Scott Root Posted March 3, 2014 Share #841 Posted March 3, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) It had a tendency to veil flair and regular flair to an extraordinary extent, so I sent it in. I got it back a month ago and can still cause it to produce veiling flair, but perhaps only slightly more than other lenses. The tendency for regular flair seems to be greatly diminished, which was a bit of a problem before. I notice no downgrade in the rendering of the lens that is spectacular. It has no noticeable focus shift, flat field, and fabulous rendering. It's like my wife that is beautiful, well-mannered, passionate, and loyal. I don't want anything else. Scott Have you experienced any problems with yours? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 Hi Scott Root, Take a look here APO Summicron 50/2 ASPH: Central veiling flare / fogging. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted March 3, 2014 Share #842 Posted March 3, 2014 I am still interested to know what the 50 APO owners feel they get from of its images, that they would not have got from one of its cheaper competitors, the older Summicron, the ASPH Summilux or even the 50ZM Planar. I would like to seem some crops of images taken with the 50 APO and one of its competitors pointing out the differences. Usually when Leica replaces a lens, it is a case of “oh don’t pictures taken with the old lens look quaint/soft/ancient etc.” However in this case, the competitors are so good even on the current M240, I wonder if the differences are like the stratospheric HiFi system going up to 100K Hz, for the benefit of any passing bat. I am not doubting that the lens can produce wonderful images, it is just that I have not seen any hard evidence to date but I am very willing to be convinced. In theory its apochromaticity should produce considerably sharper images but are they visible with the naked eye or even with pixel peeping? Wilson Yes, this would be most helpful as a proof point for those who want to buy the lens, including myself. I'd love to see some comparative images pitting the APO50 vs the ZM Planar 50/2, the Hexanon-M 50/2, the Elmar M 50/2.8 (yes, it is not f2) and the newly eclipsed Leica 50/2 Test charts, brick walls as well as "real world" will be most welcome Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaPassion Posted March 3, 2014 Share #843 Posted March 3, 2014 I'd love to see some comparative images pitting the APO50 vs the ZM Planar 50/2, the Hexanon-M 50/2, the Elmar M 50/2.8 (yes, it is not f2) and the newly eclipsed Leica 50/2 Also, the 50 lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpk Posted March 3, 2014 Share #844 Posted March 3, 2014 SN 415xxxx here with heavy CVF initially. Silver rings blackened after back from Solms - need to carry out some tests... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 3, 2014 Share #845 Posted March 3, 2014 Has Sean Reid done an updated test? I was a subscriber to his blog but gave it up for a while as it became a bit repetitive and I hated the weird flaky scrolling format. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewilde Posted March 3, 2014 Share #846 Posted March 3, 2014 Impossible...all the 5 year olds already have jobs. That little kid drives that payloader like a BOSS! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 3, 2014 Share #847 Posted March 3, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes, this would be most helpful as a proof point for those who want to buy the lens, including myself. I'd love to see some comparative images pitting the APO50 vs the ZM Planar 50/2, the Hexanon-M 50/2, the Elmar M 50/2.8 (yes, it is not f2) and the newly eclipsed Leica 50/2 Test charts, brick walls as well as "real world" will be most welcome One of these comparisons on Loydd Chambers Guide to Leica subscription, comparing APO-Cron, Cron, Lux and Noctilux. I've not renewed my subscription and I can't6t remember how in-depth it was but I remember the APO is stand out, much "better". Enough to make me want one immediately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted March 3, 2014 Share #848 Posted March 3, 2014 One of these comparisons on Loydd Chambers Guide to Leica subscription, comparing APO-Cron, Cron, Lux and Noctilux. I've not renewed my subscription and I can't6t remember how in-depth it was but I remember the APO is stand out, much better. Enough to make me want one immediately. Thank you for the info, will subscribe and see what LC has to say about this. A second Noct 0.95 or the APO 50 cron ... ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewilde Posted March 3, 2014 Share #849 Posted March 3, 2014 I am still interested to know what the 50 APO owners feel they get from of its images, that they would not have got from one of its cheaper competitors, the older Summicron, the ASPH Summilux or even the 50ZM Planar. I would like to seem some crops of images taken with the 50 APO and one of its competitors pointing out the differences. Usually when Leica replaces a lens, it is a case of “oh don’t pictures taken with the old lens look quaint/soft/ancient etc.” However in this case, the competitors are so good even on the current M240, I wonder if the differences are like the stratospheric HiFi system going up to 100K Hz, for the benefit of any passing bat. I am not doubting that the lens can produce wonderful images, it is just that I have not seen any hard evidence to date but I am very willing to be convinced. In theory its apochromaticity should produce considerably sharper images but are they visible with the naked eye or even with pixel peeping? Wilson Hmmm.. I own all the 50mm lenses you mentioned and more. I couldn't/wouldn't post crops to compare as I feel that "what I get" from the lens isn't something you can show in crops. The lens originally when it wasn't CVF'n, just renders a scene the way I like. The colors the contrast, the bokeh, all fantastic. If it was just corner sharpness, I wouldn't have bought it. I have tons of good lenses, and I don't shoot landscapes... EVER. I could explain each and every lens, the way I feel about it, and the reason I like the 50APO better, but it would take to long, and I don't think anyone would read what I write. Let's just say this, I've had offers for more then I paid for the 50APO (and I paid more then you all, as where I live, Leica prices are the highest). I wouldn't sell the lens, as I'm holding out hope that one day I'll get it fixed so it's as contrasty and vibrant as my first sample, but with no flare (or at least no bad CVF). It's so far much better the the first time the lens came back.. But I think I can squeeze a bit more performance out of it, and I will in a year when Leica has gotten their sh*t together. HOWEVER, if I were only to buy one 50mm I think I'd need the 50 Summilux-asph as it's probably the most versatile (and frequently I find myself needing the shallow DOF and speed of that or the Noct). Images from it look much better at night tho, then from the Noctilux, and stopped down a few stops it's almost as fantastic for a walk around lens as the 50APO. Besides at 1.4, it has amazing character. <-- I hope this answers a question asked a page or two back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewilde Posted March 3, 2014 Share #850 Posted March 3, 2014 It had a tendency to veil flair and regular flair to an extraordinary extent, so I sent it in. I got it back a month ago and can still cause it to produce veiling flair, but perhaps only slightly more than other lenses. The tendency for regular flair seems to be greatly diminished, which was a bit of a problem before. I notice no downgrade in the rendering of the lens that is spectacular. It has no noticeable focus shift, flat field, and fabulous rendering. It's like my wife that is beautiful, well-mannered, passionate, and loyal. I don't want anything else. Scott Is she also expensive? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewilde Posted March 3, 2014 Share #851 Posted March 3, 2014 Yes, this would be most helpful as a proof point for those who want to buy the lens, including myself. I'd love to see some comparative images pitting the APO50 vs the ZM Planar 50/2, the Hexanon-M 50/2, the Elmar M 50/2.8 (yes, it is not f2) and the newly eclipsed Leica 50/2 Test charts, brick walls as well as "real world" will be most welcome I love the 50/2 ZM and I'd recommend it to anyone going for an M system. But I think the words that come to mind when I shoot with it are "old school look" and "messy" when compared to the 50APO. I MUCH MUCH prefer the 50 MPZE, always have. And the 50MPZE even screams "messy" at times.. But the 50APO is just sharp and smooth all at the same time. I really haven't used a better rendering lens (for the way I like images to look). The Noctilux is nice, but can be a bit of a one trick pony, and the 50 Lux is great, but has some technical issues which make it unreliable in certain cases. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 3, 2014 Share #852 Posted March 3, 2014 Thank you for the info, will subscribe and see what LC has to say about this. A second Noct 0.95 or the APO 50 cron ... ? I didn't renew my subscription with Loydd but his thoroughness and accuracy in testing makes some of it worthwhile. I will soon buy the APO to compliment my Noctilux as a small and ultra high IQ lens. It's the perfect complement in my book. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted March 3, 2014 Share #853 Posted March 3, 2014 If it was just corner sharpness, I wouldn't have bought it. I have tons of good lenses, and I don't shoot landscapes... EVER. -> does this mean you don't find the corner sharpness to be good? I could explain each and every lens, the way I feel about it, and the reason I like the 50APO better, but it would take to long, and I don't think anyone would read what I write. -> you've got one confirmed reader now. How many more confirmations till you're willing to write your thoughts down? