35 Summilux ASPH - did it replace your Cron?

[scc]

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I have the 35 Cron ASPH - my first Leica lens, and one that I love for its size, ergonomics and rendering.

Recently I have lusted after the Lux ASPH.

 

Has anyone out there 'upgraded' and kept the Cron also?

Anyone upgraded and regretted getting rid of their Cron?

 

I've read all the comparison threads around, and I know the pros and cons of each lens. My question really is for those that have (had) both - do you think they are sufficiently different at F2 and above to keep both?

[wattsy]

Has anyone out there 'upgraded' and kept the Cron also?

Anyone upgraded and regretted getting rid of their Cron?

 

I have both. I've owned and then sold a 35/F2 ASPH twice before now so I'm trying to learn my lesson. I like the Summicron for its size and especially balance (I have the heavier black paint version) and it has done sterling service for me as the standard lens on an M8 but, if pushed, I'd sell it ahead of the Summilux (shifty focus and all). That said, if I want to just stick a lens on the M9 and bung it in my bag, I will almost always turn to the Summicron.

[swamiji]

I "upgraded" from the current Cron to the current Lux. I like the image rendering better in the Lux. Also the one f-stop helps in my case. So far no regrets.

[pnoble]

Per Leica Rumors, the new Summilux 35mm will ship in March, be a tad larger than the current model, have a metal hood like the 24mm Elmar and of course have a floating rear element to avoid focus shift, FYI.

[k-hawinkler]

I have both. I've owned and then sold a 35/F2 ASPH twice before now so I'm trying to learn my lesson. I like the Summicron for its size and especially balance (I have the heavier black paint version) and it has done sterling service for me as the standard lens on an M8 but, if pushed, I'd sell it ahead of the Summilux (shifty focus and all). That said, if I want to just stick a lens on the M9 and bung it in my bag, I will almost always turn to the Summicron.

 

I "upgraded" from the current Cron to the current Lux. I like the image rendering better in the Lux. Also the one f-stop helps in my case. So far no regrets.

 

Is your 35 Lux ASPH afflicted with focus shift?

If so, how bad is it?

What aperture did you select to show no focus shift? 1.4? 2? or 2.8?

 

At close focus of 0.7m, my 35 Lux ASPH shows the following focus shifts: (f=1.4,shift=+5cm), (2,+6), (2.8,+7), (4,+7),...

More detail here http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/112125-question-about-lens-focus-adjustment.html, #4.

I will have the back focus corrected real soon now.

 

I also have a 35 Cron ASPH which seems to be pretty much spot on.

If the Leica Rumors turn out to be correct, I intend to keep the 35 Cron ASPH and replace my current 35 Lux ASPH with the new lens design provided it meets expectations.

 

Thanks for a reply.

[scc]

Have any of the ASPH lenses been superseded yet or will the 35 Lux be the first?

 

It will be interesting to see what happens if there is a new Lux, my prediction is:

 

New lux released

Old lux ASPH dumped for cheap on 2nd hand market

People realize old lux had magic

Old lux ASPH prices return to normal or even higher than current despite focus shift issues..

[fischmuc]

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Is your 35 Lux ASPH afflicted with focus shift?

If so, how bad is it?

 

Due to its construction, there is a focus shift for all Lux ASPH.

See the article in LFI.

 

Dirk

[lars_bergquist]

I started out with a v.4 Summicron. I also bought a pre-asph Summilux simply for speed, was much disappointed by its performance, and got myself a Summilux-ASPH. I kept the 'cron because it formed a kit with my 1983 Jubilee M4-P and a similarly engraved Tele-Elmarit.

 

But that was in film days, meaning ISO 64 to 100 for real quality. Also, the focus shift problems of the 'lux, while to a large extent psychological, are real, at least in digital use; and I went 'M-digital' in early 2007. In November last year I made an experiment: I hitched the old 'cron to my M9, identified the lens by the menu, and took the rig to the Stockholm Photo Fair, a medium low-light affair with a lot of 'street photography' to it. I was amazed by the performance of the 'cron. See picture. It was taken at f:2.8.

 

Conclusion: That venerable lens is an excellent all-rounder. The Summicron-ASPH is probably even better, but the v.4 is smaller and lighter. So this lens is now away for coding and a complete overhaul -- it's back in service, the way a M lens should be.

 

This reminds me of that conversation between Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald: -- "Ernie, rich people are different from us." -- "Yes Scotty, they have more money." There's no special magic about Summilux lenses -- they're just faster. And that speed is not as necessary now as when we were shooting Kodachrome 25.

 

The old man from th Age of Kodachrome I

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[budrichard]

Some of us still shoot Kodachrome, at least fo 2010!

The 35mm Lux ASPH is my all time favorite M lens. Until I find a problem with it, it will always be on one M body, ready to go.-Dick

[fursan]

The only Leica lens I regret buying is the lux 35mm asph. Excellent on my film Ms. Unusable on my M8s except for f/.4

 

The summicron 35mm asph is an unbeatable lens. Size, weight and performance. So much

so that I am willing to travel with it as my only lens soon to SE Asia. Maybe just the

lux 50mm asph to give it company or the pre-asph 50mm for lower contrast.

[yanidel]

Yes, I had a Summicron v4 and replaced it by a 35mm Lux Asph.

Then I bought another Summicron v4 and now will keep both.

 

I think they are very complementary :

- Lux Asph for every day use and low light.

- Cron v4 for when a small combo is needed (fits in coat pocket), or need a bokeh that is a bit more crazy wide open, or a bit less contrast (sunny days).

