Ken Rockwell on Summilux 24/1.4

[vanhulsenbeek]

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As for wide angle, my favorite Ultra Wide is the 19 Elmarit R.

 

Right you are: an amazing lens. But on the M, the WATE gives me just as much fun.

[noah_addis]

...

 

$6000 is a lot of money, so if you're having doubts about it. Sleep on it.

 

Wise advice.

 

Granted I've never used it on a full-frame camera, but I would say that if you're having second thoughts because of technical quality, get over it.

 

However if you're having second thoughts because of the usability of the lens, or how much you think you'd like the focal length, etc., then definitely sleep on it. Or better yet, rent or borrow one to try out for yourself.

[vintola]

OK. Thank You Noah and all others, who responded this question. It is rather expensive lens, so maybe I must make the decision after sleeping on it. - vintola -

[wlaidlaw]

Like others, I am not too keen on KR's writing style but there are nuggets of sense in what he says. When the M8 was my principal camera, I was going to get a Zeiss 25 ZM Biogon. Now the M9 is my main camera with the M8 sitting on a Visoflex most of the time, I struggle to see the point of a 24. I only have a 28 as part of my MATE, so the next lens I would be looking for is a 28 Lux. For wide angles, I have the WATE, even if I have to use Corner Fix to get rid of the red left edge on some photos.

 

Wilson

[novice9]

I have no opinion on KR one way or the other. My current lens lineup includes: 21, 24, 35 and 50 luxes (all latest) 90 cron. My favorites are the 24 and 35 luxes (no observable focus shift on mine).

[larryk34]

Rockwell and Puts. What more could anyone ask for? We live in the best of times.

[Shade]

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Depending on my set up, in regard with the 24 lux.. I will pair it with something like a 75 cron (or lux even!), or a 90 cron. I find the 24 is wide enough for general usage, hence eliminating the need of 35 lux. And the 90 or 75 would be for intimate shots, eliminating the need for 50 lux.

 

If I was to have a 21 lux, I'd pair it with a 50 lux. it feels that their the right gap.

 

But for my current set up of 35 lux and 50 lux, between 24 and 21, I'd go for 21.

 

Heck I'm considering 18, I feel 21 lux is too much of weight and price for my usage. I have my group shots and street and night covered by my 35 lux.

 

 

Novice: sorry for asking, but what's the point of having 21 lux AND 24 lux? is 3mm really that much of a difference?

[nugat]

So the purpose of 24/1.4 is "wide&fast"...

For the price of one summilux 24/1.4 one can get a canon/nikon 24/1.4 plus a full frame body. The bonus is several stops improvement in noise...

Of course, all the magic is gone...

[LuxBob]

I thought it was just me found some of Ken's views a bit extreme, especially his non-photography comments but in between there is some good stuff. It can be a bit tiresome getting to it though.

His most irritating trait is that he gets a bee in his bonnet and just goes off on a tangent. Currently he is trying to convince the world, many of whom he guided into digital, that film is the new frontier. That highlights the problem, Ken only deals in extremes and it is hard to get a balanced view.

[stunsworth]

All he wants are hits to his website and donations, everything else is secondary. As far as I can tell he is a poor photographer, has no technical background, and doesn't write well. Just about the best thing I can say is that he appears to have stopped "reviewing" equipment he has never seen.

 

I'm astonished that someone would take his opinions into account when there are far better people on the internet such as Sean Reid and Erwin Puts who do have the photographic and/or technical abilities that he so obviously lacks.

[Nikkor AIS]

All the magic is gone because...? Or perhaps you where being sarcastic?.

At any rate, I would love to see some sample images taken with the Lecia 24 1.4 @ F 1.4 on the M9.

 

 

Gregory

[rob_x2004]

You dont like him and he gets two pages of prime exposure on Leica forum. Id say hes got a few guys well sussed:rolleyes:.

[Nikkor AIS]

Like him or not, Ken Rockwell is the best in the business for getting people that hate him to direct traffic to his web site. I personally like some of his photography and appreciate that he still shots film. Remember no one is putting a gun to your head to go to his site and he gives out information anyone can access for nothing. Say what you want he has an opinion and puts it out for the world to judge. Perhaps it's worth what you pay for, but you got to give him credit, he gets the traffic rolling in. And like he say's he is doing it for fun. I mean, even if you hate the guy, you got to admit, it's is entertaining either way. And come to think about it, Iv never seen him on a forum posting directing people to his site. Other people do it for him. Oddly enough usually people with unkind remarks come to think about it.

