50 Cron or Lux for Newbie?

[Mike Lavigne]

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I got the Leica bug recently, jumped into the deep end, and need to make a decision. a couple weeks ago picked up an M type 240 (my first Leica) and after much consideration also picked up a 35 FLE as a good lens to start with. so far i'm happy with that choice and my Leica direction.

 

I decided I need a 50mm of some sort so purchased a new 50mm f2 Summicron 11826 as a good smaller carry lens. I've been playing around with it tonight and really like it's easy handling and size......but.....I'm having second thoughts about the 50mm f:1.4 Summilux ASPH as maybe being a more interesting and special lens.....that will take me to a different place than the 35 FLE.

 

so that is the question; that maybe the character of the 35 FLE is much like the 50 Cron, and that the 50 Lux ASPH will give me an alternative approach to choose?

 

truth verses sexy I suppose.

 

part of my attraction to the 50 Cron was its size, but after comparing it to the 35 FLE (which is close to the same size as the 50 Lux ASPH), that issue seems less a concern to me than the artistic considerations.

 

I need to either keep this 50 Cron or return it for credit toward the 50 Lux ASPH.

 

comments?

 

my intentions are to try and do as much 'street shooting' as possible and do love the bokeh of the 50 Lux ASPH. that looks like something I want to pursue.

 

at this point i'm an innocent, so if I've stepped in it please be gentle.

 

thanks.

 

btw; I've been lurking here for awhile and do appreciate the Leica community and the helpfulness I see.

[rirakuma]

Theres not much difference between the size of the two. The lux is a masterpiece and it will scream in character and its technical perfection. The cron is great as well but I believe it tends to give a more classic rendering. The bokeh is technically better with the lux and depending on your shooting style or preference, the cron may be worth the savings. I was also in your shoes not long ago owning a 35 lux and wanting to add a 50 and I ended up choosing the cron. Best of luck

[Mike Lavigne]

Theres not much difference between the size of the two. The lux is a masterpiece and it will scream in character and its technical perfection. The cron is great as well but I believe it tends to give a more classic rendering. The bokeh is technically better with the lux and depending on your shooting style or preference, the cron may be worth the savings. I was also in your shoes not long ago owning a 35 lux and wanting to add a 50 and I ended up choosing the cron. Best of luck

 

"it will scream character and its technical perfection" hits home with me and what I 'think' I want at this point. I realize I don't know what I don't know but we all have to start someplace.

 

thank you for your helpful comments; especially since you traveled down the same path.

[Dikaiosune01]

Or from a more pratical standpoint...

 

Do you need to shoot at F/1.4? If yes, you gotta save for the summilux.

If you can get by without shooting F/1.4, stick with the summicron.

[Mike Lavigne]

Or from a more pratical standpoint...

 

Do you need to shoot at F/1.4? If yes, you gotta save for the summilux.

If you can get by without shooting F/1.4, stick with the summicron.

 

thanks.

 

i'm looking forward to medium to low light hand held shooting a good part of the time. the combo of the M, high ISO, and the 1.4 will give me the best opportunity other than the 0.95 Noct (which is not in the budget "yet"). the 35 FLE also offers that low light 1.4, but not the bokeh and character of the 50 Lux (as I understand things). those attributes seem to be becoming more significant to me as I move forward in my thinking.....anticipating what i'm going to be trying to capture.

 

and since it seems like the 50 Summicron has more in common with the character of the 35 Lux, i'll have more bases covered by switching to the 50 Lux for now.

 

maybe i'm getting ahead of myself and over thinking this. which is why i'm asking for this advice. I can see there is not a bad choice involved....just a choice.

[RobertJRB]

For what I know the 50cron isn't more close in rendering to the 35lux than the 50 lux is. I would say the 50 lux is more close.

 

I have the 50 cron myself. It has his own rendering I found to be pretty close to the 28 cron. Or at least both fitting right together.

The cron's bokeh can be a little hard sometimes, where the 50lux is known for its smooth bokeh. The cron has a little bit of classicness were the lux is more modern.

Both are pretty sharp wide open. I have no problem at all using the cron at f2.

 

I quite like the cron were the lux wasn't really getting me exited. So thats why I picked the cron. But its very personal

 

I would suggest you to try both lenses before deciding.

Else a good look at examples on flickr might make it clear to you. There is a cron and a lux pool there.

[harvey999999]

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I bought a 50 summicron with my M9. Then I was influenced by all the reviews of the 50 Lux so I spent a fortune buying one. But I find I am using the 50 cron far more than the 50 lux, mostly because it is a smaller and more discrete lens and the difference in image quality is negligible. If I had my time again I would have got a 28 sum micron instead of the 50 lux, thereby giving me a 28 and 50 combination.

[rirakuma]

The character is something you should seriously consider. I don't believe I would use the one stop advantage of the summilux very often. This is a personal belief and I'm sure there will be many to disagree but I think that the 50 lux renders things so perfectly it makes it easier to "think" you have a great image. Its naturally pleasing to the eye and the lens does a lot of work but from a third party point of view you may have just taken a sub par image with beautiful qualities. What I'm trying to say is that I feel that the cron may make you work harder to get a better image (but you will feel more assured when you get it), this is one of the reason why I didn't really bond with my noctilux. It screams character and yes its beautiful but its also harder to pick out good images as they all seem somewhat interesting from the rendering. This is just a personal opinion though.

[leica lux]

The 35 FLE is such a all-rounder lense I don't need the same for the 50mm focal length..

So I decided for the pre-ASPH (v3) Summilux because of the lense character.

Love it!