 

I have thought about buying the 35mm Cron Asph but after researching it I concluded that it is pretty much a Lux Asph with one stop less and without the complementary advantages of the v4. (which I sniped on Ebay on Christmas eve from my Iphone at a ridiculous price, all bidders were probably occupied filling themselves with Turkey...)

[MitchoIankov]

I have upgarded from Cron v4 to Lux Asph with no regrets.

My focuses fine at 1.4 and it is fine at 5.6 ( I avoid using f 2 to f4 at close distances (5 meters or below)).

[dpattinson]

I traded my 35cron for the 35lux I now use.

 

I like it because it's effectively a 'fast' 50 on my M8, and I do a lot of shooting in low light. The extra stop is quite useful, as most dimly lit places seem to be at about 1/15-1/24 @ f1.4 and 2500iso. One stop less light and I'm getting into a range of shutter speeds I really can't do hand held.

 

If I had a M9, I might go back to the 'cron because I'd be using my 50lux a lot more... but I'd also like a wider fast lens... so maybe not.

 

My 35lux is adjusted to very slightly front-focus at f1.4 and I don't find the focus shift too much trouble on stopping down - seems within acceptable limits to me.

 

Since I'm never going to buy a new lens, the imminent arrival of a 'better' replacement is pretty irrelevant to me. If it's good, I'll trade up when one comes by second hand

[peter_n]

Has anyone out there 'upgraded' and kept the Cron also? Anyone upgraded and regretted getting rid of their Cron?... My question really is for those that have (had) both - do you think they are sufficiently different at F2 and above to keep both?

I have the Summilux ASPH and about 18 months ago bought a Summicron ASPH. I haven't used the Lux since getting the Cron because I also love its size, ergonomics and rendering. Are they sufficiently different at F2 and above to keep both? No, so the Summilux could well go. I also use a pre-ASPH Summicron v.1 which is different from both in a wide aperture range.

[spydrxx]

I sold my Lux and bought a Cron...and am quite happy with the decision. Given my druthers, I'd still have my 2.8 Summaron, but it is well gone.

[albada60]

I have the 35 Summicron (8 element) and the 35 chrome Summilux ASPH.

Despite some vignetting wider open the 35 Summicron Version I to me is more than just a collector's item. This Mandler design is well constructed, compact and gives me fine results from f4.

The 35 Lux ASPH is contrastier wide open, and despite feeling a little heavy, operates well and delivers superb results.

For me boke is a little different in each lens.

The Lux will not replace the Cron and I will keep both.

[colorflow]

I went through three versions of Cron 35 and the pre-asph Lux before ending up with the Lux 35 asph which I use most of the time on my M8. They all draw differently. My preference/decisions for keeping or not are as follows (All strictly my personal taste of course) :

 

The 8 element Cron was too soft and prone to flare and CA

The pre-asph Lux is prone to flare and CA.

The Cron asph is clinically sharp but too contrasty for me

The 7 element Cron (bokeh king) I had did not impress me, bokeh or otherwise. Perhaps I had a bad copy?

 

The Lux asph has just the right contrast, sharpness, and bokeh for my taste. Superior in everyway to the other four IMO, and , lucky for me, it focuses right on at 1.4 and does not have severe focus shift. So it is the only one I kept.

[rocheung]

Have any of the ASPH lenses been superseded yet or will the 35 Lux be the first?

 

It will be interesting to see what happens if there is a new Lux, my prediction is:

 

New lux released

Old lux ASPH dumped for cheap on 2nd hand market

People realize old lux had magic

Old lux ASPH prices return to normal or even higher than current despite focus shift issues..

 

Yes, just what you see in Summicron V4 (7element) and the ASPH version.

[JWW]

I regularly use three 35mms, the cron V4, Lux ASPH, and the cron ASPH. I've kept them since they all draw and handle differently and since I know I'd regret selling any one of them.

 

My Lux ASPH focus shift is unnoticeable in use (as mentioned before, make sure that at 1.4 it's at the foremost part of DOF so a slight shift back as you close down still stays in the DOF) but the lux feels and handles like the heavier and bigger lens it is. It makes the M9 front heavy.

 

The cron V4 is so small and light that it makes the M9 almost a compact camera. Great performance, hard to tell the difference even wide open except by extreme pixel peeping in the corners.

 

The cron ASPH is slightly bigger and heavier than the V4 but still handles well and reasonably compact. Very contrasty and sharp wide open.

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[nhabedi]

I only have three Crons and one Elmarit. From 1995 to 2008 I only had a 50mm Cron and a 35mm Cron (both pre-ASPH) and I used the 35mm 90% of the time. I then bought a 28mm Elmarit (my only ASPH lens) for the M8.2's crop factor (and I'm now thinking of selling it because I probably won't use it on my film Ms). I added a 90mm Cron two weeks ago because I saw a good used one at my local Leica shop, but I already knew when I bought it that I will very rarely use it.

 

I never thought about upgrading to newer (ASPH) or faster (Lux) lenses. For me, the Crons are Leica's sweet spot - they're fast enough for almost everything and small and lightweight at the same time. They're also relatively cheap if you buy them used. I think you're paying too much (in terms of money, size, and in terms of losing depth of field) for the one stop a Lux gives you.

 

I'll also be heretical and say that many Leica shooters (and members of this forum) fret too much about lenses. Any Leica lens (and probably most other M-mount lenses as well), even an old and used one, will be sufficient to take great photos. If your photos aren't good enough, a new and shiny ASPH Lux won't suddenly change that. Or, in other words, if a new lens does make a difference, then you're caring too much about the technical qualities of your pictures.

 

Just my personal opinion, of course...