And personally I dislike people talking smack about somebody over the net on a public forum. It's weak and I don't see why moderators put up with it. It's crosses the line into a personal attack. And I was under the impression personal attacks not allowed on these types of forums. Perhaps Im wrong. It cross the line of civility and I expect more in the Lecia Forum. You know If people have a specific difference of opinion and/or a specific point where they think Mr Rockwell is off base than Im all ears and would be genuinely enthusiastic to hear them answered on a point by point bases. But to say someone is poor photographer from what they see on his free content web site is rude.

I think what really gets people goat is Ken Rockwell success and his access to a seemly endless supply of the latest and greatest gear much of it Leica. I got to say I found my way to the Lecia forum from a post about the lecia M9 from Ken Rockwell on the Nikon cafe several months ago. And since that time I acquired three M bodies and five M lenses. And have inspired several of my friends to give Leica M a serious look.

You know it just occurred to me that Ken Rockwell is fellow Lecia M shooter and dosnt that mean he is one of us? Below is self portrait to put a face to these words and ll post one of shots taken with my Leica's. That way if the shit gets piled on to me because of this post you know what I look like and have a sample of some of my work. And as you can see Im dressed for it.

 

 

 

 

Gregory

Edited April 4, 2010 by Nikkor AIS

[frc]

Almost all image content stolen from Ken Rockwell's area.

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!

[lct]

Didn't read it in detail but Rockwell's review sounds well made at first glance no?

[yanidel]

And personally I dislike people talking smack about somebody over the net on a public forum. It's weak and I don't see why moderators put up with it. It's crosses the line into a personal attack. And I was under the impression personal attacks not allowed on these types of forums. Perhaps Im wrong. It cross the line of civility and I expect more in the Lecia Forum. You know If people have a specific difference of opinion and/or a specific point where they think Mr Rockwell is off base than Im all ears and would be genuinely enthusiastic to hear them answered on a point by point bases. But to say someone is poor photographer from what they see on his free content web site is rude.

 

I agree that it is not fairplay to dismiss his photography based on what he writes. Yet Mr Rockwell also asks for it by constantly provoking Leica users in his articles. But since his does not have a comments section (a sign of courage of his opinions), I guess this translates into overall animosity on the Leica forums.

[pgk]

And personally I dislike people talking smack about somebody over the net on a public forum. It's crosses the line into a personal attack. And I was under the impression personal attacks not allowed on these types of forums. Perhaps Im wrong. It cross the line of civility and I expect more in the Lecia Forum.

Gregory

I'm not sure whether I totally agree with this. If you put up reviews on an internet site which is aimed at making money then you are, to a certain extent I suspect, fair game. I've only looked on KR's site a couple of time but it does appear to me that whilst he states the obvious fairly effectively, he also aims at controversy with both his stated opinions and some of his comments. Whilst the web is an excellent place for searching it is not always a good place to find informed and reliable answers and IMHO KR is a very good example of this. Puts on the other hand, whilst also opinionated appears to be a more objective reviewer of equipment and his methodology can at least be appreciated even if its application in many real world scenarios lacks something!

[steve70]

I just recently purchased this lens and I find no issues with it. As a street photographer one would be hard pressed to find a better lens, both for speed of lens and speed of shooting.

In so far as needing a finder; just stick you eye in the view finder and look at the 28mm bright lines, you will be close enough, after all, I do think that this lens was designed first as a street lens and best used in "Zone" focusing with "Instinctive" shooting.

Besides guys, and gals, it's not the lens that makes a photograph, it's the mind's eye, the lens just helps facilitate the" Vision."

[chipcastille]

I think Ken Rockwell would be the first to say that a lot of what he says should be taken lightly. I have a 24 'lux I bought from Ken Hansen and I think it is a very special lens. 24mm is about as wide as I can go and still get recognizable humans as subjects so I think it is an important focal length for me. The 24 lux is very good for this application and gives additional control with DOF. I also find it very sharp at the center wide open.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Alnitak]

While many have simply dismissed Ken out of hand, his observations about this lens are quite accurate. It's definitely not among the sharpest of the M lenses, and it does suffer from distortion. That said, it fits my needs well and is one of my favorite lenses. If you need a fast 24, it's the only game in town for the M shooter.

 

Jeff