Latest LFI kills the 50mm ASPH Lux "clinical" myth

[colonel]

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Grab the latest version.

Very interesting if you are interested in 50mm

They compare Latest ASPH Lux to two previous versions, Cron and Rit

 

The ASPH Lux is simply the best and has more detail then the previous version but renders about the same colours.

The Rit (as I have always said) is a surprise performer

 

rgds

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[rob139]

Grab the latest version.

Very interesting if you are interested in 50mm

They compare Latest ASPH Lux to two previous versions, Cron and Lit

 

The ASPH Lux is simply the best and has more detail then the previous version but renders about the same colours.

The Lit (as I have always said) is a surprise performer

 

rgds

 

 

 

The Lit? What is the Lit?

 

Rob

[colonel]

The Lit? What is the Lit?

 

Rob

 

Rit, sorry (Summarit)

[Jeff S]

Side point....and pet peeve, sorry...

 

There are Elmarits and Summarits.

 

There are Summiluxes and Noctiluxes.

 

Rits and Luxes? Or even Crons... I prefer the name Leica gave them. But, I'm also among the minority, I guess, not into the 'tweet' generation.

 

Ok, back to the topic...there is already discussion here.

 

Jeff

[Tietje]

I saw that comparison too.

 

The older Summiluxes especially the Summilux I, I thought, provided a far more flattering portrait than the Summilux Asph. The Asph made the subject look ten years older, showing every facial line and blemish.

 

Maybe sometimes we're best off without clinical rendering!

[colonel]

I saw that comparison too.

 

The older Summiluxes especially the Summilux I, I thought, provided a far more flattering portrait than the Summilux Asph. The Asph made the subject look ten years older, showing every facial line and blemish.

 

Maybe sometimes we're best off without clinical rendering!

 

My view was that was based purely off the detail as the colours were very similar, particularly with the previous generation Lux

Detail can be turned down in PP not up

[colonel]

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Side point....and pet peeve, sorry...

 

There are Elmarits and Summarits.

 

There are Summiluxes and Noctiluxes.

 

Rits and Luxes? Or even Crons... I prefer the name Leica gave them. But, I'm also among the minority, I guess, not into the 'tweet' generation.

 

Ok, back to the topic...there is already discussion here.

 

Jeff

 

So to be precise, comparison is between:

 

Summilux 50mm f1.4 I

Summilux 50mm f1.4 II

Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH

Summicron 50mm f2 II

Summicron 50mm f2 IV

Summarit 50mm f2.5

Zeiss Planar 50mm f2 ZM

 

rgds

[Guest joewehry]

And as others have pointed out, to render that kind of detail, we have to have great technique. Motion blur caused by subject, shutter speed, photographer hand-holding, all play a part in what is captured. Scanning, post-production, etc in the final print play their role too. Haven't read the article yet, but I love the Summarit 50mm f/2.5 and am not surprised if LFI considers it a "performer." Duh.

[andybarton]

The use of just three letters to describe lenses is very confusing, especially when it could, in a couple of cases, refer to several different lenses.

 

How much more effort does it take to type "Summarit" instead of "rit"?

[aesop]

Side point....and pet peeve, sorry...

 

There are Elmarits and Summarits.

 

There are Summiluxes and Noctiluxes.

 

Rits and Luxes? Or even Crons... I prefer the name Leica gave them. But, I'm also among the minority, I guess, not into the 'tweet' generation.

 

Ok, back to the topic...there is already discussion here.

 

Jeff

 

...you are not alone, Jeff. Whatever your generation, nothing sucks like unclear communication. <seethe>

[bocaburger]

Whatever LFI proves or disproves, I wasn't about to spend $2500 on the ASPH when it was new, and certainly not going to spend what they're asking for the same lens today. There's a point where I draw the line on what kind of cash I'm willing to shell out for lens performance. I'm still striving to reach the level of superb photographs that have been taken over the years with the pre-ASPH and the Summicron, but I'm happy for anyone who has gotten to the point where optics are the limiting element in their photography.

[Tietje]

...you are not alone, Jeff. Whatever your generation, nothing sucks like unclear communication. <seethe>

 

And using jargon to exclude the average punter (cron, rit, lit, mar, lux etc.)

