Torgian Posted February 25, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted February 25, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hey there everyone. Â So I'm looking at a few different 50mm lenses... the Zeiss 1.5, Leica Summicron 50mm f 2, and Summilux 1.4 ASPH. Â I'm leaning towards the Leica quite honestly, because from everything I've read, the Zeiss has a focus shift problem at 1.5 up to 2.8... which I feel can be compensated for by moving slightly closer after I have it in "focus" in the viewfinder, but I also feel like that shouldn't be an issue in the first place. Â Unfortunately I haven't had much luck finding side-by-side comparisons of the three. I have heard that the Summilux 1.4 is an excellent lens, but that it produces very "clinical" results. Â Can anyone here give me their thoughts? Â I get the distinct feeling that one day I'm going to have ten different lenses.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 Hi Torgian, Take a look here 50mm lenses comparison?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
CheshireCat Posted February 25, 2014 Share #2  Posted February 25, 2014 A picture is worth 1000 words. Search Flickr groups  Flickr: Search for a group Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
genefama Posted February 25, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted February 25, 2014 Haven't tried the others but the 50mm Lux Asph is the best lens I've ever owned. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat with no comparison shopping. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
horosu Posted February 25, 2014 Share #4 Â Posted February 25, 2014 The Summicron and Summilux are identical, resolution-wise, but the Lux is much more flare resistant. Â The C-Sonnar is a very sharp lens, provided you can compensate the focus shift and the M240 allows you to do that by using Live View, please see post no.19 on this page. My copy works very well from F2 onwards (using the normal, optical rangefinder) and I love it (I also have the Lux, which is brilliant) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted February 25, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted February 25, 2014 I guess I have no problem with "clinical" results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted February 25, 2014 Share #6 Â Posted February 25, 2014 Of those 3, I prefer the Summicron for it's overall performance, small size, and simplicity. I've used all versions of the Summicron for almost 50 years and like the current model (not the Asph) the best. The Asph Summilux gives amazing images, but to do that is mechanically complex, and seems harder to get and keep in perfect calibration, and users say the focus "feel" is heavier due to the added helical for the rear group. To me the added performance is not justified by the complexity and price. I have an older Summilux, but still prefer the Summicron. You list the Zeiss 1.5, but if you are considering the Summicron, the Planar f2.0 is about the most flare-resistant fast 50, and about equal to the Summicron in performance, if different in rendering. If you insist on a faster lens, also look at the Voigtlander 50 f1.5. Overall I think it performs a bit better than the old Summilux, is still mechanically simple, and is very good wide open, and is still a bargain. I use mine more than my Summilux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rirakuma Posted February 25, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted February 25, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I remember someone doing a very nice test with a wide range of 50mm lenses. The difference in rendering greatly varies with different lenses so its worth digging it up and finding it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 25, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted February 25, 2014 I bought the Zeiss 1.5 recently in full knowledge of its wide-open softness and focus shift, and I am happy with it. It's a great lens for people shots, especially where you want soft bokeh and a "kind" look for older faces. It's an old design, brought up to date with modern coatings, but that old design brings spherical and chromatic aberration, lower contrast and still some flare. - which help to give it it's character. But don't think of comparing it with modern sharp Leica lenses - they're different animals, but complementary. I have an APO-summicron 50 on order for sharp stuff (to be delivered maybe in two years' time:rolleyes:). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torgian Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share #9 Â Posted February 25, 2014 I don't know about the Zeiss. I've looked at several images that were from the Zeiss. It looks like you can get sharp images from the Zeiss, but everyone seems to say that you either have to have it optimized for 1.5, or use an EVF or Live View... both of which I do not use. Â Looks like at this point I'm leaning towards the 1.4 summilux, although I'm tempted by the summicron as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
happymac Posted February 25, 2014 Share #10  Posted February 25, 2014 Hey there everyone. So I'm looking at a few different 50mm lenses... the Zeiss 1.5, Leica Summicron 50mm f 2, and Summilux 1.4 ASPH. ... Unfortunately I haven't had much luck finding side-by-side comparisons of the three. I have heard that the Summilux 1.4 is an excellent lens, but that it produces very "clinical" results.  