How do you like your summicron 75mm?

[JuanLeon]

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but my copy does flare shot against the light with a bright light source just outside the frame..

Mine does flare too, but since I've learned to put the left hand around the lens shade as if it were a little longer in those situations, the problem is almost solved. Of course, the EVF helps in this case.

 

A really great lens.

[jpk]

I loved the Lux 80 so I looked for a Lux 75. I owned 3 or 4, they draw beautifully, but finally gave up because of focus issues (even after service at Leica) and decided to go for the APO-Cron 75. After focus adjustment my copy is spot on but due to the short focusing throw extremely difficult to nail. And even if I get it right it's quite soft at large apterures in comparison to my APO-Cron 50, though not as soft as the Lux 75 was. Is that normal?

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[CheshireCat]

 And even if I get it right it's quite soft at large apterures in comparison to my APO-Cron 50, though not as soft as the Lux 75 was. Is that normal?

 

No. The 75/2 should outresolve the M sensor, at least in the center of the frame at f/2.

Use Live View to ensure you nail focus.

[sarav]

At maximum aperture short focusing throw is an issue in medium-long distances (over 7 meters in my experience) but the lens is all but soft. Try taking a shot at 1-2 meters away at f2 you should easily nail the subject and verify focus in Photoshop IT HAS TO BE RAZOR SHARP. If I photograph a collection of vinyl records 4-5 meters away (f2 aperture), at 100% zoom I can perfectly read record titles whose chars normally are 1 or 1,5 mm high!!

[Paulus]

Thanks all, I just tried one which I wanted to buy, but alas... the "infinite" was really bad. Did not buy it. 

[rafael_macia]

 

I bought a 75 Summicron new, and absolutely could not get used to the picture corner "frame lines". Why on earth Leica decided to(I know there was a "reason" .... so please no posts to let me know why Leica did what they did ....)  match the 50mm with the 75mm frames, makes no sense ..... to me. Bad design ..... (my opinion).

what I liked ....about the 75;

I loved the balance of the lens on the 240 body.

The sharpness was stunning.

The short focus throw I liked.

 

maybe I should try it again ..... ? 

Edited April 19, 2015 by rafael_macia

[mirekti]

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The funny part about short vs long focus throw is I nail it 99% of the time with the Cron, but when I use long throw 135APO at distances about 10-20m I struggle.

[MarkP]

maybe I should try it again ..... ? 

 

 

 

You should.

[jpk]

If I photograph a collection of vinyl records 4-5 meters away (f2 aperture), at 100% zoom I can perfectly read record titles whose chars normally are 1 or 1,5 mm high!!

 

OK, I did the test: 4,5 meters away from tripod, the characters are 3mm high, focusing in LiveView, RAW, sharpening off, self-timer, 100% crop from the center:

 

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So what do you think?

Edited April 19, 2015 by jpk

[CheshireCat]

OK, I did the test: 4,5 meters away from tripod, the characters are 3mm high, focusing in LiveView, RAW, sharpening off, self-timer, 100% crop from the center:

 

So what do you think?

 

Seems ok to me. The color aliasing in the text shows the lens is outresolving the sensor.

[sarav]

Please, can anyone help me upload a file on a post? Thank you

[sarav]

Leica Monochrom 100% crop 4,5-4,6 meters away f2 straight out of the camera. Handheld, 3200 ISO, 1/125.

These are vinyl records, the chars of titles are very very small...

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[jpk]

Thanks for the Sample!

 

Leica Monochrom 100% crop 4,5-4,6 meters away f2 straight out of the camera. Handheld, 3200 ISO, 1/125.

These are vinyl records, the chars of titles are very very small...

 

Many thanks for the sample! I will do the test as soon as I receive my Monochrom back from Wetzlar...

[sarav]

Thanks for the Sample!

 

 

Many thanks for the sample! I will do the test as soon as I receive my Monochrom back from Wetzlar...

 

 

customizing?

[Winedemonium]

I've owned both. I think it comes down to what you want to use the lens for, and so it was usage in the field that determined what I kept.

 

My copy of the 75mm Summicron was outstanding - super sharp at f/2, a good performer even down to close focus, and very sharp stopped down with good colour. A very 'clear' sort of rendering. It's other big advantage is that it is fairly compact - compact enough to make it more likely to get some time on the camera being walked around with, in contrast to the big, heavy, long focus throw 75mm Summilux. (I'm saying nothing new in this thread I appreciate).

 

So, why did I sell it? Two reasons: firstly, I sold my first copy of the 75mm Summilux because of focus problems (mechanical, no me), and then when a really mint copy came up I couldn't resist giving it another go. I can focus this copy accurately and it is a little crisper as well. 

 

Secondly, and critically, I found that the 75mm Summilux had a rendering I liked for what I used this lens most for - portraiture. For other purposes I was using other focal lengths where quality was close (28/2, 50/1.4 LX, 90/2 APO) to, or exceeded (50/2 APO) the 75mm Summicron, so it didn't fit my kit anymore.

 

But I do think the 75mm Summicron is one of Leica's best current M lenses in quality terms, and in the right compromise for speed and weight. It is entirely usable at f/2, where DOF is already so shallow, it is hard to get the right zone in focus anyway. (the f/1.4 of the Summilux is not its greatest virtue, in my view).

 

If you look at the Flickr pools for these two lenses it is easy to see just how differently they render -- as differently as the modern 50/1.4 LX and the 50/1 Noctilux of old. I'm glad both exist because its really only focal length that they have in common.

[tobey bilek]

street sign at 300 feet and f 8.0  has narrow depth of focus but is right on.  It is not a lens for casual use

 

I use the 1.25magnifier with it now.

 

Sharpness puts my 75 1.4 to shame. 

[hoppyman]

My thinking is that several aspects of photography are involved in these threads; how we use our cameras and lenses, the technical characteristics of the camera and lens design, the calibration state of those things and of course our technique on the day.
I used the Summicron very largely for half length through to tightly framed headshots and long ago found that around f/4 gave me the amount of DoF that I think worked best for that.

 

I also found that its close focus capability and magnification helped for flower 'portraits for example.

I used my lens for many thousands of frames on M8, M9 and now M and it has always just worked fine as long as I did my part. 
Since I usually share portraits in these threads, here are some close ups for variety

@f/2 and minimum focus distance here (uncropped). Really more a test than anything but it works I think.

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stopped down here for the DoF I wanted

[sblitz]

Have it, love it, wouldn't think of ever parting with it. Recently adjusted by Leica NJ, took several months to get it back, it is a magnificent lens on my M9 and MA.

[dunhoy]

I picked up a used one from Red Dot Cameras; I was a tad disappointed to discover it had a back focus problem however they sorted this out immediately and all I can say is that this lens rocks...

 

(fyi Red Dot Cameras are an excellent dealer for those who don't know of them - I have purchased from them online and in person and their service is excellent! With the pending demise of RG Lewis in Holborn I urge folks to support the small independent Leica specialists - use them or lose them - the official Leica stores are an altogether more snobby shopping experience and not for me!)

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[wattsy]

What do you mean about the pending demise of RG Lewis?