actual results printed or on a calibrated graphical display.. As you are contemplating such an advanced lens, why not try and see some samples in the way you will would be using it.

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How can you be interested in the lens if all the examples you've seen with it aren't to your liking...

 

If you want compact and sharp, get the normal 50mm Summicron-M... atleast that way you won't feel too bad if the results aren't as 'awesome' as you expected the lens to make them. :D

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I am interested in the Summicron 50 APO but I am not convinced by the images that I have seen online.

The last way I would try to compare images would be online - way too may variables.

 

But the Apo-Summicron is not really about producing better images - its really about buying the concept of near perfection. For virtually any real world photography the Summilux is more than adequate, in fact anyone who genuinely believes that they need better 'image quality' than the Summilux delivers is probably either conning themselves or has a highly specific photographic application for which they need a specialist lens.

 

If you ant one then you want one.

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I am interested in the Summicron 50 APO but I am not convinced by the images that I have seen online.Black and White pictures don't seem to have anything that shows the apparent character of the lens.

 

Is this lens really worth it?

 

I have the Summilux 50mm which I really like but I would like a sharper and smaller lens to use with both the MM and the M240.

 

The APO cron is both.

 

Is it worth it?... well, i am very happy with mine, which i bought in addition to the summilux that i have used almost exclusively for the past several years.

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I am interested in the Summicron 50 APO but I am not convinced by the images that I have seen online.Black and White pictures don't seem to have anything that shows the apparent character of the lens.

 

Is this lens really worth it?

 

Well it depends on what you expect to do with your images. If you expect only to post online, then probably not. But then if you only expect to post online, almost any camera or phone will do. Your post processing skills will be a much bigger determinant of resulting image quality than the hardware. And of course the quality of your photographic eye.

 

If you are printing large or projecting, you'll get cleaner, clearer pictures with the APO, but again, most people will not automatically find your pictures more interesting from having used the lens; you'll just have a little less work to do in processing your picture.

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If you want compact and sharp, get the normal 50mm Summicron-M... atleast that way you won't feel too bad if the results aren't as 'awesome' as you expected the lens to make them. :D

In my case replace "if" by "when":o
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Due to computer screens low resolutions, I do not think on line post of images from the 50mm APO will help you decide on the APO's resolving power. But, on line post of images from the lens can help you when you consider chromatic aberration or color fringing.

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I have the Summilux 50mm which I really like but I would like a sharper and smaller lens to use with both the MM and the M240.

You mean the 50/1.4 asph i guess. If so, there is not a huge difference size wise (pic) and as far as sharpness is concerned, both lenses are very close at f/4 and on. At wider apertures, the 50/2 apo has more vignetting and more sharpness on edges and corners but i don't see much difference in the center. Main differences, to me, are edge to edge sharpness at fast apertures and OoF rendering that i find more pleasing at f/2 and f/2.8 with the 50/2 apo.

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I am interested in the Summicron 50 APO but I am not convinced by the images that I have seen online.Black and White pictures don't seem to have anything that shows the apparent character of the lens.

Is this lens really worth it?

 

Is this lens worth it? Hmm, well....only you know your situation with regard to that question...both financially and creatively......

and keeping in mind of course the harsh fact of life that the photographer is the creative force not the lens.....

many amazing and classic images have been created with fairly ordinary equipment.....a lens won't do it for you.

If you have doubts don't buy. It's that simple!

 

A little motto to ponder: Ask not if the lens is worthy of you, ask rather if you are worthy of the lens.

Edited by platypus
correct typo.
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I was reminded of how ridiculous our GAS really is today. Now, I have been lusting for a 50 Apo myself, even though I own and use a 50 lux aspherical (LHSA). I am a member of the Leica MM user group on Facebook and someone posted a nice photograph of a Geisha. The photo is slightly out of focus and has a big half-circle of flare across the bottom half. It is still a nice photograph though. The metadata says Leica M Monochrom and 50 Apo.

 

A good photo and the quality of the lens completely wasted on it. There you have it.

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You guys should stop defending your gear like if it was your Mothers that assembled it. Geez.

 

Is this limited lens worth it? Put it this way: If Nikon produced its 50 f1.8 in extra limited numbers, it would be worth 7$K, as well.

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Would better have a nicer bokeh than mine... Kind of piquette compared to grands crus referred to above...

 

The Leica victim (Dilettante, to be polite) is a funny animal. The not-so-good bouquet would quickly be elevated to Legendary status.

 

Who are we kidding.

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