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Summilux 35 Hoods - Aspherical & ASPH


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I never had a love affair with the 'quick' lock-on ring ASPH hood 12589. A few hours after I bought a new ASPH when they first came out, one of the plastic release tabs broke off. I may have strong fingers, but… I did get another 12589, but I don't know what Leica was thinking, flimsy soft hood cap that always came off and all.

 

I like the old style locking hoods. I bought a 12547 for the 35 ASPH made for the 28 Elmarit and that worked well; locking tabs and hard clip-on front cap.

 

Back to the 'aspherical' 1st version (this should be referred to as '1st version', and the 'ASPH' as 2nd and 3rd version lenses, no confusion… ). My 35mm Summilux 'aspherical' uses the 12587. Neither of the above mentioned lens hoods work on it. The 12588 was suppose to be made for a later production run and looks similar to the ASPH's 12589, I've never seen an 'aspherical' that has the 12588 hood . I've actually seen a 12588 mounted on an ASPH lens! The 12587 is it, and good luck finding a spare! Think I remember seeing one a couple years ago on eBay.

 

And I agree about the aspherical version being used without a hood. The lens formula may seem similar on paper but are different. On my example it makes a difference optically because I find I have never had flare problems. The hood only goes on if I'm thinking 'protection' or to make sure with really bad light conditions. I do use a B+W MRC UV filter without the hood, the front element I imagine is not replaceable.

 

Great lens optically (of course !-), but not mentioned usually I also like how it handles! The focus throw is a bit longer than the ASPH or most modern Leica lenses - which I like with high speed lenses - and the combination of focus tab ( the softer edge lower profile version here is nice, it also has a 'step' on each side of the finger tab that you can rest you finger(s) on and push and pull with) AND a grooved focus ring (a place to put my thumb or works well in the closer range) is very nice. And unlike the ASPH version hood12589 I don't get the similar in style and location aperture ring and quick release hood ring mixed up. The 'aspherical' is a bit lighter (15gms) and couple mm shorter mount than the ASPH, and if I remember right the glass front to back was shorter than the ASPH too and didn't protrude into the camera as much (but I don't have them both now to confirm this).

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I will add my experience regarding the "aspherical" version - in some situations using a filter in low light with pinpoint light sources, I have had a reverse image of the light source on the image. Clearly from using the filter and I have learned to remove it when necessary.

 

I also did not have a back focus issue when using it on the M8.

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I have the 12587 but for me it is too large and blocks too much of the VF. I never liked it on the 28 Summicron and don't like it with the Aspherical. I really liked the 12589 on the ASPH. Both the hood and its cover are hard platic. The cover's top corners slip over the hood securely and has never come off by itself during my 5 years of owning the ASPH. Leica must have improved the design of the cover early on.

 

I wonder what the cover of 12588 is like...

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So, can the 12466 be used on the Aspherical or not? It seems like a nice combination.

I use the 12466 now since a few weeks on the ASPH exclusively and really like it. No need for a lens cap anymore in the bag, nicer view through viewfinder …

 

Tip: Popflash had a great price recently, when I ordered mine (perfect service, extremely quick shipping), but when I stumbled in a local store, which never had anything in stock, I asked before, while my hood was in transit, they offered me a 12466 under MSRP for less than double, what the original plastic hood would cost (even less, than Popflash price).

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So, can the 12466 be used on the Aspherical or not? It seems like a nice combination.

 

Menos, to fit the Aspherical the diameter of the 12466 has to be larger than the 12589. I think the 12589 may fit with a little bit of surgery now that I have sent it back to the dealer. Let me know if you are thinking of selling one.

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