Stay with 35 Summicron or switch to Lux?

[jay968]

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Guys don't get me wrong. I don't see anything wrong at all with the cron. Others have even suggested that I have (had, as I traded it) a bad copy. I don't think so, it's a wonderful lens, but ok, it's possible.

 

Lets get back to my original question when I started this thread;

 

I was looking to see whether or not the lux does as good as the 50 lux, as I had recently purchased one and was very impressed. It looked better than my 35 cron and I wondered whether the 35 lux would look just as good.

 

Well, what I essentially found out was that the 35 lux does look better to me than the cron. By a lot? No, not really. As good as the 50? Close but maybe not AS good. It's slightly sharper than the 35 cron (I suppose depending on the f-stop and distance shot at). That alone may not have prompted me to make the switch. But all things considered...the slight edge in sharpness (and AGAIN, it's very slight), the cleaner more modern look (cleaner whites, more saturated colors), the slight extra contrast that I am seeing, what appears to be slightly better micro contrast...all those subtle things add up, and I decided to make the switch. And btw, I have also noticed less vignetting in the small sample of shots that I have done with it so far.

 

Again, I just would not say the difference is a big one, but it IS definitely noticeable to me, and again I think the cron is a wonderful lens. Is the difference worth another $2000? I think one can only answer that for himself. But I WOULD recommend seriously considering it if it is affordable to anyone looking for a 35. A few of the reviews that I have read such as the one by Mingh Thein who says it's the best 35mm lens he has ever used, or Steve Huff who says "I feel it is the best 35mm lens made today for ANY 35mm system." do agree with me. So apparently, they see a difference too.

 

I AM willing to say that just MAYBE I have been shooting with a less than ideal sample of the cron all this time, I don't know, but it's possible.

 

At any rate, I got the answer that I came here looking for and am very happy with this lens.

 

When I owned film Leica, I always thought there was a certain rendering that the lenses were capable of that no other system could match. When I switched to digital Leicas (M8) I no longer felt that this was so. Even after purchasing the M240, I felt the same way, only to resign myself into believing that the Leica files weren't really going to look much different than Canon files. Well, that was until I tried out the 50 lux and now the 35 lux. Now I am seeing images that stand above everything else. I own some Zeiss lenses for my Canons and they have a real good character too, but not quite up to par with the two lux lenses I now own.

 

At some point I will figure out how to post images here, but as I have said before, I really doubt that they will show much of anything on a computer monitor. It's in the prints where things really shine.

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[jcraf]

Strangely enough, I'm going the other way. My FLE goes this week to help fund a 75 Lux, and will be replaced by a 35 Summicron asph, a lens I've enjoyed a few times in the past.

 

Apart from the speed deficit over the 'Lux, the ' cron asph is just fine for me. Then come to think of it, having looked over some old shots in my library, so is the Summarit........

[jay968]

Many years ago a friend of mine, looking to buy an M6 asked me for opinions on which lens to get along with it. My response to him was that anything he purchased as long as it was a Leica is going to be better than anything else on the market anyway, so don't sweat it.

 

Debating one lens over another not withstanding, I actually still believe in those words. Honestly, even though I have been nit picking concerning the cron vs the lux, even a Summarit is going to be better than pretty much anything else out there. Yes Zeiss makes some pretty good stuff too, but whatever Leica you choose is going to be outstanding.

[lecycliste]

Quote from Austin commercial pro Kirk Tuck - "Don't be an equipment junky. You can make salable stuff with a $99 Yashica MAT124."

 

Point is maybe it's better to just go out and shoot. You might learn how you see the world, and how you want to put together a photograph. Getting out and shooting with the great tools you have already *might* be more satisfying than spending the next six mortgage payments on a new lens.

 

 

Mark Bohrer, MSEE

documentary narration & scoring

[jay968]

Well I appreciate those words but I often wonder why so many people feel that when someone spends money and enjoys talking about equipment, it's automatically assumed that one does so instead of photographing.

 

Fact is, I have been doing photography since 1963, have two degrees in it, have taught it at 4 universities, have spent most of my entire adult life as a pro photographer, and have had my work in dozens of exhibitions.

 

I just enjoy taking a break and talking about the equipment at times.

[lecycliste]

The large quantity of verbiage - a lengthy discussion of minor differences between two top-flight lenses - made me wonder.

 

 

Mark Bohrer, MSEE

documentary narration & scoring

[paulsydaus]

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Small Aperture Syndrome?

[lecycliste]

Small Aperture Syndrome?

 

Might be. I have to wonder at this point - with the excellent high-ISO performance in Leica's M typ 240, f/2 versus f/1.4 comes down to how close you get for DOF isolation.

 

Does f/1.4 offer you enough more isolation over f/2 that you need to have it?

 

That's the important question, image quality being adequately equal between two lenses.

[paulsydaus]

I was being a bit silly...

I'm planning on getting the 35 f/2 myself soon because I don't use 35mm much and have a large investment in 39mm filters.

But if I was using 35mm a lot, I would definitely go the 1.4...

For night work you still do *need* f/1.4 with the M IMHO.

And you're right too about DOF though I'm not sure how many 35mm users need shallow DOF...

 

Might be. I have to wonder at this point - with the excellent high-ISO performance in Leica's M typ 240, f/2 versus f/1.4 comes down to how close you get for DOF isolation.

 

 

 

Does f/1.4 offer you enough more isolation over f/2 that you need to have it?

 

 

 

That's the important question, image quality being adequately equal between two lenses.

[Guest Ansel_Adams]

Small Aperture Syndrome?

 

LOL.

[Jared]

Like you, I owned both a 35mm Summicron Asph and a 50mm Summilux Asph and I recently decided to purchase a 35mm Summilux FLE to see if I would like it better than the Summicron. Obviously, at f/1.4 there is no comparison. At f/2, I'd give a slight edge to the Lux FLE, but it's pretty minor. I can only tell them apart with perfect technique--tripod mounted, cable release, focus confirmed at 10x magnification using the EVF. The color is a little different as is the rendering, but I'd have a hard time telling you I consistently prefer one to the other. At first, I was a little disappointed with the FLE shot wide open, but it turns out it was mostly a matter of really nailing the focus. At f/2.8 and above you'll never be able to tell the difference between the two in the real world. Mechanically, the Lux FLE is a slight improvement over the Summicron--I particularly love the metal lens shade compared with the cheap plastic clip-on. As with all M lenses with a floating rear group, focus is a bit stiffer on the FLE.

 

Overall, I am pleased with my 35mm Summilux FLE and will likely keep it, but I don't think I could tell you my pictures are any better than with the 35 Cron. Neither is quite as good as the 50mm Summilux Asph.

 

- Jared

[jaapv]

Mechanically, the Lux FLE is a slight improvement over the Summicron--I particularly love the metal lens shade compared with the cheap plastic clip-on.

 

- Jared

 

Not if you use that wonderful 12585 hood, which surpasses anything produced currently. Mint examples appear regularly on eBay.