kuau Posted January 26, 2017 Share #1 Posted January 26, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Looking for a new Leica 50mm for landscape work so I'm at F5.6 - F8 Which 50 works best at infinity focus?Summarit Summicron Summilux Thanks everyone... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 Hi kuau, Take a look here Best Leica 50mm for Landscapes. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
iwc852 Posted January 26, 2017 Share #2 Posted January 26, 2017 Elmar (new version) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuau Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted January 26, 2017 Elmar (new version) That's on my list but I also want a 50 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
helged Posted January 26, 2017 Share #4 Posted January 26, 2017 Very hard to (technically) beat the APO-Summicon-M 50mm. But at f5.6 - F8, most of the current 50mm are good... 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronazle Posted January 26, 2017 Share #5 Posted January 26, 2017 A bargain option that sacrifices no quality is the Voigtlander 50mm Heliar f:/3.5. I don't have experience with the rigid version but the collapsible is phenomenal. Examine Putt's old review if you can find it. Regards, Ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mute-on Posted January 27, 2017 Share #6 Posted January 27, 2017 That's on my list but I also want a 50 This is the Elmar-M 50/2.8, made from 1994 to 2007. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuau Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted January 27, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is the Elmar-M 50/2.8, made from 1994 to 2007. Wow this little collapsible lens is up to the task when using a modern M 240 M10.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mute-on Posted January 27, 2017 Share #8 Posted January 27, 2017 Wow this little collapsible lens is up to the task when using a modern M 240 M10.. I can't comment from personal experience, but I'm sure others will chime in. My understanding is, in short, yes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Michel Posted January 27, 2017 Share #9 Posted January 27, 2017 At mid-aperture, infinity, I doubt very much that anyone could tell the difference between any of the 50 mm lenses. The stuff in the air mass between the lens and the subject will have a much greater impact than anything else. My favourite, because that is the one I have, is the Rigid. Works great on M3, 4, 6, 9, and M-P, can't beat that. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uhoh7 Posted January 27, 2017 Share #10 Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) It's no contest: Danger Will Robinson by unoh7, on Flickr 50 Cron v4 is deadly, and stopped down you won't tell it from the APO, but it's WAY smaller WAY lighter and WAY cheaper Yellow Lake Approach by unoh7, on Flickr And the lens is incredible WO: Honda Loo by unoh7, on Flickr Especially close: L1056632 by US Alpine Championships, on Flickr The Lux is great in landscape also, but like APO it's bigger, heavier, more $$$. OK last two at F/8: Evening at Smoky Dome by unoh7, on Flickr Evening view by unoh7, on Flickr All these on M9 Walter Mandler's masterpiece... Read Puts on Elmar-M vs v4 Cron. Look at the charts. It's close, but one is better. Yes the Elmar is even smaller, even lighter...but you have to pull it out Puts: "Close-up performance of the Summicron-M is on the same level as the performance at infinity setting (actually infinity is that distance where the in- coming light rays are parallel to the optical axis. For most lenses this condition is satisfied at about 100 times the focal length)." Yikes, eat your heart out 50 Lux APSH, cause that little thing does beat you close up, OK your bokeh is better OK if you have lots of money and a sherpa, the 50 APO is the best. My v4 is 197 grams, the APO is 300. Edited January 27, 2017 by uhoh7 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 27, 2017 Share #11 Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) I prefer the last 50/2.8 as well but this is subjective obviously. Objectively, it is not the sharper lens in the corners at infinity. 50/2 apo, 50/1.4 asph & 50/2.5 (no experience with 50/2.4) have better performances there. 