M9 and 35 Cron example.

[Studio58]

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Given my complete ignorance regarding the technical qualities of the Leica gear I own, I am posting this image in order that some expert feedback may be given regarding the quality of the image from the perspective of the equipment. EG... is the lens behaving in a manner within the parameters of its type... or is it displaying any issues I need to be concerned about. Looks fine to me.

The 35 Summicron is an ASPH version but not 6 bit coded. Is that what is referred to as a series 4 lens ? I might add that on the M9 display, I thought I detected some flare but that is not evident in the on screen image.

Thanks,

Paul.

[wizard]

Give us a chance to evaluate your shot (your image did not upload ).

 

Andy

[Studio58]

thanks ... here it is.

[tobey bilek]

Defects usually manifest at wider apertures, ie, 2.0. I see nothing abnormal in the posted photo. It does have pretty severe color saturation. I do not like it, but then that is a matter of taste. Be sure to calibrate the monitor so you are seeing an accurate representation of the picture.

 

Although your lens is uncoded, the M9 can be manually set to the lens in use. Then the in camera processing instructions can be made to automatically correct any defects or shortcomings such as vignetting or colored edges.

[Studio58]

Thanks Tony. Yea I am working on my MacBook pro screen. I had the MB Pro connected to a calibrated studio display which for some reason stopped working with the MB Pro (via Thunderbolt). Now I do not even know what I am getting.... Pain.

[lars_bergquist]

Apart from the saturation issue, the sky is one large blown highlight – but that is not the fault of the lens.

 

The Summicron shows less flare than the current (v.2) Summilux ASPH 'FLE', which I own, and which controls flare very well. The 35mm Summarit is said to be even less flarey, which I cannot confirm as I have no experience of the lens.

 

Given this, no lens is completely immune to stray light phenomena. The most robust lens I know of in this respect is the 50mm Summilux ASPH, but if I try, I can provoke even this one to flare a bit, and even to produce an internal reflection. If you had taken your picture with a 50mm Summicron however, then you would likely have seen some drastic flare.

 

So my advice is, get your workflow into order, and stop worrying about your hardware.

 

LB

[Studio58]

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So my advice is, get your workflow into order, and stop worrying about your hardware.

 

LB

I am not worried about the hardware. Just endeavoring to understand the equipment after years of SLR use.

[Studio58]

Regarding the sky, naturally if I expose for the main subject area the sky is going to blow out. There is no way around that other than making and blending multiple exposures.

[01af]

The 35 Summicron is an ASPH version [...]. Is that what is referred to as a series 4 lens?

There are no 'series' but versions, and in the 35 mm Summicron M lenses, the Asph version is the fifth and most recent ... yet. Version IV was the last non-Asph version and is also known as 'Bokeh King,' a name coined by Mike Johnston back when that version was current. Since then, newer 35 mm lenses have arrived—Summicron-M Asph, Summarit-M, Summilux-M Asph—and their bokehs are about as good as the version IV's. Anyway, Mike Johnston's endorsement has earned this particular version a very good reputation ... and yes, it is a good lens indeed, but in most respects the newer ones are even better.

 

I don't like Ken Rockwell's writing very much generally ... but his 35 mm Summicron comparison is well-made and worthwhile reading if you're interested in this kind of stuff. There, he reviews one sampe of each version except the first.

 

 

I am posting this image in order that some expert feedback may be given regarding the quality of the image from the perspective of the equipment. [...] Looks fine to me.

Looks fine to me, too ... basically. However—in such a small web image, any finer defects, if present in the first place, would not be perceptible anyway. I think I guess I might see a faint hint of loss of contrast through veiling glare in the area of the yellowish-brown bush ... but can't tell for sure. It's too vague. And it would be normal for this lens anyway.

 

Bottom line—there is no evidence that anything was wrong with your particular sample of that lens in the picture posted above.

 

And oh, the saturation of the red in the bridge is way over the top, as others already have mentioned. So are the brighter hues of green in the bushes and trees. But that's not the lens' fault.

[mod2001]

Summicron-M Asph, Summarit-M, Summilux-M Asph—and their bokehs are about as good as the version IV's.

 

good yes, but still different (tried all except the Summarit) and keep the IV, even if the overall quality is a bit lower than the new versions.

 

Yogi

[wda]

Given the disadvantages of trying to assess quality performance at such low ppi on a web-site, I would say there is nothing wrong optically with your 35mm lens. Rendering and colour are separate issues and relate to post processing and monitor calibration.

 

I use two graphics monitors. My main one is for critical work and is recalibrated every 200 hours. The red bridge is highly saturated. On my ancillary monitor which I use for allied admin and forum work, it is less saturated which shows immediately the problem of giving third-party assessments of an image's colour fidelity.

[Studio58]

Thanks for the replies. Most educational and helpful indeed. There certainly appears to be more to consider when shooting with a Leica M than there is in working with a Canon SLR. Ultimately, I wonder if I will make a successful transition.

[Printmaker]

I like my version 4 Summicron and see no reason to upgrade.

 

From last weekend's camping trip to Polihale. A lull between high surfs.