Probably this helps ("unfortunately" in German...) to compare with a competitant (voigtländer) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted February 25, 2014 Share #11  Posted February 25, 2014 Worth a read  50mm RF lenses Shot Wide Open using M9  I have a f1 Noctilux, late pre asph, current summicron and Elmar-M. They are all different, but all lovely. The Elmar-M is the bargain, I'll never sell mine. I have used the Summilux asph which is very nice, but for me too close to the Cron stopped down and less characterful than the pre asph, which has for me one if the best bokeh's of any Leica lens IMO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted February 25, 2014 Share #12 Â Posted February 25, 2014 It is worth searching LFI which did an indepth feature or two on 50mm lenses including most of the current ones. It predated the Apo version. I am guessing about three years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 25, 2014 Share #13  Posted February 25, 2014 It looks like you can get sharp images from the Zeiss, but everyone seems to say that you either have to have it optimized for 1.5, or use an EVF or Live View... both of which I don't use  I use the Zeiss on the M240, but not with the EVF (I don't have one), and I couldn't use it with LiveView - too slow for photographing people. Mine appears to be optimised for f/2.8 (I bought it s/h): at closest focus at 1.5 it is about 2cm out. Smaller than 2.8 any focus errors are less critical. I spent some time playing with the lens at 1.5, a target and LiveView, working out how much I have to lean forward, or how much to turn the focus ring, to get focus absolutely right. For me it is worth it for the sake of the lens's other qualities. But DON'T buy the lens unless those qualities are what you are looking for. If it is sharpness you're looking for, then you'll get better results from other lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
friedeye Posted February 26, 2014 Share #14 Â Posted February 26, 2014 I second LocalHero. My Zeiss is optimized at 1.5 and I had to practice to nail the focus shift as I stopped down. f/2 is a small adjustment, f/2.8 a little more -- I find f/4 to be the largest offset, then the depth of field begins to cover the shift. Â At this point, I'm solid with the lens and enjoy using it. But have to admit that I think the f/2.8 optimization would be better if this is your only 50. The lean in at 1.5 is easy to learn, and you don't have to worry at 2.8 and above. Â Bottom line: I think as a primary lens you'll be happier with the Leica lenses (any of them) or the Planar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_dot Posted February 26, 2014 Share #15 Â Posted February 26, 2014 I went through almost the same question less than one month ago. I ended up with the 50 Lux Asph. I can tell you one thing. Don't be afraid of the clinical rendering of the 50 Lux Asph. It is not as bad as it sounds. To be honest, there's nothing bad about it. From the contrast it produces, to the sharpness in every shot, to the absolutely out of this world creamy bokeh, this lens delivers. On the other hand, if 1.4 does not matter to you, go for the Summicron. I have had the chance to play around with the v. 4 of the Summicron and I can tell you it is a wonderful lens. It produces images which are absolutely beautiful and unmatched. In the end, it all matters what you want and makes you happy. Have fun and happy shooting! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torgian Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share #16 Â Posted February 26, 2014 I've decided to go for the 1.4 Summilux. I feel it'll also be better for low light, and quite simply, I like the rendering a lot better than any of the others, and don't want to deal with the focus shift of the Zeiss. Â Time continue saving! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 27, 2014 Share #17 Â Posted February 27, 2014 ...So I'm looking at a few different 50mm lenses... the Zeiss 1.5, Leica Summicron 50mm f 2, and Summilux 1.4 ASPH. I'm leaning towards the Leica quite honestly, because from everything I've read, the Zeiss has a focus shift problem at 1.5 up to 2.8... Those were Sonnars earlier than 2008 i guess. Current ones are calibrated to be in focus at f/1.5 so you will get significant back focus at f/2.8 and on. Not a big deal if you don't mind turning the focus ring a bit more on the right at f/2.8 and on (unless you use an EVF of course). Special lens but great lens anyway. The smallest fast 50 IINR. It is a bit soft at f/1.5 but not too much. A perfect lens for portraiture IMO. At f/2.8 and on it is second to none as far as sharpness is concerned with a bit less contrast than the Summilux asph. A very good alternative to the Sonnar would be a Summilux 50/1.4 pre-asph v1 or v2. I have no experience with v1 but the v2 is close to the Sonnar with a taller size, more CA and more softness in corners and borders though. But the Summilux pre-asph i own has no focus shift at all. The Summilux asph is significantly sharper at f/1.4 but is also taller and more expensive of course. I don't use it much for portraits as it shows too much details on less than perfect skins. Great lens for travels and landscape though. Its focussing action is not as smooth as that of both Sonnar and Summilux pre-asph due to floating elements. Also its built-in hood is useless if you use a filter compared to the excellent vented hoods of the Sonnar and the Summilux pre-asph prior to 1992. Latter ones have the same built-in hood as that of the Summilux asph more or less. FWIW. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr. B Posted February 27, 2014 Share #18 Â Posted February 27, 2014 The 50 mm Summicron is the measure that all other 50mm lenses are compared to. The lux is not as sharp at F/1.4 as the cron is at F/2. The lux weighs more than the Cron and it blocks the viewfinder more. The lux also costs much more than the cron. I have read that the Lux has very good Bokeh if that is of interest to you. I know nothing about the zeiss lens. Mr. B Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted February 27, 2014 Share #19 Â Posted February 27, 2014 I remember someone doing a very nice test with a wide range of 50mm lenses. The difference in rendering greatly varies with different lenses so its worth digging it up and finding it. Â Was that a test with a carved wooden Man of the Sea? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 27, 2014 Share #20 Â Posted February 27, 2014 ...The lux is not as sharp at F/1.4 as the cron is at F/2... Not my experience i must say, especially in corners and borders. The Summicron remains a very good lens though but aside from its apo version, competition is rude ahead (Summilux asph) and below (Summarit 50/2.5, Planar 50/2). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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