50 Summilux II vs 50 Summicron V

[Banci]

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I'm currently using the 28 Elmarit and I was thinking of adding a fast 50mm to complete my setup.

 

 

I really like the Summicron but I was wondering if that extra stop could be useful or not.

With only the Elmarit on my M9 I really need the extra stop of the Cron, but is it worth to pay 500 extra for the Lux?

Talking about the Summilux, it's close focus is not the best but the Type III or the Asph are too expensive.

Edited January 22, 2017 by Banci

[wda]

Bianci, welcome to the forum. Unless you have a demonstrable need for f/1.4 save yourself some money. All Summicron lenses perform very well indeed.

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[lct]

Welcome to the forum

F/1.4 is certainly useful if you shoot in low light unless the M9's digital noise doesn't bother you at 1600 iso and above. Now the 50/1.4 v2 is softer in borders and corners and it has more CA but also less focus shift and it is less prone to flare than the 50/2 v5. Matter of tastes and needs as usual.

[MarkP]

If it's the Elmarit ASPH it is a sharp high-contrast lens so a more modern high-contrast 50 may be better so they have more similar rendering.

 

28 and 50 is my favorite combo.

[lct]

If it's the Elmarit ASPH it is a sharp high-contrast lens so a more modern high-contrast 50 may be better so they have more similar rendering [...]

 

+1

[vanGeist]

I just got my 50 Lux v2 on Friday and compared it to my 50 Cron v4. Wide open the Cron is sharper, has less distortion and has less CA. But stopped down the Lux is so close to the Cron, they are indistinguishable from each other. The rendering is very similar on both lenses.

 

If you don't need f/1.4, keep the Cron. If you really wand that extra stop and twelve aperture blades, get the Lux. By the way, I don't mind the 1m close focus. It helps me not to get to close to my subject and to keep a good working distance.

Edited January 22, 2017 by vanGeist

[TomB_tx]

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Back when I was first deciding this in 1969, the Leica Rep. said results would be very similar, except for the extra stop of the Summilux. Of course, that was the v.3 Summicron to the v.2 Summilux. I went with the Summicron and have never regretted it. After getting the M9 I added a v.4 (or 5 depending if you go by the optics or mount) Summicron, which overall does a bit better than the v.3.

I'd still go with the Summicron over the 1.4 for my use.

[dpitt]

I have the Summicron 50mm v4 (optiacal formual the same as v5) and the Summilux 50mm v2. Both are lovely and have their merits.

The Summicron is very compact and has a focus tab which I like very much.

In most situations, i will not miss the extra stop.

 

The Summilux has a more old fashioned rendering, misses the focus tab and is noticably larger and heavier.

In some situations I prefer the more 'dreamy' rendering although the Summicron will be more 'correct' and with higher contrast.

 

If it's the Elmarit ASPH it is a sharp high-contrast lens so a more modern high-contrast 50 may be better so they have more similar rendering.

 

28 and 50 is my favorite combo.

Depends what you are looking for... The Summilux will add an extra stop together with a different stile of rendering. It will add extra creative possibilities.

 

OTOH the Summicron 50 v5 (or v4) will be the 'almost perfect' lens, more in the style of the 28, just better sharpness and contrast with a smaller fov.

[uhoh7]

You can always grab a CV 50/1.5 which is better than any Lux before the ASPH, and totally gorgeous OOF. M version is best. 600 bucks. Very strong, technically as Puts found. Black one is 238 grams, while the v2 lux is 275 grams.

 

That's the most popular RF lens in the world today, far as I can tell. I don't even have one, but search on flickr you will see a million shots and why so many love it.

 

50 cron v4 is fantastic, but for bokeh the CV murders it, and is a stop faster.

 

M9 does appreciate a faster lens indoors or in the dim. I have several superspeed lenses for mine.

 

Considering how heavy the CV 50/1.1 is, if I needed a single 50 and could not get the Lux ASPH, I would get the CV 50/1.5 for sure.

 

Here is a whole thread on it with lots of samples:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1439320/0?keyword=Voigtlander#13632291

Edited January 22, 2017 by uhoh7

[Banci]

Thank you all for the advices.

Tomorrow I'll go to see the Summicron!

[tobey bilek]

All `Lux except ASPH are not equal to the Summicron at 1.4 compared to 2.0.   The last version is full of distortion the Summicron does not have.  I held off buying a `Lux until the ASPH came along.  

 

If you are a bokeh fan, the `Lux at 1.4 compared to Summicron at 2.0 is way smoother.  I love my ASPH.  My other fav is 50 2.8 V2 Elmar M.