The Dilemma of 50s: 50'lux or 50'APO-cron

[Guest odeon]

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Hi there,

 

I have a 50'lux. It's a good lens. It offers extraordinary sharpness, bokeh and contrast. Simply, i like it.

But, i'm dreaming 50'APO-cron. It seems better on corner sharpness and CA control.

I think, many people live this dilemma such as me.

 

What do you think? Should i sell it, or keep it?

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[wda]

With the qualifications you have given, KEEP IT!.

[Ecar]

Easy: buy the APO, test them side-by-side, sell the lens you like the least.

[Guest borge]

I just had the same dilemma. I've owned a 50 Lux ASPH for the last year. I sold it. I sort of regretted it, and wanted to re-purchase one. But I also was curious about the the APO Cron. It is a very nice lens, but the weight and size is almost similar to the Summilux. The sharpness is great. What you see is what you get. A very transparent lens with no particular character at all, even when shot wide open.

 

My conclusions is that the APO Cron is a technical master piece without a personality. I quickly missed a whole lot of the Summilux'es character when shot wide open. That small piece of magic that I have no idea what to name.

 

I then tried a Noctilux 0.95 ASPH and I was sold. It's basically a Summilux ASPH on steroids. Oomphs of personality, and extremely versatile. Stopped down to f/4-8 you basically can't tell a difference between these lenses in regards to sharpness anyhow, unless you really love microscopes and pixel peeping, and print huge.

 

I settled for the Noctilux and don't regret it one bit. Big, yes. Heavy, yes. And also the most versatile lens I've ever owned.

 

If my decision was between the Summilux ASPH and APO Cron I would have gotten the Summilux. Simply because that lens has personality, while I find that the APO Cron doesn't.

 

Be aware that many (most) of the current APO cron's shipped with a defect from the factory, so they need to be returned to Leica to be rebuilt. I would strongly advise you to check that the lens has been rebuilt by Leica before you purchase it. Otherwise you basically have to send it back to Leica for service for probably 3-6 weeks just as you swiped your card.

[algrove]

I echo many of borge's comments on considering three 50's at least and that's not getting into Mandler designs . If you shoot with the Monochrome (you did not mention the camera you use) then the older f1 Noctilux is terrific with lots of character and a price less than the APO50.

 

I get lots of character and depth from my APO50 images and I like its small size and 39mm filters. To me it does have personality. Of course it has weight with all that exotic glass inside.

[Guest odeon]

Thank you for the answers.

 

I read every lens review when i decided to buy a 50mm lens. Noctilux offers superior bokeh and incredible wide aperture. Summicron (not ASPH) has razor-sharpness. And it's a bit slow lens. Summilux is well-balanced. Summilux has great sharpness (worse than 50'cron), amazing bokeh and enough wide. I bought a 50'lux.

 

Now the new Summicron, 50'APO-cron is available. It's an attractive lens. But, I'm happy with 50'lux. I read borge's reply. I pondered it. I will keep the 50'lux.

I think, 50'APO-cron doesn't offer more than 50'lux. The price tag (and the price gap) is too far to the real worth.

 

 

@Ecar

I don't try it. Because second hand options of Leica products is terrible in my country. If i want to sell the 50'APO-cron, i price it around 5k USD.

[algrove]

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I think, 50'APO-cron doesn't offer more than 50'lux. .

 

Don't be so sure based on internet BS. In the real world there IS more offered by the APO50. The camera makes a difference too. Try the MM. Try the M. Both give me more of a 3D feel to the APO50 files than any of the other ten 50's I own.

[erlingmm]

The 50 'lux is my most and longest appreciated M lens. I once sold it and bought the Noctilux, but couldn't live without it, and bought a new one. I later sold the Noctilux. It was fascinating for a while, but heavy, and I found I rarely used it on 0,95, and then the 'lux is a better option.

Taste is different, but if I would have only one M lens, it would be the 50'lux.

[Paul J]

I own a Noctilux and will buy the APO-Summicron, at some point, because I think it complements it really well and brings something else to the table.

[horosu]

Don't be so sure based on internet BS. In the real world there IS more offered by the APO50. The camera makes a difference too. Try the MM. Try the M. Both give me more of a 3D feel to the APO50 files than any of the other ten 50's I own.

 

It depends if you're after getting shots (the Summilux offers you one more stop) or getting maximum sharpness (the APO may offer slightly more).

 

For me, as a people & street shooter the Summilux is just the better solution, but I will confide to you and say that I have been very impressed by the build qualitiy of the APO. Its size& handling is perfect.

