APO 50 images

[jdlaing]

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[JCR33]

M9 + 50 APO

 

[Jan1985]

Yvonne . Natural Beauty by Jan Hartmann, auf Flickr

[EoinC]

"Yvonne" - I like this shot, Jan. Well done!

[Jan1985]

"Yvonne" - I like this shot, Jan. Well done!

 

Thank you very much!

[tom0511]

I've seen quite a few lovely images here, but I wonder how many of those couldn't have been made with the Summilux ASPH, for instance.

 

I had the pleasure to own the APO Summicron 50, but was a bit unsettled by its flare propensity (and I'm not talking here about the infamous central flare problem) as well as its light-falloff. In the end I considered it much too expensive for street photography although I must say that it was impressively built.

 

 I replaced it with the Summilux ASPH, which is much more useful for a hybrid (film/digital) workflow.

 

You could take all image with the Summilux or Summicron, since both are excellent lenses as well.

I still feel the APO-Summicron shows sometimes color in a way I love it. My 50/1.4asph seems a little warmer with more red. The APO shows blues so deep and clear.

Also the images show a certain clarity and 3d, and the bokeh is a little different as well.

BUT, as I said I find the other 2 lenses excellent as welland if I didnt have the luxury to be able to afford the APO I could be very happy with either (also with the Summarit 50/2.5 by the way).

 

Really what are people expecting? That things look better on the image than they do in reality?

Of course it is a lot of money for a little little bit small advantages if one buys a APO over another 50mm M lens.

I feel the same is valid for buying a Summicron over a Summarit, or a 90 APO over a Summarit.

Edited August 27, 2016 by tom0511

[NB23]

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You could take all image with the Summilux or Summicron, since both are excellent lenses as well.

I still feel the APO-Summicron shows sometimes color in a way I love it. My 50/1.4asph seems a little warmer with more red. The APO shows blues so deep and clear.

Also the images show a certain clarity and 3d, and the bokeh is a little different as well.

BUT, as I said I find the other 2 lenses excellent as welland if I didnt have the luxury to be able to afford the APO I could be very happy with either (also with the Summarit 50/2.5 by the way).

 

Really what are people expecting? That things look better on the image than they do in reality?

Of course it is a lot of money for a little little bit small advantages if one buys a APO over another 50mm M lens.

I feel the same is valid for buying a Summicron over a Summarit, or a 90 APO over a Summarit.

It's just that there's a huge difference between what is said about its performance abd what is shown to support it.

 

When I read a description about a beautifufl woman, I expect her to match the description.

[Peter Kilmister]

Unless you have tried it you will never know how beautiful the 50mm APO Cron is. I have been into photography as an amateur since the 1950s.

No lens has ever astounded me until the 50mm ASPH Lux 1.4.

Then I tried the 50mm Cron APO. It was far better, lighter, and smaller.

 

No photos posted on here can show the detail that one sees in real life at full resolution. This website doesn't allow for full resolution uploads ... which is normal and no complaint.

Only by personal testing is the difference so visible.

 

I hope that helps.

[MarkP]

I agree with Peter.

 

I waited over two years after it's release before I I decided to buy a 50 APO-Summicron and only then because I found a too-good-to-ignore price when the AUD was particularly strong vs the NZD where the lens was even cheaper than here regardless of the exchange rate.  I would not have proceeded except that in the end it cost me about %70 the Australian list price so I could have still probably sold it with no financal loss whatsoever.

 

The lens was then exchanged twice because of the famous flare issue. My current lens is perfect.  Even then I kept wondering why I'd bought it!  I was angry with myself having bought this lens and kept looking at my photos trying to justify the purchase and thinking I could have used the money better.  

 

It is very much a law-of-diminishing-returns lens, it does NOT make me a better photographer whatsoever, and for most photos it wouldn't matter whether I used my 2.8/50 Elmarit-M or 50 Summilux, etc.

 

Then I got it!  The more I use it over time the more I appreciate its subtleties and the beautiful photographs it produces. There is little if anything one can see on low-res internet images to justify it.  This is very different on a high quality screen or in print.  On the Monochrom (mine's a v1) it's a miniature landscape MF system with stunning IQ and micro contrast right out to the corners, flat field of focus, beautiful tonality, and gorgeous colours on the M240. It's a relatively high contrast lens so there are situations where I don't think its the best choice. Bokeh and OOF falloff is lovely - isolates the subject without it looking like a cutout.

 

Often the photographs seem to me like I'm looking directly at the scene through a crystal clear window rather than through a lens casting it's interpretation on the scene - this is probably the best way to describe it.  Sometimes that's exactly what I want, but not for all my subject matter so I still use my 1.0/50 Noctilux, old 50 Summitar, etc.

 

So I'm now well past having to justify buying the APO-50 to myself (and I don't need to justify it to anyone else).  It is now rarely off my camera unless I want particularly want a faster (Summilux) or lighter (Elmar-M), or more arty (1.0 Noctilux) 50 mm lens. 

Edited August 27, 2016 by MarkP

[Peter Kilmister]

To add to my previous posting, if you go here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133538622@N08/28640136324/in/photostream/

You can see a shot I took with my M-P 240 and APO Cron of flowers on an Hibiscus bush in my back garden. Once the picture hits full resolution, click on the image to magnify it.

 

Bearing in mind that this still isn't full resolution, I'd like you to look at the detail, contrast, and quality. Please comment.