[01af]

... but ... I'm having second thoughts about the Summilux-M 50 mm 1:1.4 Asph as maybe being a more interesting and special lens ... that will take me to a different place than the 35 FLE. So that is the question; that maybe the character of the 35 FLE is much like the Summicron 50, and that the Summilux 50 Asph will give me an alternative approach to choose?

I'd say this is a typical case of the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. You're over-estimating the differences between the current Summicron and Summilux 50 mm lenses. The 50/1.4 would not give you "an alternative approach"—just another f-stop of lens speed. Uh, and a little less veiling flare in backlight situations. In terms of character, the 50/1.4 is very similar to the 35/1.4. In terms of physical size, the 50/1.4 with the built-in hood retracted is about the same length as the 35/1.4 with the screw-on hood in place, and both share the same E46 filter size.

 

When you're happy with your 50/2 then you will be as happy with a 50/1.4 but not significantly happier ... except maybe in low light when you need the extra f-stop.

[Mike Lavigne]

I bought a 50 summicron with my M9. Then I was influenced by all the reviews of the 50 Lux so I spent a fortune buying one. But I find I am using the 50 cron far more than the 50 lux, mostly because it is a smaller and more discrete lens and the difference in image quality is negligible. If I had my time again I would have got a 28 sum micron instead of the 50 lux, thereby giving me a 28 and 50 combination.

 

very helpful.

 

the issue of 'more discrete lens' is important and may push me to get out and shoot more. which was the reason I got into Leica to begin with. balanced by possibly a more special potential look of the 50 Lux.

[wda]

Why don't you consider twinning a 75mm lens with your 35? It would make for a more versatile two-lens outfit.

[Peter H]

I shouldn't worry too much about the 50 Summilux not being discrete compared with a Summicron. The difference is tiny and I'd wager imperceptible to anyone who isn't already taking a very keen interest in what you're doing with your camera!

[Mike Lavigne]

The character is something you should seriously consider. I don't believe I would use the one stop advantage of the summilux very often. This is a personal belief and I'm sure there will be many to disagree but I think that the 50 lux renders things so perfectly it makes it easier to "think" you have a great image. Its naturally pleasing to the eye and the lens does a lot of work but from a third party point of view you may have just taken a sub par image with beautiful qualities. What I'm trying to say is that I feel that the cron may make you work harder to get a better image (but you will feel more assured when you get it), this is one of the reason why I didn't really bond with my noctilux. It screams character and yes its beautiful but its also harder to pick out good images as they all seem somewhat interesting from the rendering. This is just a personal opinion though.

 

I get your meaning but will need to chew on it awhile. kinda deep. a better image from the lens being less satisfying than finding the gems with lesser tools that is. am I ready for that level of approach?

 

thanks for making me think about this. I suppose I have to discover this for myself. as I recall my 70's Nikkormat NT experience (the memory of which pushed me to Leica from Nikon to bring back the simple fun of taking pictures.....I've never warmed up to the modern Japanese camera with all the complications) I did enjoy finding the shot and the satisfaction of creating.

[Mike Lavigne]

I'd say this is a typical case of the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. You're over-estimating the differences between the current Summicron and Summilux 50 mm lenses. The 50/1.4 would not give you "an alternative approach"—just another f-stop of lens speed. Uh, and a little less veiling flare in backlight situations. In terms of character, the 50/1.4 is very similar to the 35/1.4. In terms of physical size, the 50/1.4 with the built-in hood retracted is about the same length as the 35/1.4 with the screw-on hood in place, and both share the same E46 filter size.

 

When you're happy with your 50/2 then you will be as happy with a 50/1.4 but not significantly happier ... except maybe in low light when you need the extra f-stop.

 

thanks.

 

I go back and forth from thinking i'm over thinking this to trying to make the best short term decision. the new 50/2.0 is sitting here and within a week I need to keep it or trade it.

 

long term i'll probably own a couple 50mm lenses so no huge deal.

[Peter H]

Mike, I also think Rirakuna makes a very interesting point.

 

I however find the Summilux far more versatile than either the Noctilux or the Summicron. It feels like the perfect combination of the virtues of each, without the weaknesses (if they are indeed weaknesses!).

[Mike Lavigne]

Why don't you consider twinning a 75mm lens with your 35? It would make for a more versatile two-lens outfit.

 

my short term plan is a 35 and 50. enjoy them and learn. see where that takes me.

 

then the mid term plan is adding a 21 and a 90.

 

then go from there.

 

but I can see that a 35 and 70 would be an equally valid approach......and will mull it over.

 

thanks.

[Mike Lavigne]

I shouldn't worry too much about the 50 Summilux not being discrete compared with a Summicron. The difference is tiny and I'd wager imperceptible to anyone who isn't already taking a very keen interest in what you're doing with your camera!

 

which is what I realized comparing the 35 FLE side by side to the 50 Summicron, when you remove the lens hood they are about the exact same size, although the FLE is heavier. and the 50 Lux is quite the same size as the 35 FLE.

 

so even though the 50 Cron seems smaller; practically speaking not really. not enough to be a decisive advantage.

 

leaning toward the Lux but not all the way.....

[Peter H]

……..

leaning toward the Lux but not all the way.....

 

You may as well yield now. You know you will eventually...

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Mike Lavigne]

You may as well yield now. You know you will eventually...

 

now that the Leica bug has bit, resistance does seem to be futile.

 

i'm eyeing my other toys to see what I can sell to keep the wife at bay. trying to avoid the 0.95 Noct which I've also been lusting after. but it's so big and heavy i'm afraid I would not use it enough for it make sense. not that some don't use it frequently......and i'm not trying to hijack my own thread. only that your 'will eventually' comment really hits home.

 

my other hobby is very serious high end 2 channel audio. and i'm selling off some of that gear i'm not using to fund the Leica direction.