[johnbuckley]

I don't know... I think Borge has done a wonderful job of summarizing the strengths of all three lenses. I admit to owning all three. I wouldn't sell any of them.

 

The Noctilux is the Noctilux. No more need be said.

 

The APO-Summicron-Asph is technically perfect, and may be the greatest landscape lens ever. It has plenty of personality, but using it, compared to the Summilux, is a little like that first time you played a CD, instead of a vinyl record. At first all you notice is the absence of the flaws. Later you remember that it is lacking in warmth.

 

The Summilux is a special lens. And if I really did have to sell two, and could keep only one, after a year with the APO, I'd say the Summilux is the one I'd keep. I find it hard to believe that's the way I feel, but it is.

[MarkP]

Thanks all. This has reinforced to me that I'm keeping the 50 Summilux ASPH and my old 1.0/50 Noctilux. I had always planed on passing on the 0.95 Noctilux and now I think I'm comfortable also passing on the 50 APO-Summicron.

[billo101]

I echo many of borge's comments on considering three 50's at least and that's not getting into Mandler designs . If you shoot with the Monochrome (you did not mention the camera you use) then the older f1 Noctilux is terrific with lots of character and a price less than the APO50.

 

I get lots of character and depth from my APO50 images and I like its small size and 39mm filters. To me it does have personality. Of course it has weight with all that exotic glass inside.

 

On Monochrom, APO50 is the best 50s?

 

Thank you in advance.

[Guest borge]

On Monochrom, APO50 is the best 50s?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

There is no "best". The APO is the technically best, the Noctilux is the best if you like playing with depth of field, character and shoot during very low light, and the Summilux is a compromise in-between the APO Cron and Noctilux that offers some of both.

 

Not everyone drinks the same tea.

[earleygallery]

Thank you for the answers.

 

I read every lens review when i decided to buy a 50mm lens. Noctilux offers superior bokeh and incredible wide aperture. Summicron (not ASPH) has razor-sharpness. And it's a bit slow lens.Summilux is well-balanced. Summilux has great sharpness (worse than 50'cron), amazing bokeh and enough wide. I bought a 50'lux.

 

Now the new Summicron, 50'APO-cron is available. It's an attractive lens. But, I'm happy with 50'lux. I read borge's reply. I pondered it. I will keep the 50'lux.

I think, 50'APO-cron doesn't offer more than 50'lux. The price tag (and the price gap) is too far to the real worth.

 

 

@Ecar

I don't try it. Because second hand options of Leica products is terrible in my country. If i want to sell the 50'APO-cron, i price it around 5k USD.

 

If you think the normal Summicron is too slow why are you considering the APO?

[Guest odeon]

If you think the normal Summicron is too slow why are you considering the APO?

 

Because 50'APO-con is technically perfect.

I often use my 50'lux around f/5.6. 50'APO-cron has more clear results at same wide. I rarely use the wide open, but it's life-saving. It's around quarter of my usage.

[Guest odeon]

By the way i must share that review:

More Tests of the Apo-Summicron-M 2.0/50mm Asph. | Wild Places

 

The conclusion in my mind:

 

Advantages of 50'APO-cron:

- Corner sharpness, corner to corner sharpness

- Less CA

- More resolution in detail

 

Advantages of 50'lux:

- More contrast, more character

- Less money, save the half of money

- Extra one-stop (better at night)

[Guest borge]

Because 50'APO-con is technically perfect.

I often use my 50'lux around f/5.6. 50'APO-cron has more clear results at same wide. I rarely use the wide open, but it's life-saving. It's around quarter of my usage.

 

The biggest difference between the APO cron and the Summilux is at f/2 and apertures below f/4. At f/5.6-f/8 there isn't that much difference in sharpness and resolution...

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[MarkP]

If you shoot with the Monochrome (you did not mention the camera you use) then the older f1 Noctilux is terrific with lots of character and a price less than the APO50.

 

Agreed. The 1.0/50 Noctilux is fantastic on the Monochrom. Very 'filmic' (pardon the neologism )

[algrove]

On Monochrom, APO50 is the best 50s?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

The APO50 is the best when I want that look, but the f1 Nocti is the best when I want its look.

 

APO50 f2.0, 0.9 ND filter

 

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Forgot to mention with the ability to change to a bit higher ISO (such as 1-2 stops) I often feel that it renders faster lenses less beneficial than in the not too distant past.