Next lens 35mm Summicron / Summilux? or 50mm

[michael.mu]

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I'd like to get 35mm lens, likely the Summicron asph or Summilux FLE for my M240 to fill in a gap in my current lineup.  The lenses I currently have are a 50mm Summilux (II) from 1962, 90mm Summarit and 21mm SEM.  The lens would be general purpose: travel, landscape, street.  Sometimes I need something a bit wider than 50 but not as wide as 21.

 

I feel that 50mm will probably remain my most used lens so even though the 35 Lux is a fantastic lens and I like the look of the images from it,  I'm wondering if the Summicron would be the better choice.  I've tested these lenses in the past but haven't really shot with a 35mm to know how much I'm going to use it.  The Lux would be an expensive choice to sit unused in my camera bag.  I've read a lot of good reviews on both the 35mm Cron and Lux.

 

This raises another idea, overall I'm happy with my 50mm Summilux.  My father bought it with an M3 in 1962.  But if I'm primarily a 50mm photographer should I consider investing in a new 50mm Summilux asph?  I prefer the color in the modern 50mm and it's probably sharper, especially at f1.4.  My Mandler 50mm Lux has  what I would describe as a greenish cast compared to a red/pink cast in the modern 50mm asph.

 

I'd love to hear some other users opinions on this.  I'll be going to Berlin soon and hope to do some shopping there!

 

Mike

[Mornnb]

I would recommend the Zeiss Distagon 35mm 1.4 instead.

Why? Well this Zeiss lens is out performing the 35mm Summilux FLE for half the price.

However it has a lot more viewfinder blockage, and no focus tab.

 

And I would also recommend the 50mm Summilux APSH, it's sharper than a Summicron while offering rendering at f1.4 that is almost exactly like the Noctilux at f1.4. That same '3D pop' fast focus fall off and very smooth bokeh look. It is a simply fantastic lens and one can not ask for more from a 50mm. It delivers everything one could ask.

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[lct]

I'd like to get 35mm lens, likely the Summicron asph or Summilux FLE for my M240 to fill in a gap in my current lineup.  [...] But if I'm primarily a 50mm photographer [...] I prefer the color in the modern 50mm [...]

Filling a gap between 21 and 50 or getting a modern 50mm lens? Difficult to chase two rabbits at once

Do you need really fast lenses? If not, you would catch both rabbits by purchasing a Summarit 35/2.4 and a Summarit 50/2.4.

Now if a fast modern 50 is your main objective, in both senses of the word, there is hardly a better choice than the Summilux 50/1.4 asph, but you know it already don't you.

Edited April 11, 2015 by lct

[freitz]

I would recommend the Zeiss Distagon 35mm 1.4 instead.

Why? Well this Zeiss lens is out performing the 35mm Summilux FLE for half the price.

 

That is a strange observation. I have a friend who has used the ZM 35 1.4 for a year and is switching to the 35 FLE. How would you say Zeiss is "out performing" the 35 FLE?

[Mornnb]

That is a strange observation. I have a friend who has used the ZM 35 1.4 for a year and is switching to the 35 FLE. How would you say Zeiss is "out performing" the 35 FLE?

 

A year? It only started shipping about two months ago! So far all the reviews have been extremely positive and show the performance to be matching or exceeding the 35 FLE.

The colour rendering and out of focus blur is excellent as per these examples:

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2014/12/08/the-zeiss-35-1-4-distagon-zm-leica-mount-lens-review-by-cemal-sagnak/

 

This site measured better edge to edge sharpness for the Distagon when wide open:

http://www.lemondedelaphoto.com/Le-pique,10481.html

Edited April 11, 2015 by Mornnb

[freitz]

A year? It only started shipping about two months ago! So far all the reviews have been extremely positive and show the performance to be matching or exceeding the 35 FLE.

The colour rendering and out of focus blur is excellent as per these examples:

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2014/12/08/the-zeiss-35-1-4-distagon-zm-leica-mount-lens-review-by-cemal-sagnak/

 

This site measured better edge to edge sharpness for the Distagon when wide open:

http://www.lemondedelaphoto.com/Le-pique,10481.html

Maybe I am thinking of a different lens. I will check with him. If I am my mistake. Thanks for the follow up.