[colonel]

Whatever LFI proves or disproves, I wasn't about to spend $2500 on the ASPH when it was new, and certainly not going to spend what they're asking for the same lens today. There's a point where I draw the line on what kind of cash I'm willing to shell out for lens performance. I'm still striving to reach the level of superb photographs that have been taken over the years with the pre-ASPH and the Summicron, but I'm happy for anyone who has gotten to the point where optics are the limiting element in their photography.

 

I enjoyed the summarit f2.5 very much

I only upgraded to the Lux for the f1.4 thinner DOF

My cut-off point was the Noctilux . However, I agree, if no need to go below f2.5 I would have gladly stayed with the summarit

 

I also only have one lens, and will shortly get a 2nd hand 28mm cron. So I am balancing this out by not having many lenses. Which I don't need.

[el.nino]

and has more detail

 

and that's why it called clinical.

[colonel]

and that's why it called clinical.

 

I thought clinical was to do with bluer or blander colour rendering

[IkarusJohn]

and that's why it called clinical.

 

To a point - I'd have added characterless and cold.

 

For what it's worth, I don't find the Summilux 50 Asph any of these things. Fine detail, yes. But I don't see that as a negative at all. Not combined with its fine rendering and pleasing out of focus areas.

 

I was thinking again about my comments in the "clinical" thread when looking at some images on the LFI iPad app - one popped up which was immediately obviously taken with a Summicron 35 Asph. There was just something about the combination of warmth, detail and life which shouted Leica, and this particular lens.

 

Perhaps I was too quick to pour cold water on the idea that lenses can add a lot of individual character to an image. I still don't buy the snobbery attaching to older lenses; the "my 5 cm Summar I bought for 20 marks in 1952 has a finger print no modern lens can match" brigade. I still view that sort of nonsense as complete claptrap.

 

By all means enjoy your older lenses, and revel in their unique appeal. If I see older lenses for sale at a good price, I would love to give them a try for the fun of it. But my preference is to stick with my collection of lovely modern aspherical lenses, thank you. There's a long way to go before my skills show up any shortfalls they may have.

 

Cheers

John

[wda]

May I add that I thought the last feature on nuclear protesters in Germany, shot entirely with the 50mm Summilux lens, technically was quite brilliant. It showed the potential of the lens to differentiate between planes of considerable sharpness and shades of unsharpness. Few recent essays have shown this so clearly, in my opinion. For example, just look at the blonde lying among a mixed crowd of protesters. (Sorry I am not able to reproduce this picture for the benefit of members who have not seen the latest copy of LFI. Maybe the author can do so if he supports this forum)

[Rick]

I saw that comparison too.

 

The older Summiluxes especially the Summilux I, I thought, provided a far more flattering portrait than the Summilux Asph. The Asph made the subject look ten years older, showing every facial line and blemish.

 

Maybe sometimes we're best off without clinical rendering!

 

Try using the clarity slider in LR3. I call it the pre-APO magic slider. My wife thinks this is the most significant advancement Adobe has ever made to LR. It has made me extremely popular with the women in my life.

 

Ok, what I'm really trying to say is that you can't teach an old Summilux new tricks, but you can always get the new Summilux to back-slide® if, you want.

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[wilfredo]

The "Clarity" slider in Camera RAW can also be used. In my experience this lens can be a very unforgiving, not one the ladies will appreciate but it can be tamed. In the portrait below, I moved the "Clarity" slider -25 on the second image for a less clinical look. You can play with the slider until you get the desired effect. You can also use it to bring out even more detail. :-(

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[chris_tribble]

Try using the clarity slider in LR3. I call it the pre-APO magic slider. My wife thinks this is the most significant advancement Adobe has ever made to LR. It has made me extremely popular with the women in my life.

 

Ok, what I'm really trying to say is that you can't teach an old Summilux new tricks, but you can always get the new Summilux to back-slide® if, you want.

 

Never too old to learn - I have +15 set for clarity as a default import setting - I like the look for most images. Cutting it back to -15 or -20 has a really interesting impact on portraits - something I shall experiment with in future.

 

Thanks!