Need Help with a Leica 35mm Lens Purchase

[IWC Doppel]

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The pre FLE is sat in my M8 and I have shot a lot with it over the last 2 weeks

 

In comparison to the 35 summicron asph it is less clinical and has a very nice Bokeh, second only in my limited experience to my 50 pre asph lux. Other reviews and reports suggest it is a cross between older classic and modern sharp. It is sharper than a MKIV summicron with higher contrast but definitely not as sharp as the FLE. Having a small number of shots with the FLE in comparison I would concur with the general consensus that the pre FLE asph has a slightly more 'buttery' Bokeh is not as clinically sharp and tight and renders in a more classic way.

 

The one thing that stops me coveting the FLE is a lot if pictures I see and some I have taken with the FLE show a almost surreal sharpness with the out of focus coming quickly in behind on some pictures it looks a little unnatural to my eyes. On the other hand the pre FLE asph is lower contrast at 1.4 and not as sharp

 

Comparisons between the pre FLE and the MKIV show some similarities in that they both are quite 3D and have a more late Mandler look to my eyes. Seems that the pre FLE is somewhere between older classic and modern clean look. I also really like the colours and density of the pre FLE. Im rambling a bit as I'm on my third glass of wine :-)

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[philipus]

You've beaten me by a glass!

 

Thanks a million. This is really helpful. I have both the asph and the pre asph 50 so I can relate very well. It is interesting that you also mention the IV Cron, which is another lens I've considered. Since I use film only (so far) I would really prefer the extra stop of a Summilux though. And sharpness isn't everything to me. 3D qualities are very nice though I agree with you that an image may not be very pleasing if the subject looks almost artificially inserted against a blurry background.

 

Hmm the quest continues. But at present my sights are on a pre asph 35.

[IWC Doppel]

Now with a cup of tea, I'll add a few more thoughts

 

Your analogogy of artificially inserted in a blurry background is a good one, not always the case by any means and on many occasions that look can be stunning but, you can appreciate the rendering and potential look. looking at the MTF curves you would think the pre FLE and the FLE would be indistinguishable but they are definitely different.

 

I personally prefer from what I have seen the pre FLE, I have some lovely shots with this lens. The mkIV is very nice, pixel peep and the Cron asph is notably ahead but take two cron shots of certain scenes and the perspective looks different, somehow the mkIV is a little more classic and 3D, on my M8 the oof rendering did not look anything like as nice as the 50 lux and I could see why some would dismiss the mkiv bokeh on digital at f2 but it still had life and a little swirl. The 35 apsh I couldn't criticise but somehow the colours and rendering seemed to give nice/good picture but less than other lenses pictures that I loved.

 

All in all the aph pre FLE 35 lux I would pitch more as a 50 pre asph lux that is a little tighter, sharper and more modern, with great colour and a part classic 'look'. The FLE is definitely more modern in many ways but with perhaps a classic bokeh ( the fast transition from sharp to oof can be a little disconcerting ). I will have my pre fle lux asph lens set for shorter focus and f1.4 or f2 when I finally get my 9 If I have focus shift issues.

 

If there was a 35 equivalent of the 50 lux I'd probably take that, but there isn't. Seems the 35 pre FLE is the nearest with much better performance of course, but for me ultasharp has less appeal, so the 35 pre FLE lux is more than sharp enough, id happily live with it if it was softer. It does have character and does paint closer to Mandlers best than Karbe's ultra sharp in my humble, non scientific amateur view !

 

Plus I have never owned an FLE, so I am hypothesising a little

[lct]

...If there was a 35 equivalent of the 50 lux I'd probably take that, but there isn't...

Matter of tastes i guess. I don't see significant differences between the Summilux 50/1.4 asph and the Summicron 35/2 asph personally. To me, all the "asph" Leica lenses may be considered equivalent and can be used w/o problem when one needs to get the same rendition.

[fotolebrocq]

If you haven't seen it you may like to read this article by Overgaard on the new 35 Summilux. My new 35 Summilux should arrive next week and I will be interested to compare it to my Voigtlander 35 1.2 V2.

 

leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leica Leica 35mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 Version V samples and article

 

Tony

 

Flickr: fotolebrocq's' Photostream

[IWC Doppel]

Matter of tastes i guess. I don't see significant differences between the Summilux 50/1.4 asph and the Summicron 35/2 asph personally. To me, all the "asph" Leica lenses may be considered equivalent and can be used w/o problem when one needs to get the same rendition.

 

If it helps I was referring to the 50 Summilux pre asph

[lct]

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If it helps I was referring to the 50 Summilux pre asph

Sorry i misurderstood. If you refer to the last version of the Summilux 50/1.4 pre-asph, you can match it with both Summicron 35/2 v4 and current Summarit 35/2.5. The Summilux 35/1.4 pre-asph is another option but better try it in person as it has a special rendition.

[ALD]

I have received my 2010 35mm Summilux FLE today.

 

I am experiencing a state of immense happiness and comfort.

 

Once I get an M9 or an M10, if I take any crap photographs it will be evident it is me, as I won't be able to blame the equipment. My philosophy to quality equipment has changed dramatically since I heard my very lovely wife play Chopin on several different pianos at an upmarket piano store.

 

On the $40000 Kawai she played beautifully and I thought this is great.

 

then she tried a $95000 Steinway and it really sounded about 3X better then the KAWAI.

 

But then she sat at the stool of a FAZIOLI piano costing $135000 and began to play, the piano was so superbly perfect that every imperfection in her playing became so evident, every other piano hid her imperfections. She played a second time and it was absolutely sublime.

 

The piano taught her how to play perfectly because it was so unforgiving of mistakes.

Do you understand how important this was? The piano instantly pulled out of my wife music playing beauty that she would never be capable of had she played on the second best piano all her life.

 

It interacted with her soul did it not?

 

So it is with Leica and the art of photography

[IWC Doppel]

Sorry i misurderstood. If you refer to the last version of the Summilux 50/1.4 pre-asph, you can match it with both Summicron 35/2 v4 and current Summarit 35/2.5. The Summilux 35/1.4 pre-asph is another option but better try it in person as it has a special rendition.

 

Thanks, I did a test with the MKIV Summicron and the Summilux asph pre FLE, they did have a more similar look than say my old Summicron asph vs the MkIV.

 

Myself and my brother both agrees the colouring was similar, a touch richer on the Lux, also the lux is sharper and has a little more contrast. The bokeh nicer at f2 than the MkIV, both had a similar way of rendering and perspective looking more 3D than say the 35 asph.

[01af]

The piano instantly pulled out of my wife music playing beauty that she would never be capable of had she played on the second best piano all her life.

 

It interacted with her soul did it not?

 

So it is with Leica and the art of photography

Hear ya.

 

Too bad Leica Customer Service doesn't hear ya, too.