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Summilux 35mm pre ASPH


mobeyone

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All,

 

I am in the process of buying a summilux 35mm pre ASPH.

 

I want the 1.4 and I want an old look to this frame to couple with my 50 lux ASPH.

 

Both will be used on my M8.

 

Any thoughts on the 35mm pre ASPH? I had a cron ASPH but for some reason didn't get on. I love the 50 lux and feel this 35 lux will be a good buy.

 

Need your help and thoughts please.

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I like it much as well but i would not expect it to match your 50/1.4 asph in any way. Better use a 50/1.4 pre-asph or a Zeiss 50/1.5 for that.

 

Thanks, not a match but to have the option of a 35mm lens.

 

I love the images, not sharp or clinical like the ASPH but that glow and the colours it renders.

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You could save yourself some money and buy a CV 35mm Nokton, more or less a copy of the Summilux, same 'glow' wide open and it even comes in two versions, multi coated and single coated so you can go 'retro max'.

 

Steve

 

I'll have a look at the Nokton, never considered that to be honest.

 

Just with the price, condition it makes sense and I love the lux family of lenses.

 

Any problems using the pre ASPH lux on the m8? I know the uvir filter maybe an issue?

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I have both lenses and cannot seem to find any "glow" out of the Nokton 35/1.4 SC in that the former does not the show the least halo around highlights at f/1.4 and to a lesser extent f/2 contrary to the Summilux. The Nokton SC, at least my sample of it, has also more focus shift and is calculated to be accurate at f/1.4 vs around f/2.8 for the Summilux. The CV is then a bit sharper at f/1.4 but it is severely out of focus at f/2.8 and on. Focus shift is not a problem on mirrorless cameras or the M240 in LV/EVF mode though. Both lenses flare a lot but compared to my late "German" Summilux, the Nokton SC is the worse lens from this standpoint.

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I started this thread: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/338455-praise-mandlers-35mm-summilux-m.html as a 'real world' performance guide (its not intended to show anything other than what you might get from the lens in practice). Over the years I've owned three of these lenses (but stupidly sold 2). I wouldn't worry too much about buying any specific copy of it, I'd simply look for one with clean glass and good mechanics and accept that at some point a CLA might be required (my current copy was at the lower end of your price range and that's where I'd look personally).

 

Very clean hoods go for silly money and cheap ones often cannot be unscrewed because any distortion locks them up - but I bought a reasonably clean but very cheap one which was then 'de-distorted' by Malcolm Taylor and now it works just fine. Series 7 filters UVa filters are available cheaply enough but you might find it takes time to acquire a UV/IR as they are not all that common - worth waiting though if you intend to use the lens on an M8 (I still do).

 

Although I also own a Pre-FLE asph 35mm, the pre-Asph is one of my favourite lenses - very compact with an old fashioned look, and it mates up so well to an M body - perhaps one of the lenses which embodies the idea of small, light, fast and high performance (in its day) Leica lenses (and no mean lens even today). The 50 will perform 'better' I'd say, but as a pairing they will no doubt serve you very well indeed.

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....

 

A Summilux 35mm preaspherical has replaced a 40mm Summicron, because with adapters for a suitable UV / IR cut filter and lens hood the Summicron 40mm on the M8 was too bulky.

The Summilux 35mm preaspherical with lens hood 12504 is practically used like a pancake lens, but because of the softness seldom used at aperture 1.4.

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One I am looking to buy is a late German lens which is why I am leaning to it.

 

How much ideally is one worth today?

 

The made in Germany pre-asph Summilux is rare and expensive. Expect to pay close to $3,000 USD for one.

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Thanks all.

 

To clarify my position, I'm not looking for razor sharpness or the clinical look the 50 lux gives me.

 

What I want is a old fashioned lens ideally 35mm which gives a classic look.

 

My only concern is using it with the M8 given the scarcity of a uvir filter? I will probably shoot mainly in b&w but would like to use colour. What filter exactly am I going to need?

 

And again looking at some of the photos online taken with a digital M, I am really looking forward to it....

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My only concern is using it with the M8 given the scarcity of a uvir filter? I will probably shoot mainly in b&w but would like to use colour. What filter exactly am I going to need?

Series VII or easier to find E49 in reverse position.

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Or what about a 35mm summaron?

35/3.5 or 35/2.8? I have a 35/2.8 with goggles. I find it a bit soft in corners and borders, sharp otherwise at f/4 and on, virtually no distortion but CA could be better. I don't use mine any more as i prefer the Biogon 35/2.8 and Summarit 35/2.5 but YMMV as usual.

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35/3.5 or 35/2.8? I have a 35/2.8 with goggles. I find it a bit soft in corners and borders, sharp otherwise at f/4 and on, virtually no distortion but CA could be better. I don't use mine any more as i prefer the Biogon 35/2.8 and Summarit 35/2.5 but YMMV as usual.

 

35/2.8

 

Again it's the look of the old leica that I want bad these two seem to be what I an looking for.

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The 35 pre-asph summilux (from 1978) was the first M lens I bought along with my M8 and still is one of my favorite lenses.

It delivers great colors and changes character from soft wide open to a sharper lens at f2 already.

 

You'll need a hood to hold the filter. No problem to find Series 7 filters on the web, even a UV-IR one, reversed they fit the 12504 hood.

 

Have a look at the old lenses and M8 threads, there are quite a few shots shared here on LUF.

 

No issues with focus?

 

And do you have any examples by any chance?

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