50/1.4 versus 35/1.4

[mitchell]

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I have an M8 and the 30% off for a new lens is burning a hole in my pocket.

 

I have now 35/2, 50/2, and 90/2.8. I want a 1.4 first, and maybe a 28 or 24 later.

 

Now I probably use the 50 most.

 

How much do the 50 and 35 Luxes intrude on the viewfinder? Does the weight of the 50 bother you?

 

I've been leaning towards the 50 Lux, but the 35 Lux would be a more comfortable size and weight.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Mitchell

[wparsonsgisnet]

Mitchell, I have both of these 'lux asph lenses and find that wider lenses are more useful to me with the M8.

 

I use the 24 the most, and the 35 the next most often. The 50 has become a portrait lens on the M8.

 

If you are going to get the 35 'lux, I highly recommend you splurge for the asph version. The non-asph lens if very flare-prone.

 

G;luck.

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[marknorton]

By the time you've fitted the lens hood to the 35mm, it's just 12g lighter than the 50mm so your back would have to be in pretty bad shape to be affected by that.

 

It's the Nocti that's the monster...

[mitchell]

Thanks Mark and Bill,

 

Do they intrude much into the veiwfinder?

 

Is the 50 better because it's newer? I see on a different thread the suggestion that the 35 Lux needs updating.

 

Thanks,

 

Mitchell

[xrogers]

Consider your future wide angle---many wouldn't carry a 28 and a 35 at the same time. Two 3 lens outfits that seem quite useful are 24/35/90 and 28/50/90, but your needs may differ.

 

In part, though, you've answered your question already---if you shoot 50 the most, you'll likely get the most use out of the 50. I'm waiting a bit to consider the %30 deal, as I'm not fully settled on M8 lens choices. Maybe you're using the 50 based on film habits, and over the next couple months you might find yourself slowly but surely turning towards the 35...

 

The 35 Lux is a fantastic lens, and has no issues with the M8 viewfinder.

 

Good luck with your decision. Whatever you decide, you're going to end up with a great lens.

 

Clyde Rogers

[wparsonsgisnet]

Mitchell,

 

1. The 50 f1.4 asph has a built-in hood. The lens is visible in the finder and, when extended, the hood extends further. However, the extended hood only touches the corner of the frameline box; it does not intrude into the frameline.

 

You show know that the M8 frame lines are calibrated for closest focusing distance, so in reality the lens and hood really do intrude into the image at most times.

 

2. the hood of the 35 f1.4 asph cleerly intruded into the frameline box. The upper-left corner of the hood has a cutout so you can see a little of what the hood obscures. In practice, I have not found this a problem; I don't notice this intrusion when I am shooting.

 

It's sort of like the second day with a mosquito bite. It's there, but it doesn't itch any more.

[cbretteville]

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Get the 35'lux and get one of the screw in metal hoods from Heavystar on eBay as I show in this post: http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/12611-alternate-35mm-1-4-lux-hood.html?highlight=heavystar#post130598

 

- Carl

 

PS: Not affiliated with Heavystar in any way.....

[innerimager]

My 35 1.4 ASPH is my standard on the M8, very happy with it. It;s so flare resistant that I'm tending to leave the hood off and not have any obstruction of the view finder. I will look into the screw on hood though. best...Peter

[wizard]

I see on a different thread the suggestion that the 35 Lux needs updating.

 

That must have been a misunderstanding then. The current 35 'lux asph is one of the best 35mm lenses ever made, and certainly doesn't need any updating.

 

Andy

[marknorton]

That was me... highlighting the oldest of the ASPH lenses and wondering whether Leica might start revising the oldest lenses - though of course the Nocti and 75/1.4 are the oldest by a long way.

 

Truth is, you cannot go wrong with either lens. The 50 intrudes slightly with the hood extended, the 35 a bit more, neither is a problem IMHO.

[cbretteville]

I see on a different thread the suggestion that the 35 Lux needs updating.

Why Mark would include the 35'lux asph on the same line as the Nocti and the 75'lux is beyond me. What on earth would you want to change? OK, the size could be smaller (but then the max aperture would have to shrink as well and you have the 35'cron ASPH). And it wasn't a "this lens needs a redesign, it was "redesign 'older' lenses".

[marknorton]

What on earth would you want to change?

 

Knurled focussing ring? LOL. I included it just by way of an example of what Leica might do next with the next M lens line.

[sean_reid]

I have an M8 and the 30% off for a new lens is burning a hole in my pocket.

 

I have now 35/2, 50/2, and 90/2.8. I want a 1.4 first, and maybe a 28 or 24 later.

 

Now I probably use the 50 most.

 

How much do the 50 and 35 Luxes intrude on the viewfinder? Does the weight of the 50 bother you?

 

I've been leaning towards the 50 Lux, but the 35 Lux would be a more comfortable size and weight.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Mitchell

 

Hi Mitch,

 

They're both superb lenses. I'd suggest you just pick your favorite focal length.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[mitchell]

Thanks everyone.

 

Sean, just read more on your site. Very useful as usual.

 

I seem to use 50mm the most, but isn't real question would I use a 50 @ 1.4 more than a 35 @ 1.4. as I already have both @ 2.0.

 

I'm not sure. I think I might use 1.4 for land and city scapes in failing light or people indoors, in which case I might be better off with the 35.

 

At any rate I think I will try to get a 28/2 so I get a real wide angle look.

 

It's hard to get these lenses now. Popflash has the 50/1.4 and both 28's on back order.

I hope this is good news for Leica.

 

Best,

 

Mitchell

[michael_b_elmer]

My five eurocents: It is not a question of either - or, but a question of both - and, and, accordingly, which of the two lenses, you mention, that you should acquire first.

 

In my opinion your doubt can only be settled by buying both lenses, and since you seem to prefer the 50 mm lens over the 35 you should start with the 50/1.4 asph. You should, however, consider carefully, whether you should not take the step fully and get the Noctilux instead of the 50 Summilux. I personally have had both the 50 summicron and the 50 summilux but have sold both in order to get the Noctilux which in my opinion is the perfect companion for the M8 and a perfect portrait lens with that camera.

 

The 35/1.4 asph (or the 35/1.4 aspherical if you are lucky to find that lens, which is by experts regarded the best of them all) is a perfect companion for the M8 also and hard to do without. I have had the 35/2 IV generation (the socalled King of bokeh), the 35/2.0 asph and the 35/1.4 asph, and the latter is clearly the best and most versatile, although the summicron asph is in no way bad. I have now sold them all to get the Aspherical 35/1.4 which is now in Solms for 6-bit encoding.

[mitchell]

Micheal,

 

Well yes I could end up getting both, but I'll get a 28 first.

 

What is the difference between a 35/1.4 asph and a 35/1.4 Aspherical?

 

Thanks,

 

Mitchell

[wparsonsgisnet]

Mitchell, I believe the aspherical version was the first one made, was superior to the asph version that later appeared, and was too expensive to manufacture.

[mitchell]

Thanks Bill, that rings a bell.

 

Mitchell

[marknorton]

Didn't it have two aspherical surfaces? Maybe with updated manufacturing processes they could re-introduce it!

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[carstenw]

Erwin Puts rates the Aspherical and the ASPH 35s as being almost identical in performance.