Summilux vs. Summicron vs. Summarit

[jtbthree]

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I am trying to decide which 50mm lens to buy for my M8.2. Besides the obvious difference and benefit in a faster aperture lens, is the difference in price between these three lenses justified (Summarit f/2.5 $1395, Summicron 2.0 $1995, Summilux 1.4 $3695)? And what is the major improvement in quality over one another?

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[pico]

I am trying to decide which 50mm lens to buy for my M8.2. Besides the obvious difference and benefit in a faster aperture lens, is the difference in price between these three lenses justified (Summarit f/2.5 $1395, Summicron 2.0 $1995, Summilux 1.4 $3695)? And what is the major improvement in quality over one another?

 

The Summicron and Summarit at f/1.4 are just terrible!

 

FAPP, unless you are deeply into bokeh (and especially if you don't care), then buy the lens that is just fast enough for your purposes. They are all good. Very good. And you are not restricted to Leica lenses. There are many that are far less expensive - sorry if that confuses your question.

[microview]

I am trying to decide which 50mm lens to buy for my M8.2. Besides the obvious difference and benefit in a faster aperture lens, is the difference in price between these three lenses justified (Summarit f/2.5 $1395, Summicron 2.0 $1995, Summilux 1.4 $3695)? And what is the major improvement in quality over one another?

 

You may care to read Adan, 'In praise of the Mandler lenses' [Customer Forum], regarding the 50 Summicron. I bought one and found it better than the Summilux I was using in resolution; however, the low mass on the M9 I did not like at all. The Summarit gets less praise than its 37mm/75mm cousins. There is a shortage with long waiting times for the asph Summilux.

[jtbthree]

LOL Thanks!

[aesop]

The Summicron and Summarit at f/1.4 are just terrible!

 

FAPP, unless you are deeply into bokeh (and especially if you don't care), then buy the lens that is just fast enough for your purposes. They are all good. Very good. And you are not restricted to Leica lenses. There are many that are far less expensive - sorry if that confuses your question.

 

 

...FAPP?

[01af]

In my opinion, the Summarit-M 50 mm is at least as good as the Summicron-M 50 mm and better than the Summilux-M 50 mm Asph. I particularly like the Summarit's extra-smooth transition from in-focus to out-of-focus rendition.

[timd.]

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...FAPP?

 

imho (): for all practical purposes

[hoppyman]

Leica Camera says that they sell twice of many of the Summilux as of the Summarit. So you can have fun interpreting that however you like

In my opinion you should not discount the larger apertures in your considerations but it is a personal priority of course.

The 50 Summilux ASPH is in any event in very short supply so you may have difficulty actaually finding one if you plan to get something immediately. It will focus down to 70cm (as will the Summicron) whereas the Summarit goes down to 80 cm if that is likely to be important to you.

The more complex focusing mechanism and floating element design of the Summilux are designed for better close in focusing accuracy and performance wide open especially. Some users report that they find the focusing action too firm.

 

The Summicron has been long renowned for its effectively zero distortion levels.

I eventually sold mine and got the Summilux, which I have never regretted. Mine would very occasionally show unpredictable flare/ internal reflections in adverse lighting.

I had the little collapsible Elmar 50 before that (now discontinued) but I shot one too many quick frames without remembering to extend it!

[01af]

Leica Camera says that they sell twice of many of the Summilux as of the Summarit. So you can have fun interpreting that however you like

Obviously a lie. The Summarit-M 50 mm currently is available, the Summilux-M 50 mm Asph is not.

 

Anyway—I do believe they would sell twice as many Summiluxes as Summarits if they only were available. Most people feel a 50 mm lens should be fast, and the Summarit clearly is slower than most are willing to accept in this focal length. I ordered a Summilux-M 50 mm Asph half a year ago, and I am still waiting. So I snapped a Summarit-M 50 mm from eBay months ago, just to ride the wait out, with the intention to get rid of it as soon as the Summilux eventually will have arrived. But hey—that little bastard has grown on me, and it still does! It takes a while to notice what a fine gem the Summarit actually is. I guess I shall keep it ... the same, by the way, holds for the Summarit-M 35 mm.

[stunsworth]

Obviously a lie. The Summarit-M 50 mm currently is available, the Summilux-M 50 mm Asph is not.

 

Why is it "obviously" a lie? Just because you can't buy one off the shelf at a dealer doesn't mean that they're not making any. Perhaps they're selling all they can make to people who have ordered them from their dealer? Just a thought.

[hoppyman]

Well O1af I see that you did interpret that as you like

It was Stefan Daniel who personally told this to the L Camera Forum meeting in Hessenpark in 2009.

We do know that the Summilux is very hard to find now and that the Summarit is easier to find on the dealers' shelves. That rather supports the statement. All of the Summilux production is sold out prior to delivery and the Summarits are still on the dealers' shelves

I can only speak for this country's situation but we have had a round of considerable discounting on the Summarit range. Try finding a discounted Summilux (or M9 or anything where demand is clearly exceeding supply).

 

The neat little Summarits have certainly received fine reviews. The facts from Stefan Daniel at that time do nothing to disprove that. Nothing I said was anything against the Summarits either. What Stefan's statement told us was that some Leica customers are willing to pay more more than double to get the lens that they want. Clearly those customers do think that it is worth the price. Twice as many of them. That is all, nothing against your current baby.

I'd keep it and enjoy it too even after I took delivery of the Summilux. Maybe not if I was moving to the Summicron. Personally I have had the Summilux for three years and would never part with it. I would prefer it even over the new Noctilux 50 (even were that the same price). In my opinon it is simply the best balance of performance and form factor available at any price. I just got the new 35 as well so we shall see which remains on the camera the most.