 

 

*Edit - My mistake he has the VM 35 1.4...

 

 

Also I read through the articles. ZM is a good deal (close enough performance at half the price). I do not think you are comparing ZM 35 1.4 to the FLE unless it was lost in translation of the second article.

 

I prefer the rendering of my FLE but I haven't used the 35 ZM 1.4 and can only express opinion based on the pictures in the articles.

 

Better edge to edge sharpness but looks like the ASPH 35 was sharper in the center wide open.

Also it looks like the second article you posted refers to the 35 ASPH not the 35 FLE. Steve Huff's Opinions also appear to be based on the ASPH not the FLE. I assume the OP is looking for the most recent summilux. My vote still goes for the FLE, this also comes down to a question of budget.

Edited April 11, 2015 by freitz

[Mornnb]

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The FLE is also often referred to as simply the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH, which is the name Leica markets it under. So this adds to the confusion and makes it a bit tricky to determine which lens a review site is referring to!

 

But, diglloyd says similar at http://diglloyd.com/prem/prot/LEICA/LeicaM9/lens-ZeissZM-35f1_4-MTF.html

They are comparing to the FLE, which they also review. And to quote:

Contrast at ƒ/1.4 is very high and exceptionally uniform across the field and with tightly controlled astigmatism, outperforming the famed Leica 35/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH in all three areas (ditto for the 35/2 Summicron-M ASPH). It also far outperforms the Zeiss ZM 35mm f/2 Biogon.

 

In total, the performance of the Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon is exceptional not only for its impressively high MTF numbers but for the exceptional uniformity across the field (relatively low field curvature), particularly at ƒ/1.4. This tight control over field curvature makes the lens far more useful across a variety of subject than the Leica 35/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH: the Summilux is bitingly sharp stopped down to ƒ/4 or so, but it cannot make a sharp image for a distant landscape or planar subject until ƒ/8 due to its pronounced field curvature.

 

 

However I would still favour getting the FLE if budget is not an issue. Excessive size and viewfinder coverage is the main problem with the Distagon. But, it is by far Zeiss's best lens.

Edited April 12, 2015 by Mornnb

[A Almulla]

I'd like to get 35mm lens, likely the Summicron asph or Summilux FLE for my M240 to fill in a gap in my current lineup.  

 

The lens would be general purpose: travel, landscape, street.  Sometimes I need something a bit wider than 50 but not as wide as 21.

 

 

Hi Mike,

Between the 35 Cron or Lux, the choice could be easy or as difficult as you want it to be. I got the 35 Cron myself and although at times I think about the 35 Lux and "what if I had it" but in truth most of my shots are taken at f/8, sometimes f/5.6 and rarely at f/2.8 or 2.0 unless its really dark, so the idea of getting a 35 Lux only lasts a few seconds. My other lens is a recent 50 Lux and at this point in time and space I'm happy with those two lenses.

 

So for the 35mm, do you need the shallow depth of field of the Lux or using it for nighttime photography where the f/1.4 is "needed".

 

Using BHPhoto prices as a guide:

35 Lux - $4,900

35 Cron-$2,945

 

35 Cron + 50 Elmarit (f2.4) - $4,895

 

All the best with whatever you choose.

[BjarniM]

My short answer is: Go for the Summicron 35 mm ASPH!

 

I say this based on my own tests prior to buying the Summicron. I went into a store, took some test shots at different apertures. My short conclusion from the test shooting was, that the Summicron is almost as good as the Summilux.

 

When i say almost as good, i mean that maybe you can tell some small differences when pixel peeping on a 27" monitor with some fancy test equipment showed in all kinds of colored graphs, but honestly; who buys a lens for that purpose?

 

When printed in 20x30" it's hard to tell which lens the pictures were shot with - that's just how good the Summicron is, at least the tests i did with real shooting, and not some test charts.

 

Yes, you will get smoother bokeh with the Summilux, but what i did also experience during my test shooting was that i had some issues getting objects that were moving perfectly sharp at f1.4 because of the very narrow depth of field at 1.4 when shooting close, <2m.

