ShivaYash Posted August 16, 2015 Share #1 Posted August 16, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm wishing to invest about £5k in lens and have this on my list. I've read OVERGRAAD's review and digested his thoughts, but are there any users of this lens here? What do you think? I'm only looking at second hand options. With best, 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 16, 2015 Posted August 16, 2015 Hi ShivaYash, Take a look here any 50f2 APO users here?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pedaes Posted August 16, 2015 Share #2 Posted August 16, 2015 Have you seen any used examples for sale? If you search there are a number of threads, and other web reviews (e.g. Ming Thein), plus the subscription review sites. Remember that those who invest over £5k probably (hopefully) knew what they were getting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted August 16, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted August 16, 2015 Yeah. Two for sale. Around £3k. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTM Posted August 16, 2015 Share #4 Posted August 16, 2015 Yes, there are lots of users here. There are a number of recent threads of images and coments. It's a fantastic lens, IMHO, if you want to shoot 50mm and you have the money. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted August 16, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted August 16, 2015 Would be great to see from photographs and hear their experience. I just missed out a lens that went for £2k! Crazy cheap... someone grabbed a bargain. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 16, 2015 Share #6 Posted August 16, 2015 (edited) Yes, the 50 APO is now easily obtainable second hand for around £3.5k. It is certainly not the kind of lens that you would want to buy new and then get 'buyer's remorse'. Even at £3.5k it is worth knowing that it is a lens that you really want – the 50 Summarit (£600 used) has none of the pride of ownership or prestige associated with the APO but is, for all practical purposes, just as good. Shiva, you are in London – why not pop along to the Mayfair shop and have a play with their 50 APO? They will let you take it out the shop and run a roll of film (or digital equivalent) using it. Far more useful than listening to opinions here. Edited August 16, 2015 by wattsy 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted August 16, 2015 Share #7 Posted August 16, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Would be great to see from photographs and hear their experience. I just missed out a lens that went for £2k! Crazy cheap... someone grabbed a bargain. Try the search function http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/229033-apo-50-images/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted August 16, 2015 Share #8 Posted August 16, 2015 I don't think you will learn anything useful from images posted here as the file size limit means any image well focused and shot with good technique using a current Leica lens will equal or exceed a 50 APO image viewed on a monitor. To get the benefit of this lens your rangefinder adjustment and your shooting technique will need to be perfect to compliment the quality of the lens. The lens alone will not "do it" (IMHO). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted August 16, 2015 Share #9 Posted August 16, 2015 (edited) Would be great to see from photographs and hear their experience. ... Plenty of pictures and opinions for you in the linked thread, which is toward the bottom of the same page as your thread: 50 APO images Pete. Edited August 16, 2015 by farnz 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted August 16, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted August 16, 2015 Watched the Leica video on this lens with interest. Apparently its full resolution is only possible on the MM246. Suspect the next Leica M will take advantage of it to the max. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted August 19, 2015 Share #11 Posted August 19, 2015 Just be careful buying used as some have been stolen recently. Also plenty of images have been posted here. I remember posting almost 2 years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted August 19, 2015 Share #12 Posted August 19, 2015 I love my APO 50. It's my lens of choice over all the others, most especially over all my other 50's. Whether, given my rather mediocre photography, I couldn't achieve just as much from say my Summilux 50 is irrelevant as subjectively, I believe the results I get from the APO are better and that's really all that matters. 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpm Posted August 20, 2015 Share #13 Posted August 20, 2015 My very brief experience with the 50 AA is that it is more different than the Summilux asph, not better, but different. After shooting both back and forth, I did the obligatory bookshelf shot with tripod and it is amazing. The lux does fall off in the corners and tends to be barely less sharp than the 50 AA. My thought was to use it with the Monochrom v.1 and my M240. Have one and be done. I have a V.2, DR, V.3, 'lux v.1, and the Summarit. I know, embarrassment of riches. I have niggles with them all, save the "lux asph. I just wonder if the 50 AA is worth the leap from the 'lux asph, given what I shoot and my present skills. I'd have to part with a number of other stuff to justify the purchase. I have a pretty good deal on a new one, though not nearly as sweet as what you all are talking used. I am trying to decide whether it is worth it for everyday shooting or if the Summilux asph is more of a more practical choice. Decisions, decisions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevecair Posted August 20, 2015 Share #14 Posted August 20, 2015 I had one apo and have been using it for almost three months now. I personally feel it is one hell of lens. I have only used the 50 summilux 1.4 fle and 35 1.4 fle for two years. I agree with the previous comments, if you handle it well, it won't disappoint you Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlinman Posted August 20, 2015 Share #15 Posted August 20, 2015 I have also an APO since some month. Give away my lux. I did my own tests with theses two and the 1.0 and 0.95 Noctis. If You do testshots, watch for the very different bokeh. For me that was the biggest point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougg Posted August 22, 2015 Share #16 Posted August 22, 2015 I love my APO 50. It's my lens of choice over all the others, most especially over all my other 50's. Whether, given my rather mediocre photography, I couldn't achieve just as much from say my Summilux 50 is irrelevant as subjectively, I believe the results I get from the APO are better and that's really all that matters. So well said, I wish I'd said it myself! The APO 50 is my first Leica 50, but I have others that are very good... while the APO 50 has something more. Doug Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted August 22, 2015 Share #17 Posted August 22, 2015 The Elmar 50/2.8 v2 is still my favorite 50 in good light and the Summilux 50/1.4 asph in low light because of the character of the former and the sharpness of the latter at f/1.4 but the 50/2 apo has become my default 50 the same way as the 50/2 pre-apo used to be since the eighties for me. It is simply the best 50 i've used so far. But trying it in a store won't help much to see obvious differences with other Leica lenses including the excellent Summarit 50/2.5 referred to above by Ian. Side by side comparos like that i did with the 50/1.4 asph some time ago can be surprising though. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albireo_double Posted August 22, 2015 Share #18 Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) The 50 APO is a fantastic lens on the M240. I didn't like it as much on my old M9 (where the CCD sensor produced crisper out of camera images than the CMOS in the M240 and I found the results sometimes a bit too contrasty/saturated/punchy). The 50 Lux asph was my favourite lens on the M9 (but I didn't like it as much on the M240). I am not that excited with the 50 Apo on an M246 either and I don't even really know why (I prefer an old v2 "rigid" Summicron on the new Monochrom).The 50 APO is pretty much permanently mounted on my M-P240, sharing the privilege with a 35FLE. My subjective impression is that the CMOS colour sensor in the M240 works really well with the most modern, high resolution/high contrast Leica APO/Asph lenses whereas the M9/M246 partner really well with some of the older, less contrasty lenses with a more vintage/gentle rendering. And the M240 is not the best of friends with the older/mellower lenses. Edited August 22, 2015 by albireo_double Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpk Posted August 22, 2015 Share #19 Posted August 22, 2015 Lux ASPH and APO-Cron are very different, e.g. when shooting portraits I was really surprised how different the eyes came out: Lux more dreamy, Apo much deeper and clearer... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted August 22, 2015 Share #20 Posted August 22, 2015 You mean the Lux asph more dreamy at what aperture? Just curious about how much our subjectivities can be different. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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