[01af]

All of the Summilux production is sold out prior to delivery and the Summarits are still on the dealers' shelves

You seem to believe there was a continuous stream of Summilux-M 50 mm lenses coming out of production and being immediately absorbed by the market. But there's not. In fact, lenses are made in batches. And the last Summilux-M 50 mm batch was made a while ago, and the next is due, umm dunno, maybe next month or so. So currently simply no Summilux-M 50 mm lenses at all get sold. Because there aren't any to sell. Except maybe when you count pre-ordered lenses as sales.

 

Anyway—my point is: There is no reason to disregard the little Summarits. The Summicron-M 50 mm sure is a fine lens ... but so is the Summarit-M 50 mm. It is not just the cheaper but slightly inferior alternative for those with a limited budget. Because actually it isn't inferior, it's just slightly slower.

[jaapv]

I can only confirm Geoff's remark about the Summarits. That is exactly what Mr. Daniel said. Also we noticed the dedicated production line in the factory ( the Summarit lenses were meant to be made in continuous production, as opposed to the batch system of other lenses) standing idle. An interesting sidenote might be that when my Summilux 50 asph needed something done to its innards, the repair was held up for nearly a month due to lack of a spare part. So the holdup might be in the parts supply as well.

[ArtZ]

I am trying to decide which 50mm lens to buy for my M8.2. Besides the obvious difference and benefit in a faster aperture lens, is the difference in price between these three lenses justified (Summarit f/2.5 $1395, Summicron 2.0 $1995, Summilux 1.4 $3695)? And what is the major improvement in quality over one another?

 

I don't want to trouble you but I would choose a Summicron-M 50 plus a Voigtländer Nokton CV 50/1.5 ASPH (still available at CameraQuest for just 499 USD)

 

The Summicron-M 50 is a fantastic lens (I prefer the chrome version) for everyday use and when occasionally you need a faster lens, get the Nokton CV 50/1.5 which is also an exceptional lens.

 

Read what Erwin Putts says about the Nokton here: Voigtlander lenses

 

'My list would be. Number 1 is the Summilux-R new, the number 2 with a fair gap is the Nokton and the number 3 is the Summilux-M, which is better engineered but optically not as good.'

 

Sean Reid also likes this lens.

 

Cheers

[hoppyman]

No O1af, I don't believe (nor suggested) that there is a continuous stream of the Summilux leaving the factory at all. Many customers that are waiting for them probably wish that is so. I have been to Solms, listened to staff and looked in on production too. I persisted in explaining because I quoted Stefan Daniel and you called the remark I quoted an obvious lie. Now that you know the source perhaps you have reconsidered that. I would hope so, at least.

 

You seem to be missing the point of what I have been saying. Never mind, we all agree that the Summarit is a fine lens with its own strengths and attractions as well.

[hoppyman]

ArtZ you have chosen only one line to quote from that older article by Erwin Puts (not Putts) and left out all of the rest. Most importantly though he is comparing that Cosina Voigtlander lens to the second Model Summilux R 50 (1998) and the old Summilux-M 50 that predated the current Summilux--M 50 ASPH and is a quite different design.

His review of that current lens is actually here on his site.

Summilux1.4/50 asph

I don't want to trouble you but I would choose a Summicron-M 50 plus a Voigtländer Nokton CV 50/1.5 ASPH (still available at CameraQuest for just 499 USD)

 

The Summicron-M 50 is a fantastic lens (I prefer the chrome version) for everyday use and when occasionally you need a faster lens, get the Nokton CV 50/1.5 which is also an exceptional lens.

 

Read what Erwin Putts says about the Nokton here: Voigtlander lenses

 

'My list would be. Number 1 is the Summilux-R new, the number 2 with a fair gap is the Nokton and the number 3 is the Summilux-M, which is better engineered but optically not as good.'

 

Sean Reid also likes this lens.

 

Cheers

[BuenosDias]

+1 for the CRON (latest).

 

Reasonable price - sharp @ a very nice bokeh - fast enough (at least for me) - built-in hood.

 

I'm much happier with my Summicron than with my previously owned Summarit.

 

If you go for the Summarit than you have to buy the extra hood because this lens is sensitive to flare (which btw applies to the Summicron too to some degree).

 

Never owned a Summilux however ...

[Jeff S]

Some sources for the OP to consider (well known among others here)...

 

Welcome to ReidReviews (well worth small subscription)

 

Summarit range

 

Best source, of course, is to try some options at your local dealer and decide.

 

Jeff

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Hallo,

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[wattsy]

If you go for the Summarit than you have to buy the extra hood because this lens is sensitive to flare (which btw applies to the Summicron too to some degree)

 

A hood will never hurt but I've not found this lens to be susceptible to flare - in fact, I've found it be quite flare resistant. Initially I used the little screw in metal hood made for the recent collapsible 50 Elmar but I noticed (interestingly) that it caused the Summarit to vignette. I now just use the lens without a hood and find it fine.

 

Incidentally, I own both Summarit and Summilux ASPH and use the former almost exclusively. It's a terrific little lens.

[ArtZ]

ArtZ you have chosen only one line to quote from that older article by Erwin Puts (not Putts) and left out all of the rest. Most importantly though he is comparing that Cosina Voigtlander lens to the second Model Summilux R 50 (1998) and the old Summilux-M 50 that predated the current Summilux--M 50 ASPH and is a quite different design.

His review of that current lens is actually here on his site.

Summilux1.4/50 asph

 

Thank you for correcting my type mismatch... of course is Erwin Puts, not Putts, everybody knows that.

 

I haven't mention the Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH at all... not even when I quote Erwin Puts. It's pretty clear Mr. Puts talks about the Summilux 50/1.4 not about the the Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH.