Wayneshrine Posted August 16, 2013 Share #1 Posted August 16, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys, I own an M9 and a 28 cron and I absolutely love the images I am getting from this combo. However lately, I came across a 50 Pre-ASPH Lux on one of the websites for £1300 so I am very tempted to swap my Cron for the pre-asph lux to have a try particularly the focal length. (50 lux asph would be ideal but thats out of budget!) So, I have been searching around the forums and obviously cant find any direct comparison since they are not the same focal length to start with anyway. So I was wondering, how much sharper the Cron will be compared to the 50mm Pre-ASPH.( I am assuming it is sharper) Is it noticeable in daily photography?? If all I shoot is street and portraits normally viewed on iPad, MacbookPro and the max size I develop is around 5R. When I look back at photos that I deemed as 'keepers' when I was using Cron, most of them were taken at f2 or max f2.8. I feel as if that aperture gives me that magical image with perfect seperation but due to 28mm, Im always forced to take a more environmental approach. I am here to look for some advice and opinions and thank you all for your precious time. p.s. the online dealer is willing to make a direct swap for a 28Cron (very good cond) to a 50pre-asph lux (near mint). Is that an okay deal? how would you view the deal? Many thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 16, 2013 Posted August 16, 2013 Hi Wayneshrine, Take a look here 28mm Cron, 50 Pre-ASPH Lux. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest Marc G. Posted August 16, 2013 Share #2 Posted August 16, 2013 why not get a 50mm Elmar-M or a 50mm Zeiss Planar? Both very very sharp and half the cost of the pre asph Summilux. In my opinion you cannot compare both lenses. The 28 Summicron is a high performance lens as are many others. The pre-asph 50 Summilux suffers from the typical things that 50 1.4 designs suffer usually (the ASPH version being the exception): soft wide open and focus shift. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted August 16, 2013 Share #3 Posted August 16, 2013 how would you view the deal? ... I'd view such a "deal" as a very bad one, since it cheats the owner of the 28mm Summicron. If you look at second hand offers for both lens types you'll find the 28mm for twice as much as you pay for a pre-asph Summilux, perhaps a little less, but never for equivalent prices - only if the 28mm is in a very, very bad condition. Wether to choose a 50 or 28mm lens is no real choice. Different lenses for different photos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanthor Posted August 16, 2013 Share #4 Posted August 16, 2013 Well, definately DO NOT trade the lenses, the 28 cron is worth much more. And, since you absolutely love the images, don't ever let the 28 cron go, you will be very sorry. If money is an issue just get an inexpensive 50mm M-mount to get used to the focal length and see if it suits you. Besides what was already suggested I would add the voigtlander 50mm nokton 1.5 or a nice Canon LTM, both would take an adapter to use on the M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted August 16, 2013 Share #5 Posted August 16, 2013 Don't you ever do that! You will regret and stray ashes over your head. I still regret swapping my 28 Cron when I stepped over to an M9. The Summilux 50 pre-asph maybe a nice lens, that's personal, but it is in a total different league. You cannot compare these lenses at all. I follow Marc on an Elmar 50 which is a beauty! An example: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/menschen/296615-picknick-im-auvergne.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted August 16, 2013 Share #6 Posted August 16, 2013 Not a good swap, the 28 cron is a modern ASPH design and very well respected. The 50 Lux can be a very nice lens with a "look" that some people really like, however which 50 Lux ?? There are 4 versions, the first dates back to late 1950's and does not have the same performance as the later versions that are optically pretty much the same. The second version is also chrome and dates from about the early 1960's but looks exactly like the first version, you have to verify via the serial numbers. The third version is black and is supposed to be the same optically as the second version, it was current to the mid 1990's. The fourth version came in either black or chrome with a built in hood and 46mm filter thread (all previous versions were 43MM thread). It also focused closer. Versions 2 thru 4 are supposedly the same optically, however lens coating did change over time with possible changes in performance. Hope this helps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayneshrine Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted August 16, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you guys, I will have a look at the Elmar. To answer one of the questions its the latest Pre-ASPH 50 with pull out hood. Many thanks for all the responses! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted August 17, 2013 Share #8 Posted August 17, 2013 Yes, the pull out lens hood is the last pre-ASPH Lux version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted August 17, 2013 Share #9 Posted August 17, 2013 The horror trade! 28 and 50 are completely different focal lengths. If you need a 50, by all means buy one. But if you sell your 28, you will most certainly regret it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted August 17, 2013 Share #10 Posted August 17, 2013 And while you're at it, you might want to take a look at 90mm options too. Once you've shot the 50 for a while, the gravity pull of the 28-50-90 setup will become stronger and stronger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted August 17, 2013 Share #11 Posted August 17, 2013 There are 4 versions, the first dates back to late 1950's and does not have the same performance as the later versions that are optically pretty much the same. I don't think this is right. The latest version from 2003 is completely different. Designed by Karbe it has 8 elements in 5 groups unlike the earlier models and uses both aspherical elements as well as floating elements. It is not the same optically. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted August 17, 2013 Share #12 Posted August 17, 2013 4*5B&W meant 4 pre-asph versions, that's how I understood it at least Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted August 17, 2013 Share #13 Posted August 17, 2013 Sell a 28 Summicron One would ever sell the 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH to feed ones starving children. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 17, 2013 Share #14 Posted August 17, 2013 4*5B&W meant 4 pre-asph versions, that's how I understood it at least Yes, he clearly refers to pre asph versions, indeed quite identical in optical design, apart the (rare) first version which was a "stretched" Summarit 1,5 (there are even Summarit marked 1,4 - very rare prototypes of Summilux) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted August 17, 2013 Share #15 Posted August 17, 2013 Yes, he clearly refers to pre asph versions, indeed quite identical in optical design, apart the (rare) first version which was a "stretched" Summarit 1,5 (there are even Summarit marked 1,4 - very rare prototypes of Summilux) Correct Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
menos I M6 Posted August 19, 2013 Share #16 Posted August 19, 2013 Do not sell or trade that 28/2 ASPH, as you love the images from it. If you are on a budget and simply want a second focal lengths, try out this: Try out a 50/2 Summicron - several vintages are available, I find a 50/2 v4 is a fantastic lens to pair with the 28 Summicron - compact, light weight, focusses down to 0.7m, comes with a focus tab as well and is plenty sharp from wide open all the way stopped down. The good thing, you might find one in nice condition for just a little bit more than half of your quote for the Summilux. Also nice is the tiny 50/2.5 Summarit, but it focusses only to 1m as a trade for it's small size and is not much less costly than a second hand Summicron (which might be the only reason, why it is often overlooked). And last, there are basically endless options in vintage, fast 50mm lenses, a few of which might be interesting to pair with a 28 Summicron. A secret tip, pairing nicely with a 28 Summicron might be an odd one: 43 f1.9 Pentax Limited in LTM mount - this is a curious little lens, which I love for it's extremely crisp, sharp detail right from wide open on, yet more classic background rendering (where the 28 Summicron excels as well). It is a bit of a secret tip, as in the Leica community, it's a rather unknown lens (the only lens Pentax ever made in Leica thread mount (L39). It is a limited edition lens, made in either black or silver finish. Pentax 43/1.9 LTM: portrait - happy couple by teknopunk.com, on Flickr portrait - woman with cap by teknopunk.com, on Flickr The Pentax costs maybe a little less than a comparable 50 Summicron v4 or 5 and would maybe even have enough oddity, to live side by side a 50 Summilux, once you decide to get one at a later point. Major point: Don't sell your 28 Summicron! I have done so and bought one again - twice! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted August 19, 2013 Share #17 Posted August 19, 2013 I have the 28mm Cron ASPH and the 50mm Lux version 2 from the 70s. They are my main two lenses. The 50 Lux was no slouch. I mean, it was essentially the same lens design for more than 20 years for a reason. Sharpness is pretty comparable, but the newer Cron has a little more contrast. I paid $2000 US for the Cron used (but without boxes) and I paid $1500 US for the Lux, so I'm going to back everyone else up in saying, don't do a straight up trade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted August 20, 2013 Share #18 Posted August 20, 2013 I came across a 50 Pre-ASPH Lux on one of the websites for £1300 so I am very tempted to swap my Cron for the pre-asph lux to have a try particularly the focal length. (50 lux asph would be ideal but thats out of budget!) The 50 is MY favorite focal length. And just yesterday, I sold my 50 ASPH for a 50 pre-ASPH. I really like the older lens rendering much better, and at F2, it renders just like the modern lenses. Like having 2 lenses in 1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg2mst Posted August 27, 2013 Share #19 Posted August 27, 2013 If you have not yet decided on the summilux or the elmar-m, I would suggest you consider the summicron 50/2 as well. Optically it is clearly superior to both of them and there are so many of these things that they sell for only a little more than the elmar-m - that is unless you are interested in 1950s glass which is considerably cheaper... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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