Advice needed on 75 mm lens

[Jose_Salcedo]

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I have an M9 - that I absolutely love - and have been planning to purchase a Summicron 75/2.0 Asph lens. However, a brand new Summilux 75/1.4 lens was offered to me at exactly the same price. I am strongly inclined to go for the Summicron, as its micro-contrast and sharpness (a la Summilux 50/1.4 Asph, possibly my favorite lens with the M9) attract me much. However... this seems like a reasonable deal to consider.

 

I would be using the lens primarily for portraits and as a short tele.

 

Would you have some advice for me? Thank you!

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[lars_bergquist]

The Summicron is optically far superior, lighter and with a shorter focus throw. The Summilux is fancied by aficionados of optical aberrations. There is no arguing about taste ... until someone tries to foist his private tastes on you.

 

The old man from the Age Before Summicrons

[Jeff S]

Read down to paragraph 6 of David Farkas' blog...David Farkas Photography Blog: Photokina 2008 - Day 2 - Taking it easy and getting an education I think Peter Karbe answers your question...from his point of view.

 

I really like my 75 Summicron asph. (But, I've never really liked the 75 frame lines on any M.)

 

Jeff

[Walt Calahan]

I own a 75 f/1.4 because the f/2.0 wasn't manufactured when I bought into this focal length.

 

If I had to do it all over again I'd get the f/2.0.

 

Smaller, lighter, and as I've read optically better. I so rarely shoot this lens at f/1.4.

[Jose_Salcedo]

Thanks, Lars, Jeff and Walt,

 

I am truly inclined for the Summicron for the better optical design (already benefitting from the new Nocti and 50/1.4 asph optical formulas), and it seems much more compact and easy to use. Thanks for your advise, I will check the references that you indicate.

[doug_m]

The 75 cron is really nice. In some ways it "draws" better than the 50 lux ASPH. I have never used the 75 lux but I bet the 75 cron will be a heck of a lot more versatile. What Lars says above seems to be 100% correct.

[Jose_Salcedo]

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Also, it seems likely that the 75/1.4 will undergo a similar redesign by Peter Kalbe as the 35/1.4 did (the new lens will come out soon). So... for many reasons it seems that the Summicron 75/2.0 asph might be the best bet at this time, except possibly for people shooting portraits primarily at 1.4 - not my case.

[tgray]

If I were interested in 75mm, I'd go for the Summicron.

[Jose_Salcedo]

Thanks to all. Decision made, I will go with the Summicron 75/2.0 APO Asph. I am sure that it will be a superb lens that will bring immense pleasure to use.

[jsjxyz]

75 mm lux is classic, read LFI noctilux issue, it stated that 75 lux has similar design is the same like 50 noct 1.0. The character is almost the same.

 

1.4 is helping very much for indoor club shoot too

 

 

Flickr: jsjxyz's stuff tagged with 75lux

[Jose_Salcedo]

75 mm lux is classic, read LFI noctilux issue, it stated that 75 lux has similar design is the same like 50 noct 1.0. The character is almost the same.

 

Beautiful picture, Jerry! Outstanding and delicate. Thank you.

[Rick]

I had the 75 cron and sold it. While I had it I loved it. It has to be one of Leica's best lenses from a technical and image producing point of view. I only sold it because I was new to Leica and already had the 50 lux and realized that I needed to go the other way first in focal length with my second lens, so I sold it and bought the 28 cron.

 

Next, a collector returned a new, in the box, late serial number, Canadian, 75 Summilux to my dealer because he obtained one made in Germany. At the time the dealer was running 20% off all used equipment, so I picked it up for $1,500. Of course, it doesn't sit in the box anymore. It has to be one of my favorite lenses to put on the camera and walk around and shoot with its shallow DOF and fantastic low light performance. Is it as good as the 75 cron? Not technically. But, it is a fantastic creative tool.

