Rolo Posted February 11, 2014 Share #1  Posted February 11, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) 50mm Summilux Version 1.  I recently bought this lens because I thought the price was right. After reading reports about it's performance I was sure I'd list it on ebay and be rid, , but something strange is happening - I'm beginning to really enjoy it. It makes me laugh; it's crazy.  It has ridiculous bokeh and needs a tweak to make it sharp and it's easier to hit focus at f2.8, but there it suits me. I really didn't expect it to sharpen up, but this shows what it can do: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/street-photography/320372-admirer.html  I'm very happy with it. Anybody else regard it a keeper ?   Monochrom, 500 iso. 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/221901-bike-bell-bokeh/?do=findComment&comment=2530356'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 Hi Rolo, Take a look here Bike Bell Bokeh. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tenezus Posted February 11, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted February 11, 2014 I was thinking about getting an old summilux...what did you pay for yours if you don't mind me asking....? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ola.fiske Posted February 11, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted February 11, 2014 I enjoy using my type1 50 lux. Especially for portraits. Here is an example shoot wide open with Kodak Tri-x film @1250 in Diafine developer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Lord Posted February 11, 2014 Share #4 Â Posted February 11, 2014 It is fabulous, by the look of it. Â I think there is far too much emphasis on dry technical elements such as sharpness and resolution in the modern era, at the expense of aesthetics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted February 12, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted February 12, 2014 I found one over a year ago, and I agree it is much better than I had expected. Lots of coma wide open (still a fair amount at f2), but by f4.0 it is more "Summicron-like." Nice portraits wider open. I kept this one and returned a v2 after trying both. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share #6  Posted February 12, 2014 I was thinking about getting an old summilux...what did you pay for yours if you don't mind me asking....?  P.S. - the thread opening bike image shows an aperture of f2.4, but the lens isn't coded and I recall the aperture was wide open at f1.4.   Hi, I paid £500 for mine, or 25% of a used Summilux Asph. It's in excellent, although not mint condition.  On my previously owned M9s, I did find the Asph lenses to be very sharp, but in daylight the contrast caused me to be continually checking and recovering burned highlights. With this Ver 1 lens, I seem to be having very few issues with that, which I'm very pleased about.  After purchase, I tested the lens with a Test Chart and it showed a softness wide open and I was concerned that I wouldn't get sharp photos out. By f4.0, it was perfectly sharp. To cover myself, I purchased a Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM on advice that it was much better than the Ver 1, but after testing that, my conclusion was that the Summilux was sharper. However, to be fair, I haven't shot anything with the Canon. That lens cost £350 with the adapter and filter. Crazy low money, IMO.  I will look for a low cost 35mm Lux in the near future to replace my Summicron Asph.  I've added some tests to illustrate my findings. I always shoot these charts at 24x focal length so that they tell a consistent story. The set up is as shown in the 4th image.  The first image is a crop from the Summilux at f1.4. Second is the Summilux at f4.0, showing a significant recovery. Third, is a crop from a 35mm Summicron Asph at f2.0 presented as a comparison standard.  From the first image you might understand my initial disappointment, but with with my captured images, these concerns disappear with a little sharpening.  Hope that's of interest. :-) 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/221901-bike-bell-bokeh/?do=findComment&comment=2530729'>More sharing options...
Rolo Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share #7  Posted February 12, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I recall this was shot at f2.8 & 320 iso and I needed to expose twice to be sure the tiny jems were sharp. Through glass window, of course.  Obviously, one is a crop from the other. 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/221901-bike-bell-bokeh/?do=findComment&comment=2530748'>More sharing options...
Nomercyus Posted February 20, 2014 Share #8  Posted February 20, 2014 I have used mine on a Sony NEX-5N and now on a Sony A7 - it is one of my favorites (also have e.g. the Noctilux f1.0 and Nokton f1.5, but the summilux gets more use). I could not agree more with the previous comments, it is a very fun lens. It is very nice for (somewhat etheral) portraits wide open, however, wide open on longer than portrait distances it gets a bit too glowy for my taste. Objects in the foreground bokeh can exhibit a kind of glow even when the lens is stopped down. When stopped down it gets very sharp (like most other lenses). The bokeh wide open can be indescribable.  Example is on Sony A7, Summilux 50mm v1 (1959) @f1.4 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/221901-bike-bell-bokeh/?do=findComment&comment=2535784'>More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 20, 2014 Share #9 Â Posted February 20, 2014 Nice B&W shot of your ding-a-ling Rolo! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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