new Summilux 35mm [ Merged ]

[rosuna]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

The MTF data (at 1.4, 2.8, 5.6), as well as the distortion look identical to the "old" one.

 

What puzzled me what the fact that there was no improvement at 2.8 over the old one, as the focus shift (that was worst at this aperture) should be gone.

 

Of course, some "real life" samples will decide if this is really an improvement over the old one

 

The "waves" of the 40 lp/mm at f/2.8 and f/5.6 are a bit less pronounced in the new design (and they point to curvature of field and spherical aberration). I don't know how those minor differences translate to real pictures. Leica should have corrected the focus shift problem.

 

There are many things the MTF curves don't say, and Leica doesn't provide MTF curves for close distances either.

[yanidel]

Thanks for the correction, yani!

 

That extra 30% in weight could have been used to explain the price adjustment.

One could argue that Leica has gone to a price per gram if looking only at the latest new products :

- 35mm Lux Asph 320gr - 3750€

- 50mm Noctilux 700gr - 7950€

- 24mm Summilux 500gr - 4990€

 

That's about 10€/gram ... definitely a good deal for a long term drug

[leica007]

Fair enough. What is that you don't like?

 

I don't like the cat's eye-like bokeh - e.g. look at the 'cock', 'candle-stand' [i suppose] , 'curtain' on the right hand of the photo.

 

For this money, I want a smooth, creamy bokeh.

[melissah]

I cant wait to see samples, hopefully good ones.

This is probably my lens.

If it's that good I too will trade up.

I do like the size of my sm 35 but since I'm still waiting for an m9 Im using my m8 w 28mm

My 28 is smooth where as my 35 is stiff.

Please point us to samples as they arrive?

[yanidel]

I don't like the cat's eye-like bokeh - e.g. look at the 'cock', 'candle-stand' [i suppose] , 'curtain' on the right hand of the photo.

 

For this money, I want a smooth, creamy bokeh.

 

The current Lux already does that in some situations. Bokeh can't be judged with one picture as it depends on so many parameters IMO.

[Shootist]

I kind of didn't get the second image, lens without hood, in the press release until I saw the DPR images, front view with the hood on, and you still have threads inside the front of the lens for a filter. So It looks like the hood screws on the outside of the lens, threads both inside and outside. So in the second image in the press release the outside threads are covered with some type of screw on cover over those outside threads.

[steamboat]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I admit to only scanning the release on this. I didn't see the weight. Anybody know if it's smaller/lighter than current (black) 35mm f1.4 Lux ASPH? That would be good but otherwise I think the currently available Lux ASPH is pretty darn good. Ofcourse I came from the 35mm f1.4 Summilux (classic) so anything would be an improvement on that lens. Actually, I used the old one for nearly 30 years so it's not like I'm complaining all that much.

[lct]

The current Lux already does that in some situations. Bokeh can't be judged with one picture as it depends on so many parameters IMO.

Sure but harsh result at first glance. Wait and see but i don't buy that so far.

[andybarton]

So in the second image in the press release the outside threads are covered with some type of screw on cover over those outside threads.

 

 

That sounds like the way the Summarit hoods work

[UliWer]

I admit to only scanning the release on this. I didn't see the weight. Anybody know if it's smaller/lighter than current (black) 35mm f1.4 Lux ASPH? That would be good but otherwise I think the currently available Lux ASPH is pretty darn good. Ofcourse I came from the 35mm f1.4 Summilux (classic) so anything would be an improvement on that lens. Actually, I used the old one for nearly 30 years so it's not like I'm complaining all that much.

 

The last 1.4/35 Asph weighed about 300g (250 as indicated in the Leica data sheet is certainly wrong), the new one 330g. The new adds some mm in diameter, so perhaps one day it will be called the "Fat Asph."...

[40mm f/2]

Comparing the technical data between the new lens Leica Camera AG - Fotografie - NEU: LEICA SUMMILUX-M 1:1.4/35mm ASPH. with the old one looks like the same lens with a different mechanical system. Also identical distortion and vignetting graphs. The drawing shows that the entire rear element is moving as single unit not only the lenses just behind the aperture.

[wilfredo]

Great news, but did they re-design the lens cap on the new metal lens hood so that it doesn't fall off? I've lost two of these lens hood caps from my 35mm Summicron ASPH.

 

On a more serious note, I am eager to see how this lens performs in the real world. This won't matter to some of you, but Leica pricing continues to disappoint me. I'm starting to equate Leica pricing with the housing crisis, at what point will the bubble burst? How much more can the market bare at these prices?

How realistically sustainable is the new Leica pricing policy?

 

I'm struggling to gather the funds for a 50mm Summilux ASPH. A friend who saw me open the 35mm Summilux announcement - and saw the price of the new lens shouted: "Oh that's obscene!" She would have been shouting obscenities herself if I had mentioned the price of the latest Noctilux. Life goes on...

[BRJR]

Nothing official from Leica so far afaik.

Well, this is what I now see on the Leica web site:

 

Leica Camera AG - Photography - NEW: LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH.

[wattsy]

I'm struggling to gather the funds for a 50mm Summilux ASPH. A friend who saw me open the 35mm Summilux announcement - and saw the price of the new lens shouted: "Oh that's obscene!"

 

It's a shame that Leica price inflation makes the products increasingly the preserve of the rich man rather than the dedicated enthusiast but it's ultimately just photographic gear. Get upset when the price of bread goes through the roof.

[Etruscello]

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-blog/2010/05/leica-summilux-m-35-mm-f14-asph/?utm_source=nl1010-en&utm_medium=E-Mail

[Daniel Leung]

is ther only one 35mm 1.4 lens from Leica? I got my 35mm 1.4 like in end February, I thought it was brand new model? it seems that the hood is different on this one?

 

DL

[Rick]

Alright! Right on schedule and I can't wait to try it out in July. I'll plan on selling the 28Cron I used and loved on my M8(sold last week in the bay) when I get the new 35. This is going to be a perfect lens for me... me thinks.

[Etruscello]

This is the newest model, which will not be available until June at the earliest. It has floating elements and, I assume, freedom from focus shift for maximum digital application.

[biglouis]

As I stated elsewhere in the forum this is a ho-hum announcement about an unecessary product innovation. Just exactly how long are customers waiting for M9's and X1's? Clearly a company with a priority list which bears no relation to its customers' needs and wants. An interesting business approach in a global economic environment where demand is weak or even shrinking.

 

50 lux ASPH anyone?

 

LouisB

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[arthury]

If my understanding is correct, focus shift is a change in focus when the viewing aperture is changed to the shutter-release aperture during the time the camera is in the process of capturing the image. This can certainly happen in a DSLR body since the viewing aperture is often different from the image-capturing aperture.

 

On the other hand, in a rangefinder (such a Leica-M), the viewing aperture of the lens is the same as the shooting aperture since viewing is not done thru the lens. In other words, there's no change in aperture between the time you are composing and during the time the image was captured.

 

The only time I can foresee a focus shift is when photographer start changing the aperture after he/she has set the focus. Now, how often do you do that? I would think the usual workflow is pre-visualize, set the aperture, focus and shoot.

 

So, what kind of focus shift are you guys talking about in a Leica-M system? Please enlighten me, I want to learn from you.