 

Here is an example of a night shot of a fish monger catching a fish (in the paper) thrown to him over the counter by another monger at the Pike Place Market, Seattle. Very fast action, razor thin DOF, taken from about 25 feet away at f1.4. The flakes in the air are fish scales. This is what makes this lens fun, heavy, but fun.

 

 

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[Jose_Salcedo]

Thank you for the feedback, Rick. What an outstanding picture!

 

Part of my hesitation is price-related, as the price for the new 75/1.4 would be the same as for a new 75/2.0, and from the serial number it is was made in 1999 although already in Germany. So... about $2.7K seems a bit steep to me for this lens, at this time. If I could get it for less, say the $1.5K that you mention, I would not hesitate.

[JWW]

For portraits and bokeh with creamy backgrounds the 75lux is superb. It's larger and heavier but you do gain a stop.

[Rick]

Thank you for the feedback, Rick. What an outstanding picture!

 

Part of my hesitation is price-related, as the price for the new 75/1.4 would be the same as for a new 75/2.0, and from the serial number it is was made in 1999 although already in Germany. So... about $2.7K seems a bit steep to me for this lens, at this time. If I could get it for less, say the $1.5K that you mention, I would not hesitate.

 

That sounds like too much for the 75 lux. 1999 is just fine if the lens checks out. The lens was introduced in 1980, so you can find a lot older copies than 1999. The German copies although not better are more sought after. I never understood why. The lens was designed at the Midland plant in Canada by Dr. Mandler. It was inspired by the classic 50 lux, designed by Mandler. Later, production was moved to Germany when the Midland plant was sold to Raytheon.

 

If, i were you I'd get the 75cron. The 75 lux is cool but, there are a lot of older lenses that are cool and you'll stumble across them with time.

[Jamie Roberts]

I'm one of the aberrant few on this thread; I love the 75 Lux. It's the closest I can get to an 80 R lux on an M, and that's saying something.

 

All down to taste? Yes... no foisting, just saying If I had all the money in the world I'd have both the Lux and a new cron.

 

BTW--it's sharper than the Noctilux, but the bokeh is wonderful.

 

By f2-3 I think you'd be pretty hard pressed to see a difference from the 75 Lux to other 75s / 85s in print; it's pretty sharp there.

[Jose_Salcedo]

If, i were you I'd get the 75cron. The 75 lux is cool but, there are a lot of older lenses that are cool and you'll stumble across them with time.

 

Thank you, Rick, seems like very sound advice.

[Jose_Salcedo]

I'm one of the aberrant few on this thread; I love the 75 Lux. It's the closest I can get to an 80 R lux on an M, and that's saying something. All down to taste? Yes... no foisting, just saying If I had all the money in the world I'd have both.

 

Thanks Jamie. I cannot afford both. Will try to negotiate the Lux down in price to see what kind of deal I can get, but right now it seems that the Cron would be a better choice. I also think that a new 75/1.4 will come out eventually, based on the new optical designs that have already benefitted the 35/1.4 that is coming out now, and that may offer interesting advantages.

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[Jamie Roberts]

Thanks Jamie. I cannot afford both. Will try to negotiate the Lux down in price to see what kind of deal I can get, but right now it seems that the Cron would be a better choice. I also think that a new 75/1.4 will come out eventually, based on the new optical designs that have already benefitted the 35/1.4 that is coming out now, and that may offer interesting advantages.

 

If you can't afford both, then the Lux is a better deal, though for that price I'd want to make sure it's in top-notch shape.

 

You won't miss any sharpness on the Lux once it's stopped down, but you can't open up the cron to 1.4 OTH, it isn't small.

 

@ RIck--that's a great shot, by the way!

Edited April 16, 2010 by Jamie Roberts

[Jose_Salcedo]

If you can't afford both, then the Lux is a better deal, though for that price I'd want to make sure it's in top-notch shape.

 

Thanks, Jamie! I will check the lens again tomorrow. It seems brand new and in top shape, but I need to recheck. By the way, have you experienced any focus shift issues?