bpalme Posted August 6, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would love to do a poll of owners /ex owners... did yours focus shift in a noticable way? How happy were you with it? Do you like your Version II $2-3000 better? Side Topic: How does it compare to the 35Cron new version? Any links to threads with comparisons appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 6, 2011 Posted August 6, 2011 Hi bpalme, Take a look here 35 Lux ASPH Version I were you happy with it?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted August 6, 2011 Share #2 Posted August 6, 2011 did yours focus shift in a noticable way? Yes. I have owned two 'version 1' Summilux ASPH lenses. Both had noticeable focus shift from F2-F8. The first example also had a backfocus problem which served to exaggerate the shift and which Solms were unable to adjust to my satisfaction. The second was supplied to my dealer from Solms specifically as having been "adjusted for digital". It was perfect at F1.4 (which many of them were not) but still focus shifted from F2 onwards. How happy were you with it? Do you like your Version II $2-3000 better? The 'version 1' was great at F1.4. It was also a lovely lens to use from an ergonomic point of view with a buttery smooth focus action. My 'version 2' cost around £600 more than I sold my 'Version I' for and is sensationally good (though not without some eccentricities of its own). Side Topic: How does it compare to the 35Cron new version? I prefer the Summilux (which is probably what you'd expect anyone who has bought a 35 Summilux to say - but I've now owned three Summilux ASPHs and three Summicron ASPHs so I consider myself open-minded about the question). As very fine as the Summicron is, I've always preferred the look of the Summilux ASPH. Independent of the single stop speed difference I have always found them two quite different lenses - the Summicron being the less subtle of the two and far more susceptible to ugly blobs of flare. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted August 7, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted August 7, 2011 did yours focus shift in a noticable way? Yes. I have owned two 'version 1' Summilux ASPH lenses. Both had noticeable focus shift from F2-F8. The first example also had a backfocus problem which served to exaggerate the shift and which Solms were unable to adjust to my satisfaction. The second was supplied to my dealer from Solms specifically as having been "adjusted for digital". It was perfect at F1.4 (which many of them were not) but still focus shifted from F2 onwards. How happy were you with it? Do you like your Version II $2-3000 better? The 'version 1' was great at F1.4. It was also a lovely lens to use from an ergonomic point of view with a buttery smooth focus action. My 'version 2' cost around £600 more than I sold my 'Version I' for and is sensationally good (though not without some eccentricities of its own). Side Topic: How does it compare to the 35Cron new version? I prefer the Summilux (which is probably what you'd expect anyone who has bought a 35 Summilux to say - but I've now owned three Summilux ASPHs and three Summicron ASPHs so I consider myself open-minded about the question). As very fine as the Summicron is, I've always preferred the look of the Summilux ASPH. Independent of the single stop speed difference I have always found them two quite different lenses - the Summicron being the less subtle of the two and far more susceptible to ugly blobs of flare. Thanks for your input! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Fluff Posted August 7, 2011 Share #4 Posted August 7, 2011 I've had a version 1 for just a little while and I love it to bits. I'm sure it must focus-shift but I never seem to see that in the end results, even though I use a range of aperture settings. I only bought it by chance as I'd read about the shift and so ruled it out, but one came up at a very reasonable price and I clicked 'buy' so I'd at least get to have one for a while. I now can't see selling it, perhaps ever. I love the rendering, the look of pics at f1.4 especially. I also have a 35 cron asph, which I'd thought would be a 'lens for life' and yet I've never liked it - the results seem too clinical, and slightly flat somehow. I just never bonded with it, despite loving the 35mm focal length. The Lux however I was in love with from day one, and though I have many other great lenses, I need a very good reason to unmount the Lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted August 7, 2011 Share #5 Posted August 7, 2011 I'm with Lord Fluff & must admit that my 35lux v1 doesn't have noticeable focus shift at all & am very happy with mine. I tested by photographing text at a close distance (0.7m @ 1.4-5.6...didn't try smaller apertures or further distances). Admittedly in general I've been using it primarily at Lux apertures though so if it did have any slight focus shift it hasn't bothered me. I guess there are some good 35lux v1's out there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 7, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 7, 2011 I would love to do a poll of owners /ex owners... did yours focus shift in a noticable way? Not as long as I was shooting film. But with digital (M8) it became noticeable. I had to avoid apertures 2, 2.8 and 4. How happy were you with it? Do you like your Version II $2-3000 better? It was a pain in the neck. My v.2 is my most used lens. It draws just as lovely as it predecessor, and it controls stray light a lot better too. Side Topic: How does it compare to the 35Cron new version? You mean the 25mm Summicron ASPH? I don't know – my previous 35mm was the v.4 'cron, and I do still own that lens. It is surprisingly good on the M9, and I appreciate its compactness. It is a very useful 'walking-about lens'. The old man from the Age of the 3.5cm Elmar Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted August 8, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I wonder, if the focus shift of