tategoi Posted January 8, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 8, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am tired of waiting for the Leica 50 1.4, one will never know when the lens will hit the street. My dealers say earliest 2nd quarter this year, at least after X1 delivery. What's the closest I could get? What about Zeiss 50 1.5? I read a few reviews that the Sonnar is obviously not as good as the Summilux, but given the price, it has far greater performance-price index. For those M9 users who have experience with both of these lenses, what is your take? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 Hi tategoi, Take a look here 50mm Summilux and Sonnar. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
adan Posted January 8, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 8, 2010 The Zeiss Sonnar is designed to be an old-school lens - "dreamy" at f/1.5, better stopped down. If you want close to the APO performance cheap, look into the Voigtlander 50 f/1.5. Or a used Leica 50 f/1.4 pre-ASPH. Either will perform better than the Zeiss @ full aperture - unless you want the dreamy look - and will be even cheaper to boot. Zeiss said the following to Luminous-Landscape http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/zeiss-m-mount.shtml regarding the Sonnar: "The C-SONNAR T* 1.5/50 ZM is a very special lens; based on a classical lens design concept from the 1930´s. .... This lens ‘draws’ your subject in a fine, flattering manner and is therefore ideally suited for portraiture. It renders a sharpness that is slightly rounded, being less aggressive than in contemporary lens designs....This lens design exhibits some additional effects.... the best focus position in the object space can not be kept exactly constant for all f-stop settings [i.E. - FOCUS SHIFT].....The special features of the C-SONNAR T* 1.5/50 ZM are best used in emotional, artistic, narrative images, portraits or atmospheric landscapes. For documentation or technical subjects CARL ZEISS recommends to stop down the lens at least to f/5.6 or to use the PLANAR T* 2/50 ZM lens." As the LL reviewer said - "Who buys an f/1.5 lens to use at f/5.6?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 8, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 8, 2010 Andy is right, the 50 Sonnar is nothing like the 50/F1.4 ASPH. The closest you are going to get is probably (unfortunately) the 50/F0.95 - a snip at this year's price of £7195. If you don't mind framing a fair bit tighter you might consider the 75/F2 APO as an alternative - especially if you have a 28 or 35 to pair it with? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted January 8, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 8, 2010 There are thousands of lines over on RFF about the Sonnar 50/1.5, most of them about the focus shift - how to deal with. It produces undeniably beautiful pictures, but I'm a bit on the thick side. Having to think in the heat of battle about focus shift and how to deal with it at different apertures is a bit too much for my rapidly declining gray matter. I bought the last pre-ASPH version Summilux 50 instead. I get beautiful pictures from a lens that focuses properly at all apertures. Not as crisp at f1.4 as the ASPH but definitely kinder to people. I use both lenses for different purposes and recommend the last pre-ASPH 50. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tategoi Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted January 9, 2010 Many thanks for the reply. I guess the best move is to wait for the 50 'lux. Currently I only have the 35 'cron on my M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagsiva Posted January 9, 2010 Share #6 Posted January 9, 2010 take a look at reidreviews.com. He has a very detailed comparison. As others have said, the Sonnar has a very unique look from wide open to 4/5.6. Sean's site is well worth the 30 bucks if you're looking for a good review/comparison. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 9, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 9, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) ...I bought the last pre-ASPH version Summilux 50 instead. I get beautiful pictures from a lens that focuses properly at all apertures. Not as crisp at f1.4 as the ASPH but definitely kinder to people. I use both lenses for different purposes and recommend the last pre-ASPH 50... Ditto. The latest pre-asph is less sharp than the asph at f/1.4 but not ridiculous at all there and it is still sharper than the Summicron at f/2. The OP might resell it at little or no cost when he receives the asph. Or he could keep it if he prefers it as i do for portrait for instance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted January 9, 2010 Share #8 Posted January 9, 2010 Wait for the 50 lux ASPH. You won't regret it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGeoJO Posted January 9, 2010 Share #9 Posted January 9, 2010 I wasn't even aware of the shortage of this lens.... When I bought mine from Tony at Popflash, he had more than a handfull readily available. Boy, the 50mm lux ASPH is indeed an amazing lens though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christoph_d Posted January 9, 2010 Share #10 Posted January 9, 2010 Don't know if 1.4 is essential for you - in terms of DOF or shooting in dark spaces. In terms of sharpness the Summicron 2/50 is, for most practical purposes, equal. It has the additional benefit of much less critical focussing and also it is significantly lighter and smaller. And it draws beautifully. Perhaps you could borrow one of these lenses and try? Best regards, Christoph Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 9, 2010 Share #11 Posted January 9, 2010 As a stop-gap you could buy an old Summarit 50, the " sonnar-look" in huge amounts, and only a few hundred $$. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeLosLindos Posted January 9, 2010 Share #12 Posted January 9, 2010 Many thanks for the reply. I guess the best move is to wait for the 50 'lux. Currently I only have the 35 'cron on my M9. You can try your luch here. I ordered a couple of Canon L lenses here and and am very pleased by the service and delivery, allthough I don't have any experiences with ordering Leica gear in this shop. good luck, DeLosLindos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tategoi Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share #13 Posted January 9, 2010 I got an offer for a pre-owned pre-ASPH 50 lux version 2. Is this the latest just before the ASPH model? The seller is asking US$1300. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Freedman Posted January 9, 2010 Share #14 Posted January 9, 2010 I have a recent (coded) Summilux 50 1.4 Asph and an old Summicon 50 2 (type 11817) made in 1970. I use both on my M9. Pixel-peeping at 100%, the 'lux is very slightly sharper than the old 'cron in the centre of the frame but in the outer fields the 'cron is noticeably sharper. Possibly the 'lux is designed primarily for use at wide apertures to give a sharp central subject and blurred background. If that is the type of photograph you take, you may prefer a 'lux type lens, but for overall sharpness across the frame at apertures of between 2.8 and 5.6, I prefer my old 'cron, which is also significantly lighter than the new 'lux and easier to carry around all day. Also, in backlit situations the 'cron shows much less CA fringing. Why not try a secondhand 'cron before spending too much money on a new lens. Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
viramati Posted January 9, 2010 Share #15 Posted January 9, 2010 I have the CV 50 1.5 and for it's price this is one amazing lens (see the Reid review). I also managed to find a 50 sumilux in one of the lesser Leica dealers (Jacobs in London had a chrome one a short while ago) so these are always worth checking Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 9, 2010 Share #16 Posted January 9, 2010 I got an offer for a pre-owned pre-ASPH 50 lux version 2. Is this the latest just before the ASPH model?... Everybody does not agree about version numbers. AFAIK, version 2 is from 1966 to 1995, has the same code number as version 1 (# 11114) exists only in black chrome, E43 filters, and has a separate hood # 12585 (1st pic below). The latest pre-asph version is from 1995 to 2004 and has code # 11868 (black chrome), 11856 (chrome), 11869 (titanium) or 11623 (black paint), built-in hood and E46 filters (2nd pic below). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/109026-50mm-summilux-and-sonnar/?do=findComment&comment=1180825'>More sharing options...
peter_n Posted January 9, 2010 Share #17 Posted January 9, 2010 I got an offer for a pre-owned pre-ASPH 50 lux version 2. Is this the latest just before the ASPH model? The seller is asking US$1300.I don't think $1300 is a particularly good price. I sold my E43 for $1100 earlier this year having purchased the E46 version. I was satisfied with that as it's roughly what it cost me. Also I would second lct's comprehensive response above and only add to it that the E43 lenses have a closest focus of 1M whereas the E46 and last pre-ASPH model has a closest focus of 0.7M. You'd be surprised what a difference that 0.3M makes! Also the E46 version has a much shorter focus throw than the preceding models, for me that was also a distinct advantage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 9, 2010 Share #18 Posted January 9, 2010 ...in backlit situations the 'cron shows much less CA fringing... Never got CA fringing with the 50/1.4 asph so far. What raw converter do you use? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 9, 2010 Share #19 Posted January 9, 2010 +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adli Posted January 10, 2010 Share #20 Posted January 10, 2010 Everybody does not agree about version numbers. AFAIK, version 2 is from 1966 to 1995, has the same code number as version 1 (# 11114) exists only in black chrome, E43 filters, and has a separate hood # 12585 (1st pic below). The latest pre-asph version is from 1995 to 2004 and has code # 11868 (black chrome), 11856 (chrome), 11869 (titanium) or 11623 (black paint), built-in hood and E46 filters (2nd pic below). According to Leica M Lens Users Guide you have: First version 1959-1961 Chrome Second version with an improved optical formula 1961 to 1968 aprox, chrome, from number 1844001. Third version, same optics but black anodized Fourth version, same optics but "50" on barrel Fifth version, same optics but built in shade from about 1995 Titanium version introduced 1997, limited production future collectible for classic Titanium M6 In other words, you have a second version in crome and a third version which is basically the same as the second, but black anodized. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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