50 Lux ASPH focus 'feel'

[Jeff S]

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I think its the tab that causes the sense of notchiness, the leverage offered by it makes the focusing over sensitive to the slightest movement and like you I try not to use the tab at all.

 

Yup, that's why I don't use it...on this lens...I like the tab on other lenses.

 

Jeff

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[lct]

The tab works fine once the lens unjammed.

[hoppyman]

This thread sounds like a pretty decent summary of handling experiences with the lens. I think that we are all largely in agreement.

 

Regarding using the tab, mine works smoothly that way but of course a normal grasp on the focus ring is stronger and has excellent precision. Personally I think that the tab is perfect for the wides and a conventional grip is the best from the 50 upwards. I can detect the changover point in the 50's focus range in close. The mechanism is very complex.

 

As others have mentioned too, my 28 Summicron ASPH is quite a bit lighter in 'feel'. I have the new 35 too and it is extremely smooth and significantly lighter to rotate than the 50.

 

A key point that the technician at Solms pointed out to me was that it was essential for precision and repeatability that there be no 'play' in the focus ring when rotation is stopped.

 

Notwithsatnding all of that, the bottom line for me is that my Summilux 50 ASPH produces superbly sharp results everytime I do my part.

[Lord Fluff]

Guys, thanks for all your input.

 

The net result has been that I passed on this lens (someone else bought it within the hour I believe) as I just don't think I could have tolerated that example - it's interesting to hear though that some users have had better results, albeit with some caveats - it still leaves me uncertain about buying one as I value usability as highly as rendering.

 

For now, I'll stick with my black paint pre-asph, which conversely has the best focussing action of any lens I've ever used.

 

Thanks again.

[Peter H]

..... it's interesting to hear though that some users have had better results, albeit with some caveats .....

Thanks again.

 

I think you may be slightly mistaken here: It sounds to me as though some people are perfectly happy with the way it works, without caveats.

 

I know I am.

[Lord Fluff]

Sorry Peter - yes I rather glossed over your contentment with your example.

 

Clearly though despite the optical excellence, issues do seem associated with this lens, and these were certainly apparent in the one I tried. The lack of availability obviously mitigates against doing what I would with say a Canon lens - i.e. try several copies and find which was least affected.

 

Perhaps one day we'll see greater availability to this lens and I can pick one up that I'll be happy with from day one, but not right now. I'm not happy to spend over two thousand pounds on a lens that when ordered may turn out to need a trip to Solms.

[Peter H]

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Sorry Peter - yes I rather glossed over your contentment with your example.

 

Clearly though despite the optical excellence, issues do seem associated with this lens, and these were certainly apparent in the one I tried. The lack of availability obviously mitigates against doing what I would with say a Canon lens - i.e. try several copies and find which was least affected.

 

Perhaps one day we'll see greater availability to this lens and I can pick one up that I'll be happy with from day one, but not right now. I'm not happy to spend over two thousand pounds on a lens that when ordered may turn out to need a trip to Solms.

 

That seems perfectly reasonable.

 

But I wonder whether the greater variance is in the lenses or in the users.

 

As you say, without the chance to try a number of examples, its hard to know.

[bbbonthemoon]

Hmm, I've got very intrigued, so I just compared 50 lux asph focusing feel vs. 28 cron, face to face. And I can confirm again, absolutely easy and smooth focusing, no real difference with the 28 cron.

Maybe it depends on the batch, my lens was purchased new at May 2011, and probably produced not very long before.

[rsh]

The way I grip and focus the 50 Summilux Asph is as follows: With the lens set to Infinity, I place my thumb on the mid to lower left of the focusing ring and my forefinger on the tab . That seems to give me the best focusing control with the tab in place on the lens. It is smooth and gives my good control.

 

 

Again, I prefer focusing with the ring alone, but, for me, it is a bit awkward with the tab, hence my thoughts on having the tab removed.

[peter_n]

For now, I'll stick with my black paint pre-asph, which conversely has the best focussing action of any lens I've ever used.

I also use the E46 BP pre-ASPH and mine is the same as yours; wonderfully smooth. So it's hard to work the ASPH but I'm not giving up on it.

