colonel Posted February 4, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted February 4, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Looking at which Leica 50mm to buy to pair with a M 240. Â For Use as landscape & tight view travel and portrait lens. Â Good sharpness and micro-contrast (however we personally define that) are important but I do like subject isolation as well. Â On examining many pictures it seems that sharpness of both lenses seems comparable. Subject isolation looks very good. The Summilux obviously has an extra level of blur available but the Summicron seems excellent as well and of course an extra full stop of light which was essential with the M9 but merely (IMHO) very useful for the M240. Â On balance, and taking into account cost, it seems that the Summicron will be a very good option. Â Would appreciate personal views from people with both (or have used both), particularly on things like draw, 3D, pop and all those other things no one can really define but have a personal preference on Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 4, 2014 Posted February 4, 2014 Hi colonel, Take a look here Sacrilegious to choose 50mm Summicron over Summilux ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted February 4, 2014 Share #2  Posted February 4, 2014 I think you are asking in the wrong place – in the LUF you will get too many opinions clouded by post purchase justification for the more expensive lens (except from those who exchanged the F1.4 that they previously "needed" for the F2 of the now sexier 50 APO). You really are better off taking the short trip to Bruton Place (I think you are London based) and making the comparisons for yourself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share #3  Posted February 4, 2014 I think you are asking in the wrong place – in the LUF you will get too many opinions clouded by post purchase justification for the more expensive lens (except from those who exchanged the F1.4 that they previously "needed" for the F2 of the now sexier 50 APO). You really are better off taking the short trip to Bruton Place (I think you are London based) and making the comparisons for yourself.  True, but also many people have both  Whats your view ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 4, 2014 Share #4  Posted February 4, 2014 Whats your view ?  Good question that is hard for me to answer because, although, I've owned both lenses, I sold the Summicron prior to buying an M8. I did, however, use it for a while on an RD-1 and its performance was exemplary (as it was on my film bodies). I think if I was buying a 50mm now I'd be looking for a used tabbed Summicron. As good as the Summilux is (and many of my favourite photographs have been taken with that lens) I'm not fully taken with the ergonomics of it and I have had enough issues with backfocus in the close range that would put me off buying another. I'd also probably look at the Zeiss Planar because for £600 or whatever it costs, it looks like a bargain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted February 4, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted February 4, 2014 I think, unless you absolutely need the little extra speed of the Summilux, the Summicron should suit you very well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted February 4, 2014 Share #6 Â Posted February 4, 2014 I was faced with the same choice about 18 months ago and went with the latest version of the 50 mm Summicron. My decision was based on using the lens largely for landscapes and travel, where from the MTF profiles it appeared sharper at the edges than the ASPH Summilux particularly at an aperture of f5.6; also it is lighter. In photozone.de, the review of the 50 mm Summicron is very encouraging and I have been happy with the results when used with my Leica M240. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
horosu Posted February 4, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted February 4, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) The main differences between these great lenses are the extra stop of the Lux (obviously) and it's perfect flare resistance, the Summicron non-APO being a dud in this respect Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted February 4, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted February 4, 2014 I chose the Summicron over Summilux 45 years ago and still think it was the right choice. A year or so ago I thought of finally getting the latest Summilux, but after comparing ended up updating my Summicron instead. Very pleased with it. It may flare a bit like most lenses, and for that lighting I find the Planar ZM very flare resistant, and tend to use it also where I want the contrast it provides. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfhrased Posted February 4, 2014 Share #9 Â Posted February 4, 2014 I updated from a ver iii summicron to a current model summilux. For travel, the summicron would be better - it's much more compact, and far lighter (I have the silver chrome variant which is like having a small cannonball attached to the front of the camera). Â The only real differences are that the current summilux is an apo lens, has an extra stop and less depth of field at wide open, and a different aperture blade configuration that gives 18 point sunstars. If you don't care about any of these things there's really no need to consider the lens at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted February 4, 2014 Share #10 Â Posted February 4, 2014 Personally, I will nearly always take a 1.4 lens over an f2 lens, where possible, because I find it far more usable and versatile. Â Both lenses are tiny, both are sharp though the Summilux is a bit sharper. Being a modern design, the Summilux does have more modern colour and tonal characteristics. Â The Summicron is still a brilliant lens that hasn't need replacing because it is still so good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 4, 2014 Share #11 Â Posted February 4, 2014 If you opt for the Summilux, try it before purchase to ensure it doesn't have a 'sticky' focus action, which can be problematic with some samples of that lens. Mine was fixed, eventually. I think testing and comparing for yourself is the best process in any case. Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Albertson Posted February 4, 2014 Share #12 Â Posted February 4, 2014 It's only sacrilegious if you worship money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted February 4, 2014 Share #13 Â Posted February 4, 2014 Looking at which Leica 50mm to buy to pair with a M 240....The Summilux obviously has an extra level of blur available but the Summicron seems excellent as well and of course an extra full stop of light which was essential with the M9 but merely (IMHO) very useful for the M240. Â On balance, and taking into account cost, it seems that the Summicron will be a very good option. Â Would appreciate personal views from people with both (or have used both), particularly on things like draw, 3D, pop and all those other things no one can really define but have a personal preference on I believe you once had experience with the 50mm Summilux with your M8 and/or M9. If so, you will know what to expect. I have both lenses and thought I would sell the Summicron after adding the Summilux, but I haven't. I use each lens equally and find nothing wanting with either. For certain walk-about situations I prefer the Summicron. For low-light work the Summilux is superior. Starting from scratch I wouldn't rule out the 50mm Summarit, an under-rated lens range, which is even lighter and is optically the equal of the Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted February 4, 2014 Share #14 Â Posted February 4, 2014 ... and [the Summilux's] perfect flare resistance, the non-apo Summicron-M 50 mm being a dud in this respect. I wouldn't say the Summilux's flare resistance was 'perfect' ... but it definitely is better than the Summicron's. For me, that's the main reason to prefer the Summilux over the Summicron. Using f/1.4 fairly often is another reason. Â On the other hand, the Summilux-M 50 mm Asph is pretty long, especially with a Chinese E46 vented hood attached, so my other 50 mm lens is a Summarit-M 50 mm 1:2.5. In fact, I think any 50 mm Leica M lens is better than the current Summicron, mostly due to being so flare-prone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted February 4, 2014 Share #15 Â Posted February 4, 2014 Summiluxes can be a bit iffy and are clearly a bu**er to adjust to be perfect ..... You may find it going back with your 35 ........ If you do buy check it carefully ..... Â These days I either use a noctilux or a collapsible 50/2.8 ..... Which is a very under-rated little lens. Had both 50/1.4 and 50/2 ........ Never use the former..... And sold the latter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efreed2754 Posted February 4, 2014 Share #16  Posted February 4, 2014 Personally, I will nearly always take a 1.4 lens over an f2 lens, where possible, because I find it far more usable and versatile. Both lenses are tiny, both are sharp though the Summilux is a bit sharper. Being a modern design, the Summilux does have more modern colour and tonal characteristics.  The Summicron is still a brilliant lens that hasn't need replacing because it is still so good.  Think this says it best. Have both and seem to always grab the Summilux. This is from someone who didn't have a 50 for 10+ years.  Can't believe how often turn to 50 (from among 35, 75 etc) and how pleased I am with the results. It's sharp and love the rendering. The extra stop has come in handy for isolation and size is not much larger. Seems like ideal fit between Summicron and Noctilux.  Recently shot my niece's wedding and used the lux for over 90% of shots with great success in tough lighting and space circumstances.  That said this is one of those problems with you can't go wrong solutions.  Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
r7photo Posted February 4, 2014 Share #17 Â Posted February 4, 2014 I have m240 and new 50 lux which is awesome but miss 50 crom, signature of both lenses totally different, I would say view pics on flicker and decide, both lenses are amazing but render differently Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colint544 Posted February 4, 2014 Share #18  Posted February 4, 2014 I used to have the 50mm Summicron, but now have the 50mm Summilux ASPH. I sometimes regret not having the Summicron any more - it is tiny, and bitingly sharp, with a wonderfully 'rounded' rendering. But my copy, at any rate, flared quite badly, given the right circumstances. Worse than any other lens I have.  The Summilux is bigger, but that's the only downside, for me. It doesn't flare anywhere near as badly as the Summicron. And it's got the ability to make the background melt away, in a way the Summcron can't. Here's a shot I took a couple of nights ago, on the streets of Glasgow. M Monochrom, 2000 ISO, and the 50mm Summilux shot wide open. It's no award winner, but I think it shows the creamy, dreamy (yet razor sharp where it counts) quality you can achieve. The 50mm Summicron can't do this.  The extra stop over the Summicron is like an extra trick in the Summilux's repertoire.  Best wishes all,  Colin 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/221484-sacrilegious-to-choose-50mm-summicron-over-summilux/?do=findComment&comment=2525784'>More sharing options...
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