 

My Summicron copy is dead sharp, renders colors perfect, very contrasty, free of distortion and has such a nice character. I will never let it go, i'm sure. Even if there will come a new Summicron with better optics, just because of its lovely character.

 

I would say that you get 95% of the performance in the Summicron but for 2.000 dollars less, comparing to the Summilux. Besides that, the Summicron is smaller and lighter, which - for me at least - makes it "a go to lens" i tend to take with me wherever i go.

 

Good luck - I hope this helps 

Edited April 12, 2015 by BjarniM

[kaspart]

If you are mainly a 50mm shooter as mentioned, the Summilux 35 FLE sounds like an overkill. Get a new Summarit 35 or a used Summicron 35 asph instead (no lens kit is complete without a 35) and save your money for a Summilux 50 asph that you want to buy sooner or later for sure.

[KM-25]

I have listened to my "inner voice" and have put my 50 Lux Asph up for sale to help pay for my recent acquisitions of a 35mm 1.4 asph ( non-FLE ) an M6TTL and Zeiss 50 Planar. Right away I notice how much better the bokeh is on the 50 Lux at F2 compared to the Planar, much smoother and a lot more out of focus. But I had to make the move, I just know that a fast 35 is my main lens and should have been all along. 50 in the classifieds if anyone is interested....;-)

[michael.mu]

Thank you for the discussion and suggestions. I now have a new 35mm Summicron Asph.   I did look at and tried out the Summilux and Zeiss Distagon.

[BjarniM]

I now have a new 35mm Summicron Asph.

 

Congrats. How do you like it so far?

[michael.mu]

I like it a lot.  It is a very versatile lens, easy to focus and small.   I have not used another lens since I bought it and I am still traveling on vacation. I may switch back to my 50mm tomorrow as a comparison.  

 

For some reason I have lost the lens cap several times but luckily noticed it in time and found it on the street not far behind me.  I have not had this happen with other lenses.

Edited April 21, 2015 by michael.mu

[algrove]

I have a friend with the new ZM 35/1.4 and he also owns the Leica 35/1.4 FLE. He likes the smaller size of the Leica and also the rendering of the Leica, however he generally likes the contrast of Zeiss lenses.

Edited April 21, 2015 by algrove

[semi-ambivalent]

For some reason I have lost the lens cap several times but luckily noticed it in time and found it on the street not far behind me.  I have not had this happen with other lenses.

Congrats on your choice; there's a reason Leica has made them for 17 years. A relatively cheap filter will let you stash the lenscap for good and protect that dippy front element too. I highly recommend using one.

 

s-a

[bephoto]

I can't live without a 50LuxASPH but recently decided to get 35LuxFLE while my only 35 being KOB for a long time, and I don't regret spending $5.5K on it. its absolutely gorgeous though haven't had time to use it in a serious photoshoot yet.

 

 

Here is some 35LuxPorn shot with 50LuxASPH + Macro Adapter 

 

 

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[friedeye]

You've purchased a superb lens. Especially for the 240, where you can buy that extra stop with the faster sensor.  I think for most photography, obviously aside from shooting film or even the M9, f/2 is plenty fast and has more than enough bokeh. The one eye in focus thing gets old after awhile, and lens size - even a centimeter - makes a difference (at least to me, for some reason). Over the years, I've found myself using my small, older lenses more and more.  And the manufacturing trend, in the search for edge to edge 4K perfection, is for longer, larger lenses. Contra-Barnak, in my opinion. 

 

So congrats.  May you shoot with joy and great satisfaction.

 

--  Jim

[pico]

But if I'm primarily a 50mm photographer should I consider investing in a new 50mm Summilux asph?

 

 

No.

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[adespen]

I like it a lot.  It is a very versatile lens, easy to focus and small.   I

 

For some reason I have lost the lens cap several times but luckily noticed it in time and found it on the street not far behind me.  I have not had this happen with other lenses.

Ditto so I retired the square hood and use a round metal copy on mine. Extra protection and I never have to think is the lens covered.