I'd welcome your opinions.

 

That is surely what a forum is meant for. It is easy to be picky. It is more difficult to be constructive. Please be constructive.

[james.liam]

Here's a good summary on the trenchant points, in chronological order of posting.

 

james.liam:

"All's I can say is that looking at these posted images, as lovely as they are, does not justify US$7,000. To understand it, you have to look at full resolution images on a good monitor. Or a larger print. If this cannot convince you, then you've at least done your due diligence."

 

jrp:

"If you are judging from 500k forum photos, then almost any lens will do."

 

stepenw0lff:

"So I was never disappointed by the Apo50....I never expected "wonders"."

 

Mikeleica:

"I was not totally blown away by the difference to be honest."

 

Peter Klimister:

"Unless you have tried it you will never know how beautiful the 50mm APO Cron is. I have been into photography as an amateur since the 1950s. No lens has ever astounded me until the 50mm ASPH Lux 1.4.

Then I tried the 50mm Cron APO. It was far better, lighter, and smaller. No photos posted on here can show the detail that one sees in real life at full resolution. This website doesn't allow for full resolution uploads ... which is normal and no complaint.

Only by personal testing is the difference so visible."

 

MarkP:

"It is very much a law-of-diminishing-returns lens, it does NOT make me a better photographer whatsoever, and for most photos it wouldn't matter whether I used my 2.8/50 Elmarit-M or 50 Summilux, etc....The more I use it over time the more I appreciate its subtleties and the beautiful photographs it produces. There is little if anything one can see on low-res internet images to justify it.  This is very different on a high quality screen or in print.  On the Monochrom (mine's a v1) it's a miniature landscape MF system with stunning IQ and micro contrast right out to the corners, flat field of focus, beautiful tonality, and gorgeous colours on the M240"

 

tomo0511:

"...the images show a certain clarity and 3d, and the bokeh is a little different as well....Really what are people expecting? That things look better on the image than they do in reality?"

 

The thread is unfortunate --no knock to the OP, our prolific and eminent lens connoisseur, 'The God Particle'-- insofar as it is not likely to answer any questions the curious have and who have not used the lens. Almost pointless posting images here....with the notable exception of Jan Hartmann, who despite the file size, "gets" what this rarified object of curiosity is about. The array of shots he has shared, show in as best a manner as can be had in this limiting venue, how this particular lens handles light (this ought to be the key takeaway).

Not to everyone's taste, nor affordable to most or particularly obvious & 'in your face', like a Noctilux. If you're curious and uncertain whether parting with a 50 Summicron or Summilux ASPH makes any sense at all, you owe it to yourself to spend a little time with one if you're able to. I was fortunate to have a month with one to learn and I learned a lot.

Edited August 28, 2016 by james.liam

[Guest camera man]

Well with that said, I am selling off my Hasselblad kit to buy the 50 mm APO and sticking it on my film MP camera?

[satijntje]

Well with that said, I am selling off my Hasselblad kit to buy the 50 mm APO and sticking it on my film MP camera?

 

Would it make sense to put this high resolution APO lens on a film camera, or would be rigid summicron from the fifties give the same result?

I don't know, but I will find out soon.

Next week I will be shooting with both lenses on my film M-P and will let you know!

Currently the APO is on my M-D 262. No Complaints, but I want to see the differences on film!

John

[Guest camera man]

" The M3 with the APO Summicron M 1:2/50mm and the Agfa Copex Micro film can deliver results that will even impress users of the current digital Leica M" Erwin Puts "Leica Practicum" page 315. 2014 edition

[james.liam]

Would it make sense to put this high resolution APO lens on a film camera, or would be rigid summicron from the fifties give the same result?

I don't know, but I will find out soon.

Next week I will be shooting with both lenses on my film M-P and will let you know!

Currently the APO is on my M-D 262. No Complaints, but I want to see the differences on film!

John

 

 

" The M3 with the APO Summicron M 1:2/50mm and the Agfa Copex Micro film can deliver results that will even impress users of the current digital Leica M" Erwin Puts "Leica Practicum" page 315. 2014 edition

 

A general observation in re: film and modern vs legacy glass which has been said here & elsewhere before; notwithstanding objections from some, the older lenses' habit of focus shifting to varying extents, does degrade images on digital sensors whilst the grain structure of most film stock may not yield up a discernible benefit when deploying digitally-mided designs.

[EoinC]

I use this lens on both a Typ 246 Monochrom and a M6. On the Monochrom, it impresses me. On the M6, not so much. It's not that there's anything wrong with it, but just that the medium doesn't show its qualities to the same extent.

Edited August 29, 2016 by EoinC

[microview]

Sitting idly in the garden comparing the 50 APO and 50 Summilux at f2, I was surprised to see in LR my black socks appear to be brown! I was reminded of the indignation of Donald Plasance in the old tv adaptation of Pinter's The Caretaker, when given what he expected to be black boots he says "These shoes is brown…" I wonder if an uv ir filter woud have helped, although you can effect a change by lowering the temperature of course. (The filter would certainly protect the front of what in the UK has recently become an astronomically high priced lens!) BTW the Summilux also gave 'brown' cotton in what was an intense sunny lighting.

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Edited August 31, 2016 by microview

[NB23]

Ir contamination

[microview]

Ir contamination

 

Do you mean Lightroom contamination? Same results In Iridient Developer 2.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Exodies]

Did you wash those socks with that shirt?