What do you think of the price of the new 50mm Summicron?

[lct]

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Not sure, it is not that smaller than my Summilux asph so it not really the Summicron of my dreams.

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[lars_bergquist]

Hoping this will help here's my set of images with this lens -

 

50 APO - a set on Flickr

 

Brett, at the maximum size available, this is surely sharp but not sharper (more resolution, greater acutance) than what my 50mm Summicron ASPH does.

 

I think that the best 'modern' and current Leica M lenses both produce beyond what I can wring out of them and the M9 sensor when shooting handheld. Sling support, breathing control, a fast shutter speed and clean living do help, but only that much. I am the weak link, not the lens and not the camera.

 

Because of the extreme detail, these are the largest JPGs that I can upload to this forum. The exposure (full frame top, 50% crop below) was done with a M9 at ISO250 – and my 1983 90mm 'Thin' Tele-Elmarit at f:8.

 

The still not too dull old man from the Kodachrome Age

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[bybrett]

Brett, at the maximum size available, this is surely sharp but not sharper (more resolution, greater acutance) than what my 50mm Summicron ASPH does.

 

I think that the best 'modern' and current Leica M lenses both produce beyond what I can wring out of them and the M9 sensor when shooting handheld. Sling support, breathing control, a fast shutter speed and clean living do help, but only that much. I am the weak link, not the lens and not the camera.

 

Because of the extreme detail, these are the largest JPGs that I can upload to this forum. The exposure (full frame top, 50% crop below) was done with a M9 at ISO250 – and my 1983 90mm 'Thin' Tele-Elmarit at f:8.

 

The still not too dull old man from the Kodachrome Age

 

Lars, is that your Summilux ASPH or Summicron?

 

Anyway the new APO is noticeably sharper than any other M lens and it is also true that there is more to be had on other sensors, for instance Monochrom.

 

You would see it if I could make a DNG available.

 

Cheers

[lars_bergquist]

Brett, it was neither a Summicron or a Summilux. It was not aspherical and it was not apochromatic. It was the Mandler-designed Canada-built four-element 90mm 'thin' Tele-Elmarit-M (1974–1989) #3216146, made in 1983; it carries the 1913–1983 jubilee engraving to prove it. I sent it to a local camera mechanic here in Stockholm earlier this spring in order to have it re-lubricated and cleaned, which it needed. I like that lens because I can carry it in a jacket pocket for a quiet stroll. The M9 rides over my shoulder in a Luigi half-case and with a v.4 35mm Summicron, with the same engraving so of exactly the same vintage.

 

Yes, I have a current version 35mm Summilux ASPH which I love because it is a fabulous lens that I can use beyond f:4. But this lens too is a bit 'oldfashioned' in its fingerprint, and both lenses have their places and uses.

 

Scratches for itches is my motto.

 

The old man from the Kodachrome Age

[lars_bergquist]

Anyway the new APO is noticeably sharper than any other M lens and it is also true that there is more to be had on other sensors, for instance Monochrom.

 

Cheers

 

Brett, as I wrote, I think that my focus errors, my camera shake, and the fact that many of my subjects are in the very bad habit of moving, are the practical constraints on the fine detail definition I can wring out of my 'classical' lenses and my poor old M9, and not the lenses and the camera themselves. So I would not be capable of making full use (whatever that may be) of either an Apo-Summicron or a MM.

 

I think it was Edward Steichen who said that there are more good pictures in a box camera than anybody has even brought out. Modern gear makes that extraction easier (sometimes ...) but it is the seeing and the damn bloody skill of the photographer that makes the great picture. And you know that Brett, because you do have both.

 

The old man from the Kodachrome Age

[bybrett]

Brett, at the maximum size available, this is surely sharp but not sharper (more resolution, greater acutance) than what my 50mm Summicron ASPH does.

 

Thanks Lars, I was referring to the above... but no matter. I agree that all lenses have their own place and use. For those that have a place, and use, and budget for the 50 APO, it will serve them well, and well into the future.

 

(FAQ you can enlarge the flickr images by first clicking on the image, and then selecting all sizes above, ie original)

[leicanut2]

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Never had a Porsche never will, going to keep my crappy truck till it rots and unless I hit oil planting a Geranium I will not be able to buy a 7,200 Summicron.

So looks like I,m out.

 

Jan, love retirement but the money sucks.

[pico]

Thank you pico, you are thinking the same as I did in # 88. That's what's worries me with such a lens. To prevent this. I must have a tripod , a faster shutter, or VR. Maybe in the end the 500mm with a sturdy monopod and a big camera as a contra weight will be the better choice?

 

For extreme enlargement or long telephoto, a tripod is helpful. I can post an experiment that shows the effect of camera shake on and off a tripod at various shutter speeds. The outcome is almost non-intuitive.

 

From time-to-time I shoot a 500mm lens on a Hasselblad. The 'blad has a nice feature which locks up the mirror and rear flap manually which obviates camera shake due to those parts - it then shoots only through the very still leaf shutter. Sometimes I can still see ground shake effects, usually when I'm near a highway or railroad, and certainly when I am on a roof.

[algrove]

It all depends on the mission.

 

If I were shooting fashion for high end publication, and I thought that this lens with either M9 or the next generation of sensor resolution would allow me to replace medium format, then it would be worth it to me.

 

For my current requirements, when I want extreme resolution on subjects that do not move very fast, (like mountains), I will shoot a multi-pane panorama.

 

Complaining about the price is pointless, one either needs and can afford it or not.

 

As long as Leica offers other choices, we can all choose to meet our needs.

 

Just to be sure, I re-tested my asph summilux and latest non apo summicron, and they are almost as sharp as they were last week before this announcement.

 

Regards... H

 

"Almost as sharp"? You have deemed them less sharp now in view of the new 50/2.0 APO. Interesting. In this whole scenario I just got my old 50/1.0 back from Leica Repair-NJ and now it is more sharp than a month ago for sure!

 

I suppose when the new M comes out to replace the M9 all of a sudden many M9 owners are going to begin saying they never really liked the M9 due to its lousy FF (only 18MP) sensor and small buffer, etc,etc.

[Paulus]

For extreme enlargement or long telephoto, a tripod is helpful. I can post an experiment that shows the effect of camera shake on and off a tripod at various shutter speeds. The outcome is almost non-intuitive.

 

From time-to-time I shoot a 500mm lens on a Hasselblad. The 'blad has a nice feature which locks up the mirror and rear flap manually which obviates camera shake due to those parts - it then shoots only through the very still leaf shutter. Sometimes I can still see ground shake effects, usually when I'm near a highway or railroad, and certainly when I am on a roof.

 

If you are familiar with the book: " Warum ich fotografiere" from Andreas Feininger. You'll understand that he certainly had long lenses and big problems with this. So I understand, that the M Mon combination with the asph summicron 50mm enlargements will not be the same thing ( apart from the obvious different perspective.)