pack_tor Posted May 11, 2010 Share #1 Posted May 11, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Guys, I recently sent off my M9/50 Lux ASPH to Leica for RF Calibration & CLA. It's back, but I do not have a reference to judge the performance of my 50 Lux. Could you guys please post a few 100% crops of the 50 Lux images (without any extra sharpening)? I have to use an amount of 50 in Lightroom to get tack sharp images @ 1.4. I'm fine doing it, but since it's supposed to be the sharpest lens available, I am wondering if i even have to do it. I'm also trying to identify it the lens is within tolerances so I can send it back to Leica if I don't believe it is. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 11, 2010 Posted May 11, 2010 Hi pack_tor, Take a look here M9, 50Lux ASPH 100% crops. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted May 11, 2010 Share #2 Posted May 11, 2010 Sharpening in Lightroom is not the same as lens sharpness. It just boosts edge contrast., so that is not a way of judging the lens, I fear. If you want to test the focus accuracy, there are a number of methods, the most popular being a tape measure at 45 degrees. Personally I find the best way is just to look at my images and see if the maximum sharpness is where I think I put it. Anyway, comparing to shots by other users in other places is not going to tell you much. It would be best, if you compare lenses with another lens on the same camera and a tripod. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pack_tor Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted May 11, 2010 Thanks for the response. Maybe I should put it a different way. What I am trying to understand is the standard for this lens on M9. I have no reference point right now. The images on the web are either sharpened or not at 100% crop. I do think the lens focuses fine after I got it back, but I'm wondering if the sharpness (right out of the camera) is within the tolerances allowed for this lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 11, 2010 Share #4 Posted May 11, 2010 The only way to tell for sure would be to have Leica test it on their test equipment. But if you would put a correctly focussed, tripod mounted shot on the forum, and the crop, users that have the lens could judge whether they find it acceptable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mweiner Posted May 11, 2010 Share #5 Posted May 11, 2010 50Lux ASPH, f1.4, 1/750sec, ISO 360, M8, C1-5, sharpening disabled, Clarity 0, 100% crop. As you can see, the real point of focus is about 2-3 inches behind the eye where the hair between eye and ear is sharpest. Maybe the lens could do better on an M9, on a tripod, and with better focusing. Also the crop does look better in C1 before processing for the web. However, the lens can at least do this well. Michael 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/120733-m9-50lux-asph-100-crops/?do=findComment&comment=1320875'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 11, 2010 Share #6 Posted May 11, 2010 Well, here it is at f 5.6: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 11, 2010 Share #7 Posted May 11, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) From this shot: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 11, 2010 Share #8 Posted May 11, 2010 And a crop @ 1.4: 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/120733-m9-50lux-asph-100-crops/?do=findComment&comment=1321034'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 11, 2010 Share #9 Posted May 11, 2010 That was the full image; here it is: 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/120733-m9-50lux-asph-100-crops/?do=findComment&comment=1321036'>More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted May 11, 2010 Share #10 Posted May 11, 2010 C1, 50 Lux ASPH, M9, default sharpening (very light)... F 1.4, off-center; 2 meters distance; 100% crop. 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! IMO that is one seriously sharp lens at f1.4. I'd only use it on people younger than 35, mostly Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! IMO that is one seriously sharp lens at f1.4. I'd only use it on people younger than 35, mostly ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/120733-m9-50lux-asph-100-crops/?do=findComment&comment=1321091'>More sharing options...
pack_tor Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted May 11, 2010 Thanks a lot! You guys are extremely helpful! Here's an example of what I'm getting. I'm thinking of sending back to Leica again. 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/120733-m9-50lux-asph-100-crops/?do=findComment&comment=1321156'>More sharing options...
pack_tor Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share #12 Posted May 11, 2010 ....and another example: 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/120733-m9-50lux-asph-100-crops/?do=findComment&comment=1321157'>More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted May 11, 2010 Share #13 Posted May 11, 2010 It would be interesting to see the raw files, but from what I can tell from the crops it sure looks like you're attaining solid focus to me... and that focus looks pretty sharp for 1.4, too! Don't forget you've got low-contrast subjects in both shots too, so you're not going to see as much detail as there might really be there if you raised the contrast. You could also just be running out of resolution here for the "wow" factor But the RAW will tell the tale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Hart Posted May 11, 2010 Share #14 Posted May 11, 2010 M9+Summilux 50 ASPH, full image: And cropped at the point of optimum focus: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFV Posted May 11, 2010 Share #15 Posted May 11, 2010 Yes, from the shots there is definitely something not right with the lens. Apart from the sharpness there is also the "bokeh" that is sort of washed-out. It is as if you have humidity inside or even have a soft "haze" filter on the lens. As the others suggest try shooting in direct sunlight and not in shadows to see how it behaves. As you can see the other examples are "brutal", for a lack of a better word. I had a similar problem with my LUX 50 and it had to be replaced. Like you I was a bit skeptical at first and just found highly unlikely that there was something wrong with the lens. These things happen, not often, but they happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pack_tor Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share #16 Posted May 11, 2010 Thanks guys! I'll try a few pictures out in the sun - unfortunately not a sunny day out here to try it. I'd rather not shoot against the test charts - I'm just trying to get the optimal real life performance. DFV - The exact think occurred to me when I took these pictures. The Bokeh doesn't seem right. There seems to be some kind of smearing/painterly effect going on and that's what made me wonder if the lens is behaving within tolerances. Jamie - I'll send you a couple of RAW files. Thanks for offering to take a look. I've also send these pictures over to Leica. I may have to send the lens back again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 11, 2010 Share #17 Posted May 11, 2010 Why do i have the feeling that the M9 is a somewhat soft camera? Epson R-D1, Summilux 50/1.4 asph, f/1.4, 100% crop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barcoder Posted May 11, 2010 Share #18 Posted May 11, 2010 Shouldn't a test for sharpness use a stationary object as the subject? Any movement in the subject combined with slow shutter would result in an image that is less sharp than expected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted May 11, 2010 Share #19 Posted May 11, 2010 lct you focused well there. That is a completely unsupported comment to make about the M9 though. This is the Macro 90 which is softer than the 50 but a pretty fair illustration of resolved detail M9 800ISO Macro Elmar 90mm with macro adapter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 12, 2010 Share #20 Posted May 12, 2010 lct you focused well there. That is a completely unsupported comment to make about the M9 though. This is the Macro 90 which is softer than the 50 but a pretty fair illustration of resolved detail... It was not a comment but a question supported by the 100% crops of this thread which all look more or less soft to me. I don't know why hence my question. BTW your macro pic looks good at first glance but it is not a 100% crop is it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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