50/2 v4 & v5 have a bit of focus shift around f/4 that is negligible on 3D subjects but for landscapes the center of the frame may appear slightly softer than corners for this reason. Not a problem if you focus stop down with an EVF though and at f/5.6-f/8 differences will be hardly visible on 24MP sensors anyway. Edited January 27, 2017 by lct 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougg Posted January 28, 2017 Share #12 Posted January 28, 2017 (edited) A bargain option that sacrifices no quality is the Voigtlander 50mm Heliar f:/3.5. I don't have experience with the rigid version but the collapsible is phenomenal. Examine Putt's old review if you can find it. Regards, Ron An excellent though unusual choice! The lens was only made in Leica screw mount, nickel plated, collapsible. The 2.0/50mm Heliar was first M-bayonet, black, collapsible, then a limited offer in Leica screw mount, nickel plated, rigid but looks like it should collapse. It's a fine lens too, and all three variants are actually classic Heliar optically, beyond just carrying the name as some other Voigtlander lenses do. The f/3.5 aperture should be no handicap for landscapes, as it seems unlikely a landscape shooter would be using wide apertures... Here's one with the 3.5/50 Heliar on an M(240)... Edited January 28, 2017 by Dougg 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neko Posted January 28, 2017 Share #13 Posted January 28, 2017 ¨OK if you have lots of money and a sherpa, the 50 APO is the best. My v4 is 197 grams, the APO is 300.¨ Of course you need a sherpa to carry the 103 extra grams! Mostly due to the lack of oxygen up there 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uhoh7 Posted January 29, 2017 Share #14 Posted January 29, 2017 ¨OK if you have lots of money and a sherpa, the 50 APO is the best. My v4 is 197 grams, the APO is 300.¨ Of course you need a sherpa to carry the 103 extra grams! Mostly due to the lack of oxygen up there OK I confess, I would love APO 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRIago Posted January 29, 2017 Share #15 Posted January 29, 2017 Rigid Summicron. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Posted January 31, 2017 Share #16 Posted January 31, 2017 Looking for a new Leica 50mm for landscape work so I'm at F5.6 - F8 Which 50 works best at infinity focus? Summarit Summicron Summilux Thanks everyone... At f/5.6 - f/8? You're never going to be able to tell the images apart. The only differences would be in their flare resistance/characteristics and in the ergonomics. I have owned a 50 Summicron and a 50 Lux, and the both flared under slightly different light conditions. I have never owned the Summarit. My guess is that at hyperlocal distance or infinity focus all three would be equally good. I'd probably pick a used Summicron--it's somewhat smaller than the Summilux and will hold its value better than the Summarit. You know, for when you later trade it on on a 'Lux, then trade that in on an APO, then trade that in on a Noctilux only to find you were really happiest with the original Summicron. - Jared 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted January 31, 2017 Share #17 Posted January 31, 2017 If a lens manufacturer can't make a lens that is sharp at f/5.6 they shouldn't be in the business so you should be looking at the other aspects of any lens to see if they fit your budget, alternative uses, as well as rendering (sharpness can be just one aspect of how a lens performs). I call myself a landscape photographer and use a 50mm Summilux, not because it is sharp, but because of what it does if I don't want it to be sharp. Just as landscape photography is about finding the important elements of the landscape and not just getting as much in as possible so opening the aperture can also isolate the important things in the picture. That therefore is one of my alternative criteria for a lens. If however I went back packing I would think about taking the 50mm Elmar for its compactness, and while it is sharp the contrast is more gentle on the eye, actually nicer than the Summilux, making for a less clinical look to the detail and colours. If I was on a budget an older Summicron would make me happy, it's a jack-of-all-trades that doesn't disappoint. What I wouldn't do is buy a lens just because it is lab tested and shown sharper than another, because while at least a tripod is necessary to get the most out of it and make sense of a quest for sharpness, you'll find the great outdoors and nature isn't a lab. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belle123 Posted January 31, 2017 Share #18 Posted January 31, 2017 I get more keepers in landscapes with the Summicron 50 v4. It just works. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted January 31, 2017 Share #19 Posted January 31, 2017 I have two 50 mm lenses which I use for landscapes which are: 50 mm Zeiss Planar ZM f2 lens and 50 mm ASPH Summilux f1.4. The former is used as a lightweight option and IMO is comparable to the 50 mm Summicron M in optical quality. The latter although heavier I find excellent for landscapes and also for photographing people when travelling; I really like the way it renders the out of focus parts of the image. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neko Posted February 1, 2017 Share #20 Posted February 1, 2017 I have the 50APO and is a wonderful lens. In terms of clarity and sharpness is the best I have. Nevertheless 50 is not my favorite focal length for landscapes. I love my 90APO for that purpose. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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