The answer to whether it is better between the Summilux FLE and Summicron Asph 35

[lct]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

...(summary description deleted)

But approved wholeheartedly. As for your nice pic a mere -5% red lightness should suffice to discourage some negative behaviors here.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[brusby]

But approved wholeheartedly. As for your nice pic a mere -5% red lightness should suffice to discourage some negative behaviors here.

 

Thanks Simon (Tri) and lct for the kind words. Very much appreciated!

 

And lct, interesting that you mentioned the reduction in red, as that photo was shot about a year ago, shortly after getting the M9 and before I learned of the remedy for it's over saturation of reds. Good call and I'll certainly revisit that photo when/if I get the time.

[mirekti]

I don't mind the bokeh being harsh, but I find halo(I guess this is called halo) effect quite disturbing. I went through many of my photos, and checked thos that had high contrast in the backgound and those that didn't, and I couldn't find the realtion between the effect and the background scene. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn't. It's the white line that bothers me a lot.

 

All in all, this happens very rearly in my case so I don't mind it so much, and the lens is a keeper for me.

 

Here is a sample what I wrote about, and one where the bokeh is acceptable.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Dougg]

I don't mind the bokeh being harsh, but I find halo(I guess this is called halo) effect quite disturbing. I went through many of my photos, and checked thos that had high contrast in the backgound and those that didn't, and I couldn't find the realtion between the effect and the background scene. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn't. It's the white line that bothers me a lot.

 

All in all, this happens very rearly in my case so I don't mind it so much, and the lens is a keeper for me.

 

Here is a sample what I wrote about, and one where the bokeh is acceptable.

Could that be a sharpening effect?

[mirekti]

Could that be a sharpening effect?

 

The sharpening was set to Lightroom's default 25. Even when I reduced the sharpening to 0 it remained the same.

 

This is actually a well known phenomena for 35FLE.

You can see it here http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/302989-asph-trait.html , and here http://johnbuckley100.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dangling-man-1-of-1.jpg (look at the kids above).

 

However, when this doesn't occur, which was mostly the case in my photos, I love what it delivers.

[algrove]

I must say the FLE is superb on the MM.

 

My pre-ASPH #11870 will soon see some portrait work as four female generations get together soon. I will start with the MM and then continue with it using the M240. Or should I use the 35/2 ASPH or even the 35/2 #11310?

 

Any suggestions welcome here as I have one chance at this reunion. Thanks.

[mirekti]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Any suggestions welcome here as I have one chance at this reunion. Thanks.

 

Well, maybe I'm not experienced enought to give advices, but here is something I found out of the photos I had taken.

If you stop the lens to f/2 or f/2.8, and keep your distance relatively close, you will still achieve reasonable thin DoF, but what you gain is in the trasition and contrasty OOF area that would be smoothier(overall OOF will be less creamy of course). For me, OOF becomes a bit more pleasant than @f/1.4, and the separation is still there.

This brought me to a conclustion that the inital goal for this lens might have been to performe well in low light, and OOF area was not it's prirority. If I look at this lens from that standpoint, it perfectly makes sense for me.

BTW I shot this on purpose with the Sun in the background going throught the branches, and couldn't get any double lines, just the UV/IR cut filter reflection. So it might end up being good at 1.4 too. This FLE is very weird

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[algrove]

Are you suggesting the FLE then?

[mirekti]

Are you suggesting the FLE then?

 

I only have an FLE, so my tips were in case you decided to use FLE.

[MarkP]

I must say the FLE is superb on the MM.

 

My pre-ASPH #11870 will soon see some portrait work as four female generations get together soon. I will start with the MM and then continue with it using the M240. Or should I use the 35/2 ASPH or even the 35/2 #11310?

 

Any suggestions welcome here as I have one chance at this reunion. Thanks.

 

I'd use any one of them except the 35 Summilux FLE.

 

Why not take a few steps back and use one of your sublime 50mm lenses?

Problem solved!

 

 

ps. just saw your comment on the 75 Summilux thread.

So fulfil your new year's resolution, take a few more steps back, and use the 'God Lens' .

[erl]

A cautionary tale about "taking a few steps back".

I did that once and ended up taking a swim in a pool, complete with dinner suit and camera! The camera survived.

[algrove]

I'd use any one of them except the 35 Summilux FLE.

 

Why not take a few steps back and use one of your sublime 50mm lenses?

Problem solved!

 

 

ps. just saw your comment on the 75 Summilux thread.

So fulfil your new year's resolution, take a few more steps back, and use the 'God Lens' .

 

I am taking about 8-10 lenses as I am not sure what will be the one of choice. Since there are 4 females and knowing the environment I am thinking the 35FL will be about best. Agree with your 50 comment. If I end up also shooting singles I have the 75/1.4 and 80/1.4 packed for comparison purposes only. I know they are supposed to be the same "cell", but there must be some subtle differences.

