2.0 vs. 2.5 at 35mm and 50mm

[ola.fiske]

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Å

[ola.fiske]

Posted by accident from my shorts pocket

Sorry!

[UliWer]

 

One of the best comments I ever read in this forum:D

[NZDavid]

I think the only considerations here should be whether the OP needs wider than 2.5 and price. Build quality should be excellent all round. Weight and size will vary but only marginally.

 

I find f/2 very useful and f1.4 would be even handier: for portraits to create bokeh; and for faster shutter speeds in low light at low-medium ISO.

[skinnfell]

The case of summarit vs summicron 35, is a toss-up in my mind. Summarit is smaller, possibly sharper, and cheaper, but has slightly more distortion and possibly not as good handling.

 

I havent tried the summarit, but the35 Cron is by far my favorite lens for reportage. It handles beautifully, focus is fast and precise because of the relatively large tab. If it turns out to be 2% less sharp (or whatever) than a summarit, it still runs cirlcles around my canon 35/1,4L which is my workhorse in SLRs.

 

Bottom line - get the one which first comes your way, they are both excellent.

[wattsy]

The case of summarit vs summicron 35, is a toss-up in my mind. Summarit is smaller, possibly sharper, and cheaper, but has slightly more distortion and possibly not as good handling.

 

The Summarit is also extremely impressive when it comes to flare but I agree with you that there is no clear 'winner' in the comparison. I don't really know why but I have bought all the modern 35mm Leica lenses (in most cases more than once:o) and they have all been good when I've done my part (i.e. pointed the lens at something interesting). My advice to the OP would be to try the two lenses on his camera and buy whichever one feels right (balance, focus resistance, etc.).

[BrianUK]

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By 'Summicron 35' I presume you mean the current (1996 - ) Summicron-M f2 35mm Asph, and the Summarit-M 35mm from 2007.

 

I've owned and used both: currently I have been using the f2 35 Asph since 2000 - it's my prime, everyday lens.

 

Both are excellent, well built lenses to Leica's usual high standards. The Summarit, I believe, is cheaper due to being f2.5 and not having an expensive to manufacture aspheric lens, but it does have floating elements. It is slightly lighter than the Summicron Asph.

 

In practical use I find that the Summicron Asph's best aperture is f4, while the Summarit's is f5.6. Stopping down further on both just increases depth of field. From memory I think the Summarit's min focus is 800mm, while the Summicron Asph is 700mm.

 

Without a lens hood (an extra with the Summarit, I think) the Summicron Asph will flare with strongly oblique rays.

 

By any account they are both stunning, and out-resolved any black and white film I ever used with them. Opticallly, I was happy with both, but prefer the wider aperture of f2.

 

Hope this is of use to you.

 

I have a review of my Summicron Asph on my website.

[otto.f]

Continuing my due diligence.

 

I've had someone I respect tell me the 2.5s are as good optically as any... but mechanically, they are not quite up to par. Therefore I would be better advised to stay away from the 2.5s.

 

Any comments? Thoughts?

 

Ed

 

:D this is a Nikon E Series story from the eighties, remember? Bullshit for any Leica lens. The price is merely because of not asph, not apo and 2.5. That is all. The speed of the lens is what makes it expensive.

[lct]

...The Summarit, I believe, is cheaper due to being f2.5 and not having an expensive to manufacture aspheric lens, but it does have floating elements...

Interesting indeed, i did not know this. Would you have any links per chance? Just curious.

[BrianUK]

Interesting indeed, i did not know this. Would you have any links per chance? Just curious.

 

Should've gone to Specsavers

 

Leica Pocket Book, Hove Collectors Books quote:

 

'... Clever optical design avoiding expensive to manufacture aspherical surfaces and floating elements has achieved remarkable results at significantly lower cost.'

 

My apology, Ict.

[lct]

No problem the simpler designs are often the best.

[BrianUK]

No problem the simpler designs are often the best.

 

Indeed. Thanks for being so eagle-eyed.

 

There's an awful lot of nonsense 'out there' on the internet. I would be horrifed to think I have added to it with an oversight on my part.

 

Leica's own websight has a wealth of technical information. For example a PDF download for the Summarit-M 35mm f2.5 can be found here:

 

Leica Camera AG - Photography - LEICA SUMMARIT-M 35 mm f/2.5

[lct]

Thank you . If i may add a bit of personal experience, the 35/2.5 might feel a bit "cheap" due to its plastic focus tab and the motion of its focus ring being less damped than that of the 35/2 asph but it looks very well built otherwise. Also the focus throw of the 35/2.5 is shorter than that of the 35/2 asph to the point that the former has the shortest focus throw of all 35mm Leica lenses if i'm not mistaken. Otherwise, the Summarit is slightly softer than the Summicron asph on edges and corners but it is less prone to flare and its bokeh is generally less contrasty.