this lens is exaggerated on the M8 because of the crop factor? I have only used the 35 lux asph v1 on the M9, where it has a very slight focus shift at close distance, but actually less than the increase of the DOF. When I had a M8, I remember both my 75mm lux and Nocti f1, had back shift issues, with my M9 I have either learned to live with it or the issue has been reduced... I am not sure. It's now my primary lens on my M9, combined with my 75mm lux, is my two lens kit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smkoush Posted August 8, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 8, 2011 I wonder, if the focus shift of this lens is exaggerated on the M8 because of the crop factor? I have only used the 35 lux asph v1 on the M9, where it has a very slight focus shift at close distance, but actually less than the increase of the DOF. When I had a M8, I remember both my 75mm lux and Nocti f1, had back shift issues, with my M9 I have either learned to live with it or the issue has been reduced... I am not sure. It's now my primary lens on my M9, combined with my 75mm lux, is my two lens kit. No, crop factor does not matter. Focus shifting is along the optical axis which is perpendicular to the focal plane (i.e., you may focus either slightly on the front of the sensor, or slightly on the back). The crop factor has to do with the size of the focal plane, and so the two are unrelated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 8, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 8, 2011 I think crop factor is relevant in the sense that any unsharpness related to focus shift is exaggerated by the increased magnification associated with the crop factor. That said, my own 35/F1.4 ASPH (v.1) showed significant focus shift on both M8 and M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smkoush Posted August 8, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 8, 2011 I think crop factor is relevant in the sense that any unsharpness related to focus shift is exaggerated by the increased magnification associated with the crop factor. That said, my own 35/F1.4 ASPH (v.1) showed significant focus shift on both M8 and M9. Ian, It is true that for two sensors of different physical size (one "cropped", the other not) but same pixel number, the print from the "cropped" sensor will be effectively magnified. But the magnification happens in the plane of the sensor and not along the optical axis. Savvas P.S. Sorry, I don't mean to divert off the main topic of this thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted August 9, 2011 Share #11 Posted August 9, 2011 I had the 35 Cron ASPH for many years and it was everything reports said it should be. Edge to edge sharpness at any aperture, high contrast, low distortion, and nicely compact. What else could anyone want? Well now that I have a 35 Lux ASPH Ver 1 (chrome), I see exactly what was missing......that Lux "look". Yes, the extra speed is good but the "look" is why we own them, and why we won't be selling them anytime soon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted August 9, 2011 Share #12 Posted August 9, 2011 I think there's sample variation in all of these lenses. I had the v.1 Summilux 35 ASPH for years and thought it was a lovely lens, until I got the Summicron 35 ASPH. I prefer the rendering of my copy of the Summicron, reasonably sharp and not harsh at all; it seems a perfect 35 to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Fluff Posted August 9, 2011 Share #13 Posted August 9, 2011 That may be true, but it's counter to the theory at least of Leica lens production. In any case, I suspect user preference is a bigger factor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted August 9, 2011 Share #14 Posted August 9, 2011 Even the 35 Summicron asph focus shifts. Mine exhibits the same behavior that Sean Reid noted with his sample; it shifts at f2.8 and f4, then fine f5.6 and beyond. As a practical matter, however, it is of no consequence in my prints. The Summilux has received a lot of press on focus shift, but this is not usual in any fast wide lens. Even the new version technically shifts (see here), just not as much as the former. To me, none of it matters practically speaking. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pindy Posted August 10, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 10, 2011 My series 1 ASPH is at Leica now being 6-bit coded. I have noticed no shift in mine since getting an M9 and I doubt I would want for the series 2 lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger1914 Posted August 10, 2011 Share #16 Posted August 10, 2011 I love my v1. There is focus shift but I can easily live with it. To me, it's a keeper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiralx Posted August 10, 2011 Share #17 Posted August 10, 2011 I'm with Lord Fluff & must admit that my 35lux v1 doesn't have noticeable focus shift at all & am very happy with mine.I guess there are some good 35lux v1's out there. Ditto - never noticed any focus shift, but usually shoot wide open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiralx Posted August 10, 2011 Share #18 Posted August 10, 2011 I'm with Lord Fluff & must admit that my 35lux v1 doesn't have noticeable focus shift at all & am very happy with mine.I guess there are some good 35lux v1's out there. Ditto - never noticed any focus shift, but usually shoot wide open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesk8752 Posted August 11, 2011 Share #19 Posted August 11, 2011 My 35 Lux ASPH v1 showed what I considered modest focus shift when I bought it used. I sent it to DAG for coding and adjustment, and he did a great job of adjusting it to minimize the practical impact of the shift. It shows very slight FF wide open, is right on at f2, and then the subject seems to remain at the front of the practical DOF zone as I stop it down beyond f2. Works for me... Regards, Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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