KM-25 Posted April 12, 2013 Share #1 Posted April 12, 2013 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi gang, I now shoot very little 35mm so I have one M3 and have been loving it, all I need in Leica. But, the quest for a 50mm to pair it for life has proven a little odd at times. I am not going to go into how many 50's I have gone through but there have been a lot including a 50/2 collapsable to an LHSA version of the 50 1.4 Asph back when I actually had a reason to use it. Basically at this point, I want a 50 1.4 that won't focus shift, is good wide open and great everywhere else. I am not going to spend the going rate for any of Leica's newer glass since in shooting about 50 rolls of black and white film in it a year, I just don't see the point of the expense. So I am now on the lookout for what I hope will be my final lens for the M3, a silver 50mm 1.4 Pre-Asph in great shape. I am not looking forward to the weight but man, I need in focus images. I have no interest at all in any Leica digital products so paring this lens with just an M3 is all I really care about. Is there anything to look out for with the lens I am considering outside of all the obvious ones of no haze, scratches, etc. Do they ever show focus shift?.....because I have found out the hard way that I have NO patience for that... Edited April 12, 2013 by KM-25 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 12, 2013 Posted April 12, 2013 Hi KM-25, Take a look here 50mm 1.4 Pre-Asph Version 1 for all around use?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
IWC Doppel Posted April 12, 2013 Share #2 Posted April 12, 2013 I love the MkII and I now have a mkIII pre asph, (the same later glass formula, but focusses at 0.7m) The MkII is notably better in terms of MTF's than the MkI, and is a lovely lens with wonderful bokeh and rendering, this lens does focus shift between F1.4 and F2.8 then it stays the same. I have never really found a problem unless I am testing with charts at 1m away. I'd happily try a MkI as they have a nice look too from what I have seen and see how you get on. You can always sell again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 12, 2013 Share #3 Posted April 12, 2013 I have a Summilux preasph , rather old (1.884.xxx) but very fine : I noticed the focus shift the same way as IWC Doppel... only on focus tests at very near distances, and, I add, made with digital M (M8 in my case) : I used it for years and years on film and never had any feeling abut focus shift. It's a very fine lens to have and use : good as a classic Summicron at medium apertures, and very usable wide open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 12, 2013 Share #4 Posted April 12, 2013 Same general feeling about the latest version with built-in hood. No focus shift that i'm aware of, excellent resistance to flare, same sharpness more or less as the Summicron 50 at f/2 and on. At f/1.4, the lens is not as sharp as the asph version for sure but it remains very usable, as Luigi said above, and it is less cruel for portraiture by far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted April 12, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted April 12, 2013 (edited) Thanks, I'll pickup a version 1 and see how it goes, my budget for this is not above $1,500 so that is my limit.. I am currently using a ZM 50mm 1.5 that is optimized for between 2.0 and 2.8 according to DAG. I just can not deal with it anymore, I need to be able to work fast and get the shots made and they can't be out of focus, it's just not a professional result and it is insanely distracting to even have to think about it. I could go back to a Summicron or Planar if this does not work, but the fastest film I use is 400 pushed a stop, not interested in going higher for workflow reasons so I really need to get a 1.4 if I can and be done with it, get to work. Edited April 12, 2013 by KM-25 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted April 12, 2013 Share #6 Posted April 12, 2013 Same general feeling about the latest version with built-in hood. No focus shift that i'm aware of, excellent resistance to flare, same sharpness more or less as the Summicron 50 at f/2 and on. At f/1.4, the lens is not as sharp as the asph version for sure but it remains very usable, as Luigi said above, and it is less cruel for portraiture by far. Same for me, the last pre aspheric lens is wonderful, whereas when I used a Mk 1 very many years ago I thought the Summicron a much better option for me. Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted April 12, 2013 Share #7 Posted April 12, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) If it's really got to be an old Summilux, then I'd go for the v2 for everyday use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted April 12, 2013 Share #8 Posted April 12, 2013 I am not going to spend the going rate for any of Leica's newer glass since in shooting about 50 rolls of black and white film in it a year, I just don't see the point of the expense. So essentially you're saying, technical excellence makes sense only for those who shoot a lot. When shooting only a couple o' hundred frames per year then utmost technical quality would be wasted and isn't called for. Right? Well—an older lens may easily be good enough, and a limited budget is a limited budget. Still, the reason for being good enough cannot be just the volume of your shooting (or lack thereof). I feel that's a very quirky line of reasoning. And oh, by the way—the 1st version of the Summilux 50 mm today is a collector's item more than a user lens. Better go for the 2nd or 3rd versions; they are cheaper and easier to find anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted April 12, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted April 12, 2013 So essentially you're saying, technical excellence makes sense only for those who shoot a lot. When shooting only a couple o' hundred frames per year then utmost technical quality would be wasted and isn't called for. Right? Well—an older lens may easily be good enough, and a limited budget is a limited budget. Still, the reason for being good enough cannot be just the volume of your shooting (or lack thereof). I feel that's a very quirky line of reasoning. And oh, by the way—the 1st version of the Summilux 50 mm today is a collector's item more than a user lens. Better go for the 2nd or 3rd versions; they are cheaper and easier to find anyway. Basically it comes down to me just needing a good 50 1.4 to shoot black and white film with and make prints in the darkroom. I know from experience you don't have to spend 2-3K in order to get that. Yeah, that 50 1.4 Asph sang with Kodachrome with the right wrap of light, but beyond that, I see fantastic photographs being made with far less technically high scoring gear. I'll take a look at that version 2 then, don't need a collector's item, lol! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted April 12, 2013 Share #10 Posted April 12, 2013 I am shooting it on an M9, but I absolutely love my 50mm pre-asph summilux. It is a wonderful lens. Was the best-performing 50 in the world before the current summilux was introduced, I believe. Still holds its own against most other lenses. Lot of bang for the buck. Beautiful bokeh wide open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted April 12, 2013 Share #11 Posted April 12, 2013 Dan, I have a pre-asph v.3 which does not show any focus shift on my film Ms (I don't have a digital M) and which I have used extensively. Don't know if it is of any help at all but here's a search on my flickr with the photos taken with v.3, showing both bokeh rendering and depth-of-field in b/w and colour images. cheers philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted April 12, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted April 12, 2013 Thanks for the replies. The version 3 is definitely more than I want to spend, I have located and bought a clean version 2 for a decent price, hopefully that will take care of business! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 12, 2013 Share #13 Posted April 12, 2013 Thanks for the replies. The version 3 is definitely more than I want to spend, I have located and bought a clean version 2 for a decent price, hopefully that will take care of business! Well done : it's the best in terms of price-performance : enjoy ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted April 12, 2013 Share #14 Posted April 12, 2013 I found a very well kept 50 Summilux, first version (btw the 25th Summilux which has been produced, if published numbers are right) in chrome for a very decent price in the buy&sell section of this forum. I expected it to be more similar to the 1.5/50mm Summarit than to the second Summilux version - which wasn't true. It has less contrast than the second version, but is not as "grey" as the Summarit wide open. You may find a comparison between the three lenses with a strong crop here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/276624-thoughts-summarit-5cm-1-5-a.html#post2351210 Some examples to give you an idea how it looks fully opened: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! For "everyday" I'd be sceptical if the lens was a good choice. It certainly has its weaknesses with large f-stops, so it's probable that one uses it only stopped down. Then the 50mm Elmar-M or a current 2.5/50 Summarit-M are certainly better - and cheaper. Though if you look how the Summilux chrome version was built and how it holds in your hand... 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! For "everyday" I'd be sceptical if the lens was a good choice. It certainly has its weaknesses with large f-stops, so it's probable that one uses it only stopped down. Then the 50mm Elmar-M or a current 2.5/50 Summarit-M are certainly better - and cheaper. Though if you look how the Summilux chrome version was built and how it holds in your hand... ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/202476-50mm-14-pre-asph-version-1-for-all-around-use/?do=findComment&comment=2297535'>More sharing options...
!Nomad64 Posted April 12, 2013 Share #15 Posted April 12, 2013 I got a 'lux v3 Pre-Asph E46,same optical formula of v2 E43, probably my favorite lens ever. Never mind what the MTF curves say, the rendition at 1.4 is creamy and dreamy, at 8 it's sharp. Probably not as much as a Summicron or a Planar ZM, but sharp enough. There's negligible distortion and I never ever noticed any focus shift at any aperture. Here are some samples. The trees at 8, the others at 1.4. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/202476-50mm-14-pre-asph-version-1-for-all-around-use/?do=findComment&comment=2297545'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 13, 2013 Share #16 Posted April 13, 2013 I found a very well kept 50 Summilux, first version ... I expected it to be more similar to the 1.5/50mm Summarit than to the second Summilux version - which wasn't true. Thanks, an interesting finding... indeed the design of the Summilux 1st is clearly based on the Summarit' schema (in turn, based on the Xenon)... but it is worth noting that also some Summarits 1,4 were produced, as prototypes of the Summilux : can be that some refinings of the design were made in that phase... or can be simply a matter of coating ? Is your Summarit 1,5 a "late" one ? The coating process of the Summarit was surely "refined" during its life. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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