[luigi bertolotti]

I know that the focusing tab is liked by many of you, but for me, personally, I do not like it on the 50 Summilux Asph. 95 % of the time, I use the ribbed focusing ring and I have actually considered having the tab removed. It feels fine on the 35 Summicron Asph, the 28 Summicron Asph and the 21 Elmarit Asph.

 

Again, personal preference.

 

UHM !!! ... removing the tab ??? Ok that the Lux 50 asph is probably "the definitive 50 of one's life" - and one can ignore the resale value... but looks to me a bit drastical solution... ignoring it is easy and no hassle...

 

 

[rsh]

Luigi: The operative word in my statement is considered.

[jhild]

I have removed the tab on my 50lux asph as well and regreased the rangefinder coupling, now it´s probably

 

as good as it can be. If I would ever sell it it will be easy to refit the tab again but in my lifetime I´m

 

probably not going to sell it.

 

Jo

[IkarusJohn]

The way I grip and focus the 50 Summilux Asph is as follows: With the lens set to Infinity, I place my thumb on the mid to lower left of the focusing ring and my forefinger on the tab . That seems to give me the best focusing control with the tab in place on the lens. It is smooth and gives my good control.

 

+1

 

My copy of this lens is buttery smooth, but does not turn as freely as the 35 or 28 Cron. It is really only noticeable when pushing the tab counter-clockwise from the closest setting towards infinity - this is really not the most powerful finger movement; coupled with the fact that a lot is happening within the lens at this point (the floating elements), the barrel has more resistance there.

 

I have found that using my thumb on the barrel as well solves the problem. Frankly, I don't see this as a flaw, or a caveat - it's just the way this lens is. It will suit some people, not others. Like Luigi, I like the results, and I have no problem living with the different action.

 

Cheers

John

[Lord Fluff]

The example I tried was certainly not as good as some people's experience, which is encouraging. To be clear - this one was hard to focus accurately as it would tend to 'grab' wherever it settled, which then necessitated a bit more force to turn...so you'd overshoot, then overshoot the other way...then decide it was near enough. Not great..

[menos I M6]

Known issue of the 50/1.4 asph. Dropped a bit of WD-40 in mine a couple of years ago. Works fine since then but don't do the same folks or i decline all responsability.

 

[taking note: never buy a lens from LCT]

 

Don't mess with your lenses! WD-40 has nothing to do, mixing up with grease in a Leica M lens … nothing.

 

The 50 Lux ASPH is a known lens for this focussing behavior.

Mine was the same.

I sent it to Leica Solms for coding and CLA and it came back slightly improved, but retains the same focussing character.

 

This is the reason, why I never use mine actually, but highly prefer the super smooth Noctilux f1 and several other 50mm lenses over the Lux ASPH.

 

No matter what, the 50 Lux ASPH cannot be given the same light to the touch, very smooth focussing feel of the 35 Lux ASPH.

 

It is like this by design - unfortunately. People, who suffer from using their 50 Lux ASPH are granted though with blistering sharp and highly detailed photographs, no matter which aperture used with the smoothest (some say clinical or boring) out of focus rendering there is.

[lct]

[taking note: never buy a lens from LCT]...

I'll sell you my *smooth* WD-40_Summilux when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

[jaapv]

The example I tried was certainly not as good as some people's experience, which is encouraging. To be clear - this one was hard to focus accurately as it would tend to 'grab' wherever it settled, which then necessitated a bit more force to turn...so you'd overshoot, then overshoot the other way...then decide it was near enough. Not great..

Whilst there is a subtle difference in smoothness to other lenses, it should certainly not grab. There is something wrong with a lens like that and Leica can without doubt do something about it.

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[menos I M6]

 

There are simply people, who love the 50 Lux ASPH and people who don't.

[lct]

...There is something wrong with a lens like that and Leica can without doubt do something about it.

Perhaps they did it already, i don't know but i have the feeling that the latest lenses have not this problem any more. I may be wrong though. It could be interesting to check the serial numbers of problematic lenses. Mine is 39799**.