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted March 3, 2014 Share #854 Posted March 3, 2014 I will soon buy the APO to compliment my Noctilux as a small and ultra high IQ lens. It's the perfect complement in my book. - This is precisely where I'm at now. I want to buy the APO 50 cron but I'm not willing to go through the pain of a "Solmser Alptraum" till the lens does what it should, for which I bought it. Do any of you APO 50 cron owners have both the M240 and the A7r? If yes, which sensor brings out the best from the lens? Assuming there are no issues of smearing/colored edges etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 3, 2014 Share #855 Posted March 3, 2014 - This is precisely where I'm at now. I want to buy the APO 50 cron but I'm not willing to go through the pain of a "Solmser Alptraum" till the lens does what it should, for which I bought it. Yeah, me too. I'm waiting till Leica confirms things are hunky-dory and manufacturing is back on, I'm assuming the move to Wetzlar will have something to do with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted March 3, 2014 Share #856 Posted March 3, 2014 Yeah, me too. I'm waiting till Leica confirms things are hunky-dory and manufacturing is back on, I'm assuming the move to Wetzlar will have something to do with that. Hmmmm just moving from one town to another won't fix the issues. What was the root cause? - Assuming it is/was an assembly problem and not in individual components, are they investing in upskilling their workforce? - Assuming it is/was an issue with components, do they source from a new supplier or even from the same supplier but with better compliance to specs? - Assuming it is/was an internal mechanical issue, did they fix their machines or buy/manufacture better ones? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 3, 2014 Share #857 Posted March 3, 2014 Hmmmm just moving from one town to another won't fix the issues. What was the root cause? - Assuming it is/was an assembly problem and not in individual components, are they investing in upskilling their workforce? - Assuming it is/was an issue with components, do they source from a new supplier or even from the same supplier but with better compliance to specs? - Assuming it is/was an internal mechanical issue, did they fix their machines or buy/manufacture better ones? No, obviously won't solve the issue by moving but it will bring about a new focus and I would imagine it is taking up most of the company resource at the moment with the wind-down and packup. The problem is supposedly with defective coatings. Either way, we'll see won't we. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted March 3, 2014 Share #858 Posted March 3, 2014 No, obviously won't solve the issue by moving but it will bring about a new focus and I would imagine it is taking up most of the company resource at the moment. The problem is supposedly with defective coatings. Didn't mean to be a smartass, I'm just irritated by Leica right now. Doesn't it annoy the c*** out of you sometimes when Leica just shut up and don't come clean about these issues? Their PR department probably never existed. Few companies exist to whom people want to give their money and wait for months/years to get the product in hand. All Leica have to do to make sure the money keeps pouring in, is to ensure faulty products don't roll out of the line!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 3, 2014 Share #859 Posted March 3, 2014 Didn't mean to be a smartass, I'm just irritated by Leica right now. Doesn't it annoy the c*** out of you sometimes when Leica just shut up and don't come clean about these issues? Their PR department probably never existed. Few companies exist to whom people want to give their money and wait for months/years to get the product in hand. All Leica have to do to make sure the money keeps pouring in, is to ensure faulty products don't roll out of the line!! It does bug me, yes. This whole APO saga, apogate, is baffling and a PR disaster. If you can actually get the product you want, it's anyones guess if it will actually work. Yet here I am, somehow, hoping to find out more about a lens that I really really want. One that is a £5K lucky dip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted March 3, 2014 Share #860 Posted March 3, 2014 It does bug me, yes. This whole APO saga, apogate, is baffling and a PR disaster. If you can actually get the product you want, it's anyones guess if it will actually work. Yet here I am, somehow, hoping to find out more about a lens that I really really want. One that is a £5K lucky dip. Yeah ... the "5K Leica Lottery" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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