[rramesh]

Started my Leica journey with a 35 Cron.

 

Wanted a 1.4, tried both the 35 Lux and 50 Lux and decided on the latter.

 

Over time replaced the 35 Cron with a 28 Cron.

 

And that gave me my favorite pair.

 

I am happy.

[mirekti]

Over time replaced the 35 Cron with a 28 Cron.

 

And that gave me my favorite pair.

 

I am happy.

 

Getting a bit off topic, but my problem is I fell in love with a 75 Cron, and 28 could be too far for me. If possible I'd take a non existing 40mm lux, and wrap it with a 24mm.

 

...when I read all this, I believe we only point out the bad things about this lens. It's actually a great performer.

[MarkP]

Started my Leica journey with a 35 Cron.

 

Wanted a 1.4, tried both the 35 Lux and 50 Lux and decided on the latter.

 

Over time replaced the 35 Cron with a 28 Cron.

 

And that gave me my favorite pair.

 

I am happy.

 

A man who is easily pleased

[zlatkob]

Ouch! You really consider these cartoonesque inflammatory skin tones natural?

 

Of course, it's not the lens to blame.

 

A very nice portrait. And those skin tones are just fine. Look at the color of the walls in that room. Surely the walls give a color cast to the light in the room. This is evident on the white (?) clothing which is rendered in a mix of cyan and red. Moreover, we don't know the color of the walls/light coming from behind the camera. This makes it hard to make an objective judgement of the tones. Skin tones are not constant, but rather change with the color of the light. If the lens & camera render the tones that were there to be seen then they are in fact natural in that particular scene.

 

Could that be a sharpening effect?

 

The clarity slider may also contribute to this effect, or diminish it.

 

If you stop the lens to f/2 or f/2.8, and keep your distance relatively close, you will still achieve reasonable thin DoF, but what you gain is in the trasition and contrasty OOF area that would be smoothier(overall OOF will be less creamy of course). For me, OOF becomes a bit more pleasant than @f/1.4, and the separation is still there.

 

This is true of other lenses too. The smoothness of some contrasty OOF details improves when a lens is stopped down a bit, even as the depth of field increases. A lens can seem a little more "nervous" at f/1.4 than at f/2 or f/2.8.

[lct]

A very nice portrait. And those skin tones are just fine.

Ouch then.

...The smoothness of some contrasty OOF details improves when a lens is stopped down a bit, even as the depth of field increases. A lens can seem a little more "nervous" at f/1.4 than at f/2 or f/2.8.

Do you have an example in mind? As far as "modern" Leica lenses are concerned, i would have said pretty well the contrary. I think of lenses like 35/2 asph, 35/1.4 asph FLE or 50/1.4 asph whose bokeh is smoother at full aperture than at f/2 or f/2.8.

[CheshireCat]

For those reading this thread because they are in the market for a 35mm, I would like to point out that the CV 35/1.2 and Zeiss Biogon 35/2 are cheaper options to the lenses in the subject and should be considered before purchase.

 

The CV 35/1.2 has a much smoother bokeh than the FLE, although my v1 may show onion rings on very bright point speculars due to the multiple ground asphericals (seems that this is less of a problem with v2, but I have not verified personally). It also has a dreamy look and feel at f/1.2 (a bit Noctilux-1-ish) which I really love and cannot achieve with the more clinical FLE. The FLE on the other hand has an amazing color purity and rendering clarity I have not seen in any other 35mm prime. Simply outstanding. Size also favors the FLE.

 

The Biogon 35/2 is also an interesting alternative, although a bit soft wide open compared to the CV and FLE. Bokeh can be weird as it seems to turn bright point speculars into "colored soap bubbles" in the image; this is part of its character and sometimes creates an interesting look, but can be distracting. The Biogon also has a very low distortion, which makes it great for architecture and city walk-around.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[IWC Doppel]

I did have a bit of a 35mm journey a year or two ago, it's only the Summarit or mk1,2 and 3 Summicron I haven't owned or used extensively. The 35 FLE and the 35 Cron are not top of my list for different reasons, its a personal thing as well.

[CheshireCat]

Ouch then.

Do you have an example in mind? As far as "modern" Leica lenses are concerned, i would have said pretty well the contrary. I think of lenses like 35/2 asph, 35/1.4 asph FLE or 50/1.4 asph whose bokeh is smoother at full aperture than at f/2 or f/2.8.

 

Assuming we are talking of background OOF, the Zeiss Biogon ZM 2/35 is an example.

Stopping down, the "bubbles" or "rings" are turned into more homogeneous circles.

It really depends on lens design. There is a very interesting explanation here (skip to "The Nature of Blurriness" chapter if you are in a hurry):

 

http://www.zeiss.com/c12567a8003b8b6f/embedtitelintern/cln_35_bokeh_en/$file/cln35_bokeh_en.pdf