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A case of summilust or summicronitis


Coriana6jp

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Hi All,

 

I posted on here for the first time about 18 months ago, at the time I was pondering the purchase of an M-E. For a variety of reasons, it never happened.

 

A few months ago, I got a Sony A7 and choose lenses that I knew would work on it. The WATE, 35/1.2 Nokton, a 50/1.5 Nokton and the APO 90mm Summicron. All in all it has been okay, but I missed the RF experience. So a few weeks ago, sold a bunch of unused gear and ended up with a M240 and am loving it. (Now I want a monochrom, but that has to wait). Generally a well rounded set of glass the covers the same lengths I was using on my now dearly departed DSLR system.

 

But, I am really having a bad case of “Summilust”. (I have a case of Noctilux as well, but that is not happening either for while) I am really debating if I should go ahead and pick up a new 50mm ASPH, after I sell some other things. The Nokton is quite a nice lens for the price, sharp and works well on Sony as well, but it seems to be missing some of the character of the summilux.

 

I had also looked at a new Summicron(not the APO) has well and really liked the what I saw.

 

So here I am debating weather to buy a Summilux or Summicron. 50mm is my most used focal length so I am not against having two lenses.

 

Any insights or thoughts would be great.

 

Thanks!

 

Ryan

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I don't think they sell Noctilux by the case. :)

 

The Lux 50 ASPH is my favourite modern Leica lens. You can't go wrong buying it.

 

Thanks for the quicky reply, I keep leaning towards the Summilux and will probably end up buying it after I save up some.

 

I wish I could buy a case of Notilux but sadly that won't happen:p (Yes I am a poor proof reader!)

 

Ryan

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I've owned and used a Noctilux, sold it and not missed it - its not everybody's cup of tea. But the latest Summilux is undoubtedly the 'best' 50mm lens I've ever used (or owned;)). It produces superb image quality, is ergonomically excellent, fast enough to be useful in low light, small enough to 'fit' well on a rangefinder body. If I had to choose one 50mm lens this would be it. Come to think of it, I have and it is (though I also own a Canon 50/1.4 which is an ok workhorse on dSLRs but not in the same league, let alone a competitor).

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+1 for the 50 Summilux asph.

 

This is a landmark Leica lens.

 

I sometimes wonder if I'd be happy with just this one lens with my Monochrom. Unless you are averse to pre-owned lenses, their are plenty of really nice used ones out there, which represent a great saving. Buy from a reputable dealer, and you'll be fine.

 

On the subject of the Noctilux, there are some real Meisters of this lens on the forum. I'm sadly not one of them. My f1 version, along with my handful of other Leica 50s, is usually to be found on my study shelf and not in my camera bag . Unlike my Summilux. But my anecdote is unlikely to cure your Noctilust!

 

Regards

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Thanks for the quicky reply, I keep leaning towards the Summilux and will probably end up buying it after I save up some.

 

I wish I could buy a case of Notilux but sadly that won't happen:p (Yes I am a poor proof reader!)

 

Ryan

 

I think you will be very happy with the Summilux but you have the wrong approach to the Noctilux - this is a expensive, heavy, and bulky specialist lens (although many use it as their only or main 50mm). Beautiful wide open but in reality probably renders not that differently to the Summilux at comparable apertures. The Noctilux is not a better lens than the Summilux, but different.

 

I have both the Summmilux and the 1.0/50 Noctilux which renders gorgeous photographs, is an entirely different beast to the 0.95/50, but regardless would still not be my primary 50mm lens.

 

The Summilux is a very versatile lens and delivers beautiful photographs. It is hard to imagine that the quality of the Summilux would be inadequate for any of your needs. I have to agree with the others that if I was only to have one lens it would be the 50 Summilux ASPH.

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You can't go wrong with either the cron or the lux so you just have to decide which rendering you like better. The cron is a stop slower and it won't be as sharp as the lux asph. The lux will also have a considerable more pop while the cron will render more like a classic Mandler. If you're getting a noctilux in the future I would recommend settling with the cron for now as its far cheaper than the lux. Here's a little test I did with some 50mm lenses so you can get an idea of the different rendering style. I won't say which is which but it'll be quite obvious for some of the readers, the lenses in the pool are cron v4/v5, DR, lux asph, 5cm summarit and 1.0 nocti.

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Thanks for the feedback, I greatly appreciate it.

I guess I will pick up a summilux when I save up some more cash I really like how that lens renders compared to just about every other 50mm (save the Noctilux) I have seen.

 

Time to start saving.

 

Thanks!

 

Ryan

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Looks like you've already made up your mind, but for what it's worth I feel as though I have a good spread of options using the Sony FE 55/1.8 and the Noctilux f/0.95. A Summilux sounds like the best single-lens solution though :)

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I don't think they sell Noctilux by the case. :)

 

The Lux 50 ASPH is my favourite modern Leica lens. You can't go wrong buying it.

 

You will never be sorry. I tried one at a Leica demo when the M8 first came out. Wanted one ever since and finally got one.

 

I have use it against the 50 2.0 same time , same place, and and if you like the soft backgrounds, this is the lens.

 

Noct is a monster lens with monster price.

 

For ultimate sharpness, Summicron. but you need to look really hard to see it.

I would not buy it for the sharpness, but for small size, and and lower price.

 

A collapsible 50 2.8 last version is my slow lens, lux for darkness.

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Looks like you've already made up your mind, but for what it's worth I feel as though I have a good spread of options using the Sony FE 55/1.8 and the Noctilux f/0.95. A Summilux sounds like the best single-lens solution though :)

 

I played with the Sony55/1.8 on FE 7r and was less than impressed it was sharp, but didnt have the "character" that I like. Which is a little strange as I generally love Zeiss glass. I much more enjoyed the 50/1.5 Nokton.

 

It will be a Summilux once I get a little more money saved.

 

Cheers!

 

Ryan

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You will never be sorry. I tried one at a Leica demo when the M8 first came out. Wanted one ever since and finally got one.

 

I have use it against the 50 2.0 same time , same place, and and if you like the soft backgrounds, this is the lens.

 

Noct is a monster lens with monster price.

 

For ultimate sharpness, Summicron. but you need to look really hard to see it.

I would not buy it for the sharpness, but for small size, and and lower price.

 

A collapsible 50 2.8 last version is my slow lens, lux for darkness.

 

I admit having Noctilust more than anything, but I buy one of those and it is a death sentence, as my wife would kill me. A summilux will do for now.

 

Cheers!

 

Ryan

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