sm23221 Posted February 20, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 20, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Can anyone list from experience the most flare resistant Leica lenses (especially wide angle)? Thanks in advance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 20, 2011 Posted February 20, 2011 Hi sm23221, Take a look here Flare. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Nicoleica Posted February 20, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 20, 2011 Off-hand, I would say that the more modern the design, the better the control. Modern designs and lens coatings are considerably better at reducing flare than most older ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted February 20, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 20, 2011 The most flare-resistant Leica lens I came across so far is the Summarit-M 35 mm 1:2.5. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted February 20, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 20, 2011 Of the lenses I've used the f1 Noctilux was the most flare resistant, and the 28/35/50 Tri-Elmar the most flare prone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted February 20, 2011 Share #5 Posted February 20, 2011 The 28 Summicron asph is often said to be Leica's most flare-resistant lens. I usually don't use a hood with mine for that reason and I don't recall having a problem with in-lens flare or with loss of contrast from veiling glare (flare). Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm23221 Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted February 21, 2011 My Elmarit-M 21 f/2.8 seems to flare. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted February 21, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 21, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I sold my 50mm Summicron and replaced it with a Summilux ASPH several years ago, not because of the extra stop of speed, which I rarely use, but because this lens does not have the unpredictable flare problems that plague the Summicron. The most aggravating behaviour of that lens is that when there is a large very bright area on the edge of the image, or slightly beyond it, a roughly rectangular, sharply limited patch of strong flare often does appear at the opposite side. This situation can occur when you are taking pictures outside under a lightly overcast sky. This does never happen with the 'lux ASPH. Tele and long focus designs are usually more prone to flare than retrofocus wides (one such is indeed the 28mm Summicron ASPH). My old pre-aspherical 90mm Summicron flared like mad – and the ridiculously short hood did not help! The picture below was taken with the new 35mm Summilux ASPH. Literally all the light in the room, except for the fire, is coming from a small skylight window just outside the picture. This, predictably, generates flare. The lens does control this flare very well however and there are no secondary flare effects or internal reflections whatsoever. The 28mm 'cron may have flared a little less. But I feel this is good performance (the pre-ASPH Summilux would have produced no useable picture at all) and I do in fact like it – it's atmospheric. The old man who used a flare pistol 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/144592-flare/?do=findComment&comment=1594673'>More sharing options...
pgk Posted February 21, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 21, 2011 Can you define the flare that you are interested in being minimised? Flare can include and overall flattening of the image and consequent lowering of contrast, flaring areas of bright light (see Lar's image) or coloured areas shaped like the outline of the aperture diaphragm blades. IMHO ALL lenses will exhibit some form of flare in certain conditions (shooting straight into the sun or with strong light sources striking the elements obliquely (whether there is a hood in place or not sometimes). Some lenses will be highly resistant to one form but the trade off is that they produce unacceptable results in another way. I had a Zeiss Contax zoom lens (N type) which was almost immune to any veiling flare but produced hard white rounded diaphragm shaped areas which looked horrid and were very distinct. In my experience most modern M lenses are pretty good but the faster lenses do produce various types of flare when pushed to extremes. The most flare resistant that I've tried has been the 35mm Summarit (as has already been commented) which has a lot going for it if you don't need a fast aperture and can accept its slight distortion characteristics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted February 21, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 21, 2011 Of the lenses I've used the f1 Noctilux was the most flare resistant, and the 28/35/50 Tri-Elmar the most flare prone. From my experience and understanding, the v1 did flare easily. I now have the v2, and it seems to keep flare under control much better, although definitely can flare. Haven't tested it specifically, but I would place it in the middle of the pack. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted February 22, 2011 Share #10 Posted February 22, 2011 Paul – I agree with you that flare of different kinds and even internal reflections can be induced in any lens, if you are dead set on doing it. But some are more sensitive than others. "Flare terminology" is pretty fuzzy however. Here are some distinct phenomena: • General flare. Strong light sources produce a veiling of the entire image, lowering contrast and greying shadows. This phenomenon can be measured quantitatively, and serious lens tests should include it. • Flare patches. Distinct, sharply delimited areas of veiling and/or deviant colour in the image field. • Veiling glare. A veiling or "light fog" emanating from strong light sources or strongly luminous areas, decreasing in intensity outwards. • Internal reflections, either images of the diaphragm opening or extra images of light sources. These are not flare properly speaking. The picture I showed you was a kind of "breaking test" for the new version of the 35mm Summilux ASPH. The result was pretty good. There is veiling glare from that intensely luminous skylight, but limited in scope. There is no veiling glare from ordinary diffuse highlights (a specialty of the pre-aspherical Summilux). There is also no general flare, contrast is generally good outside the glare area, except for some lowering of contrast of the shadow in the top of the fireplace. There are also no lens reflections. I regard that as good and above all, predictable performance. The 28mm Summicron ASPH would have done slighly better, the current 50mm Summicron considerably worse (both for flare patches and for general flare). I might add that with digital cameras, the shiny sensor surface does enter the equation. For this reason, Erwin Puts tests flare (though informally) with film camera bodies. The old man with the parachute flares Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 22, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 22, 2011 I might add that with digital cameras, the shiny sensor surface does enter the equation. For this reason, Erwin Puts tests flare (though informally) with film camera bodies. Hi Lars Thanks for that My mate could get his 5cm cron IV to flare badly (iris images >10% time), street shooting, M8, UV/IR, late coded lens. My early tabed cron IV does not flare same environment M2 UV filter. Erwin's tests would seem little less than useful/complete? Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootinglulu Posted February 22, 2011 Share #12 Posted February 22, 2011 My 50mm Lux asph flares very easily, maybe i should have it looked at. 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/144592-flare/?do=findComment&comment=1596177'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 22, 2011 Share #13 Posted February 22, 2011 Did you have some filter on? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootinglulu Posted February 22, 2011 Share #14 Posted February 22, 2011 Hello Jaap, Yes, i always have a B&W uv filter on the lens for protection and i used filters on other lenses ..35mm Lux asph and 35mm Summarit, neither of which flared..Could i have a problem with my lens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm23221 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share #15 Posted February 22, 2011 My 50mm Lux asph flares very easily, maybe i should have it looked at. Try a lens hood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted February 22, 2011 Share #16 Posted February 22, 2011 My mate could get his 5cm cron IV to flare badly (iris images >10% time), street shooting, M8, UV/IR, late coded lens. My early tabed cron IV does not flare same environment M2 UV filter. Yes, the v.4 'cron can flare under provocation, as the picture below attests. But it handles point sources of light well. My sample is a 1983 "jubilee" model, refurbished and coded in Solms. Erwin's tests would seem little less than useful/complete? Noel Well, his tests (like those by Sean Reid) are non-quantitative. A true quantitative test would necessitate a purposely built test rig, preferably a luminous white surface with a black light trap in the middle. But we should be grateful to those who at least acknowledge the problem. The manufacturers do generally ignore it. The old man who hated flaring pants 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/144592-flare/?do=findComment&comment=1596393'>More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted February 22, 2011 Share #17 Posted February 22, 2011 My 50mm Lux asph flares very easily, maybe i should have it looked at. My 50mm Summilux ASPH has never behaved like that. Not with film, not with the M8, not with the M9. Something could be wrong here. The old no-flare man Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 22, 2011 Share #18 Posted February 22, 2011 The picture below was taken with the new 35mm Summilux ASPH. Literally all the light in the room, except for the fire, is coming from a small skylight window just outside the picture. This, predictably, generates flare. Hi Lars Did you have a hood or filter? Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 22, 2011 Share #19 Posted February 22, 2011 Yes, the v.4 'cron can flare under provocation, as the picture below attests. But it handles point sources of light well. My sample is a 1983 "jubilee" model, refurbished and coded in Solms. Well, his tests (like those by Sean Reid) are non-quantitative. A true quantitative test would necessitate a purposely built test rig, preferably a luminous white surface with a black light trap in the middle. But we should be grateful to those who at least acknowledge the problem. The manufacturers do generally ignore it. The old man who hated flaring pants HiLars I'd not mind your demonstration flare, normally I'd remove the filter for contra jour, mine is a beaten up '85. My mates iris images were more annoying, which Ive never seen. If the lens has a different character (in digtal) and a tester only tests in its bland mode (film) that is useful? If the effect is different with and without the UV/IR filter it would be nice to know? Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted February 22, 2011 Share #20 Posted February 22, 2011 ... The old man who hated flaring pants Me too. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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