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I will post some detailed comparisons of the 35 Summilux AA, the Cron MkIV and the 35mm Summilux ASPH, shortly

 

But... My 35 Summilux ASPH. was simply stunning in Venice, its a wonderful lens, that will be a keeper however good the AA is, a much underrated lens for the M9 IMO

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  • 8 years later...

Hey bokeh lovers. May I try to clear up what I understand to be a misconception about the “King of Bokeh”?  I understood from Mike Johnson’s old article in Photo Techniques (that I think first introduced the term and concept of “bokeh” to the English-speaking audience) that the magic of v 4 never was about it’s out of focus performance wide open. Its bokeh at f/2 or f/4 really isn’t that great. Rather, the magic happens further stopped down. At say, f/8, the transition between out of focus and focused is creamy, delectable, and truly something special. Oof areas hang together beautifully and seem of a piece with the truly detailed in-focus elements. I understood that it was this character that earned the v4 summicron its “king” moniker. Just sayin’. 
(Note too however that even Mr. Johnson has later said that the v4 isn’t the lens he would crown “king” nowadays.)

There. I feel better now. 

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5 hours ago, Steven said:

I had read that too, and fair enough, the v4 is not the king of bokeh. 

But the v4 still is an amazing lens. The eternal question: which should I get, the V4 or the V5/6? 

Get V4 chrome version -- 11311.

You might change your thoughts if you look deeper.

Check my album and figure out the bokeh difference between the different apertures. When this lens stops down from f2 to f2.4, f2.8, f3.4, f4, f5.6, f6,8, or even f8, the bokeh alter dramatically alone with different distances.

The following photos demonstrated a good color and a bit silky effect at the back ground @f6,8.

 

 

Edited by Erato
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6 minutes ago, Steven said:

Its already difficult to find a black one, but a chrome one you say !

Here you are. Looks like ideal one but the price is outrages! The price is much higher from mine.

https://tw.bid.yahoo.com/item/收藏級-LEICA-萊卡-SUMMICRON-M-35-2-35mm-F2-E39-德國-100807933335

Approximately 5,330 EURO.

Edited by Erato
adding more details for further ref.
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4 minutes ago, Steven said:

I have already tried both. I like them both. I have a slight preference for the v6, but the v4 is very vintage with its swirley bokeh. 

owning the Lux pre fle , I fear that the cron might not be very different at equivalent apertures... the v4 would be. But I don’t like it’s look and feel. therefore I hesitate. 

There're pros and cons for every and each lenses.

Follow your heart and pick the one you like the most.

What is the ideal lens? It could be the next lens, always. And, what would be the best lens at the moment? The lens already in your hands.

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5 hours ago, Steven said:

I had read that too, and fair enough, the v4 is not the king of bokeh. 

But the v4 still is an amazing lens. The eternal question: which should I get, the V4 or the V5/6? 

Hi Steven,

Please don't misunderstand me. I've had the v4 since 1997 -- just before the current bokeh train left the station -- and I love it.  And I do not object to its coronation as "king."   I was only trying to point out that many folks seem to think that bokeh is only what happens in a lens at full aperture, or near it, and default to comparing all lenses wide open.  In the case of the v4, I think that is misguided or misinformed, as what makes the bokeh of this lens special is the way the lens renders stopped down some.

Brent

Edited by bcorton
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13 hours ago, bcorton said:

Hey bokeh lovers. May I try to clear up what I understand to be a misconception about the “King of Bokeh”?  I understood from Mike Johnson’s old article in Photo Techniques (that I think first introduced the term and concept of “bokeh” to the English-speaking audience) that the magic of v 4 never was about it’s out of focus performance wide open. Its bokeh at f/2 or f/4 really isn’t that great. Rather, the magic happens further stopped down. At say, f/8, the transition between out of focus and focused is creamy, delectable, and truly something special. Oof areas hang together beautifully and seem of a piece with the truly detailed in-focus elements. I understood that it was this character that earned the v4 summicron its “king” moniker. Just sayin’. 
(Note too however that even Mr. Johnson has later said that the v4 isn’t the lens he would crown “king” nowadays.)

There. I feel better now. 

More specifically he later clarified that it had nice and coherent out-of-focus blur at small apertures and middle distances, but sucked at wider apertures and close-in.

Mike’s online TOP site has various recounts on this topic as well as the background on the origins of the bokeh spelling.  Easy to do a general search or a search from TOP.

Jeff

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2 minutes ago, Steven said:

Do you guys think it makes sense to own a Lux fLE and a Cron ASPH (current), or does the FLE cover everything that the Cron can do ? Basically, at F2 and above, do they look different ? 

Funny you should ask. I’ve owned and enjoyed  the v.1 35 Summicron ASPH for many years.  But I recently decided to trade my hardly used 50 APO Summicron (I ended up preferring my 50 Summilux ASPH) for the 35 Summilux FLE.  It’s mostly overkill to have both 35’s, but I wanted the FLE for its wider aperture and to a lesser degree its different color rendering and less potential to flare or focus shift (my Summicron exhibits mild shift at f2.8 and f4, although it’s easily accommodated).  I also have a 35 Summaron f2.8, which provides another rendering and handling option.  Time will tell how these fit into my shooting and print workflow, currently with the M10 and M Monochrom.
 

You ask if that makes sense.  Well, it does for me, at least for now. And that’s all that matters. We each have different goals and preferences.

Jeff

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1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

More specifically he later clarified that it had nice and coherent out-of-focus blur at small apertures and middle distances, but sucked at wider apertures and close-in.

Mike’s online TOP site has various recounts on this topic as well as the background on the origins of the bokeh spelling.  Easy to do a general search or a search from TOP.

Jeff

Yep. 

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Again that KOB thing? :D Bokeh is a subjective matter folks so for some people (including or not Mr Johnson) the 35/2 v4 is the king of bokeh and for others it is not. What can be said, objectively, is that some lenses show more or less details in the background than others. In that sense, if you prefer less details i.e. gaussian blur more or less, the 35/2 v4 is certainly not the way to go, but another lens like the CV 35/1.4 SC v2 for example could be the king.

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20 hours ago, Steven said:

I have already tried both. I like them both. I have a slight preference for the v6, but the v4 is very vintage with its swirley bokeh. 

owning the Lux pre fle , I fear that the cron might not be very different at equivalent apertures... the v4 would be. But I don’t like it’s look and feel. therefore I hesitate. 

The 35 cron v4 is the lens that also ergonomically has gotten the most under my skin. To me this is THE M lens in use, small but still handy and just right. It should, however, be noted that it was also my first M lens since late nineties...😉

PS: And concerning design, my silver M6 with that silver v4 also looks very very very classical to me! Add a 12504 hood and you are there 😀

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1 hour ago, Steven said:

Picture please ! 

Hi Steven

I did not have the M6 with me, so the M10 will have to do 😉

Taken with an iPad... Hope you get some impression!

 

Regards, 

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35/2 v4 # 11311

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

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