75mm Summicron APO v. 50mm Summicron APO

[Agent M10]

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With all the fanfare about the new 50mm (and price), I wonder if there are any thoughts about a comparison of the performance of the 75mm to the new 50mm. I have both the 75mm Summicron and 50mm Summilux, but I'm thinking of selling both for the new 50mm. I prefer the 50's frame lines and really haven't warmed up to the 75mm that much. Sounds like the new 50mm is ready for prime time for improved sensors.

Edited May 13, 2012 by pcsmythe

[Michael Hiles]

Like the fall out from the French Revolution - too soon to tell.

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[k-hawinkler]

pcsmythe,

 

I have those two excellent lenses and certainly will keep them.

Your last sentence is likely spot on.

[Guest]

1.4/50A + 2/75A APO + cash + wait

traded for 2/50A

[Paul J]

Yes I too wonder the same thing. I will await reviews and more importantly real life samples to see how the signature looks. Hopefully some should start trickling through soon.

 

I am really quite excited about this lens.

[johnbuckley]

I've begun selling lenses I don't use in order to buy the new APO-Summicron. But the 75 APO-Summicron won't be among them. It is one of my very favorite lenses, and I use it a great deal.

[Sp12]

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Do you like the 75mm FL? IMO It's a perfect lens for a 2-lens kit with a 28, 35, or 40mm lens. It's not like you'll be seeing an optical upgrade by moving to the 50AA, since your Lux is effectively perfect at F/2 on the M9 anyway.

[Gerard]

Sell the 50L and buy a 35L.

[Jeff S]

And where does the 50 Summilux fall short for you? I'd say it's been in 'prime time' for a while. And you get a faster lens.

 

If you don't like the 75 frame lines (I never did), but want a longer lens to complement the 50, consider selling just the 75 Summicron and getting the 90 APO Summicron asph instead. Great lens and better frame lines IMO.

 

Jeff

[mirekti]

It's been some time since this thread has started. 
Any comments on rendering between 50mm APO and 75mm APO from those who use both?

[mirekti]

Bump ;-)

[menos I M6]

The 75/2 has been often referred to an extended 50/1.4 ASPH by design (if simplifying that much may be allowed).

 

The rendering of the 75/2 also is very, very similar in character to the 50/1.4 ASPH, hence you may be more lucky to find references between the 50/1.4 ASPH and the 50/2 APO (I believe many comparisons have been made).

[DezFoto]

The 75/2 has been often referred to an extended 50/1.4 ASPH by design (if simplifying that much may be allowed).

 

The rendering of the 75/2 also is very, very similar in character to the 50/1.4 ASPH, hence you may be more lucky to find references between the 50/1.4 ASPH and the 50/2 APO (I believe many comparisons have been made).

 

Agreed, having both the APO 75 Cron and the 50 Lux ASPH, the rendering is very similar, though the 75 is a bit sharper and has less vignetting. 

[Jeff S]

The 75/2 has been often referred to an extended 50/1.4 ASPH by design (if simplifying that much may be allowed).

 

The rendering of the 75/2 also is very, very similar in character to the 50/1.4 ASPH, hence you may be more lucky to find references between the 50/1.4 ASPH and the 50/2 APO (I believe many comparisons have been made).

 

As Peter Karbe explains at the end of this interview...  http://www.shutterbug.com/content/leica-lens-saga-interview-peter-karbe-page-2#5hXO4pQ11RlV62vH.97

 

Jeff

[Universalb50]

I'm not sure what "rendering" even means, but I have a  Summicron 75/2.0 for several years now. It's a truly spectacular, but demanding-to-use lens. If your a snapshot photographer save your money? If you do make the effort: dead-on ranger finder calibration, your excellent vision, very careful attention to focus, maybe even familiarity with a tripod, maybe EVF...then you'll get (occasionally!) wonderful results from it! For run of the mill Leica photography, stay with a 50/2.0 or 35/2.0 Summicron ASPH? 

[DezFoto]

I'm not sure what "rendering" even means, but I have a  Summicron 75/2.0 for several years now. It's a truly spectacular, but demanding-to-use lens. If your a snapshot photographer save your money? If you do make the effort: dead-on ranger finder calibration, your excellent vision, very careful attention to focus, maybe even familiarity with a tripod, maybe EVF...then you'll get (occasionally!) wonderful results from it! For run of the mill Leica photography, stay with a 50/2.0 or 35/2.0 Summicron ASPH? 

 

 

By "rendering" most people mean the overall look a lens imposes on an image (color, sharpness, bokeh, contrast, etc.). 

Edited January 31, 2016 by DezFoto

[Al_OOF]

I have the same lenses (50 Summilux and 75 Cron). Except that for me there is sufficient distance between the two to justify the simultaneous presence, I agree that the 75 is more difficult to use. It requires a very precise focus and seems very sensitive to micro movements. At first I thought it was not a so sharp lens, not until I took a picture with a flash...  

I have never felt my specific exemplary so contrasted as it was described by others and in fact, after some comparisons in Leica store, I got the confirmation that mine is less contrasted but now I can not decide if this is good or bad... 

My 75 seems a bit different from the 50 that has slightly more transparent colors.

[tom0511]

I prefer the 50 size wise and find the focal length more flexible. Optically both are very good, however the 50 APO I love everything about it, color, bokeh, sharpbness, and 50 seems easier to nail focus. So I dont use the 75 all that much.

But thats me.

[DezFoto]

I have the same lenses (50 Summilux and 75 Cron). Except that for me there is sufficient distance between the two to justify the simultaneous presence, I agree that the 75 is more difficult to use. It requires a very precise focus and seems very sensitive to micro movements. At first I thought it was not a so sharp lens, not until I took a picture with a flash...  

I have never felt my specific exemplary so contrasted as it was described by others and in fact, after some comparisons in Leica store, I got the confirmation that mine is less contrasted but now I can not decide if this is good or bad... 

My 75 seems a bit different from the 50 that has slightly more transparent colors.

 

Come to think of it, the 75 flares a bit more easily as well. I think the focus is hard to nail because the focus throw is so short, it really should be a longer throw. Just the slightest muscle twitch will throw it off. 

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[Al_OOF]

DezFoto, I think it's a combination of two elements; the sudden transition between the area in focus and out of focus and the short focus throw.  in fact my old Summicron 90 (80-89) seems more often in focus.

But I like very much the 75 Apo despite its difficulties...