misha Posted May 8, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 8, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) is anyone using it as their main/one/only portrait lens? if so, what do you think? i got it used (on a whim) from b&h the other week, and so far so good, but never owned a 75 or asph 50. pictures looks great wide open that I almost forget other apertures exist ) cheers misha Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 Hi misha, Take a look here 50mm pre-asph lux. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
chris_tribble Posted May 8, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 8, 2007 Misha - I've used one for some time. I have the pre-asph 75 Lux too and I'm not sure which I would finally opt for. Can't post examples for comparison at the moment as I'm away from my archive, but I'll see what I can do. I would say though that my earlier "perfect" portrait lens was the Canon 85 1.2 L and I THINK that the 75 (equivalent 99.75) is going to be the winner. The 66.5 of the 50mm is a BIT too close for comfortable work (though you can work closer with the M without disturbing people, so it's difficult to evaluate in the end ... Sorry if this was a bit of a ramble ... I'll attempt to get some comparisons up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted May 8, 2007 i know what you mean. in a perfect world i would spend $2700 (and they are hard to find these days too) for a 75mm cron and not think twice, but budget is budget, so instead it was 1400 for a mint pre-asph 50mm. at this stage, i am less interested in comparing it to other models, but to gather opinions and tidbits of actual users. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted May 8, 2007 Share #4 Posted May 8, 2007 Michael, I used one of these lenses for about 4 years, after having bot it used on eBay. I found it an excellent lens. It did not exhibit flare, tho there was at least one thread about the 50's and flare on the old forum. I shoot a lot of dance on stage where the lighting is hell on flare-sensitive lenses. I replaced it with the asph version based strictly upon my experience with the 35 'lux: the pre-asph version of the 35 suffers seriously from flare compared to the asph version. I ordered the asph version of the 50 when it was rumored (before the actual announcement). Again, I had no complaints about the non-asph version. Your 50 should give you decades of good service. I even dropped mine about 3 feet onto a wooden floor without affecting it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted May 8, 2007 Michael, I used one of these lenses for about 4 years, after having bot it used on eBay. I found it an excellent lens. It did not exhibit flare, tho there was at least one thread about the 50's and flare on the old forum. I shoot a lot of dance on stage where the lighting is hell on flare-sensitive lenses. I replaced it with the asph version based strictly upon my experience with the 35 'lux: the pre-asph version of the 35 suffers seriously from flare compared to the asph version. I ordered the asph version of the 50 when it was rumored (before the actual announcement). Again, I had no complaints about the non-asph version. Your 50 should give you decades of good service. I even dropped mine about 3 feet onto a wooden floor without affecting it. sounds good, thanks. any other recomendations (hood - if there is one, filters), other than the obligatory UV/IR b+w? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted May 9, 2007 has anyone used this b+w 46mm hood? B+W 46mm Screw-In Folding Rubber Lens Hood #900 there is also this: B+W 46mm Screw-In Metal Lens Hood #950 but its seriously out of stock. thanks in advance for any other suggestions.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted May 9, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Michael, My version of the 50 'lux pre-asph had a built-in sliding hood. Now, for my 24 and 35 lenses, I have purchased the screw-in metal hoods that are available on eBay. They're inexpensive and sturdy. Highly recommended. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted May 9, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 9, 2007 As is so often the case, Bill Parsons is right. The old Summilux-M 50 mm is very resistant to flare, and handles light sources with aplomb. The fingerprint wide open is very pleasant, with good definition on axis and quite a bit out, and then a gradual fall-off in the direction of the corners. At f:5.6 or 8 sharpness is very good over the entire full format picture. I sold my lens before I got my M8, but I think this old warhorse (no optical change since 1961!) will do very well in he digital world. All this refers to the 1962 or later lens (2nd version). The first version from 1959 was so-so. Leitz drastically redesigned the lens, but did not tell anyone—the new version came under the same name, and in what was outwardly the same mount! The only sure way of telling the versions apart is that the new one begins at # 1,844,001. Leitz didn't confess until around 1986, when the mount was changed from chrome to black. The old man from the Age of the Summarit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted May 9, 2007 Share #9 Posted May 9, 2007 As is so often the case, Bill Parsons is right. I need this in writing to show the bride. Thanks, as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted May 9, 2007 As is so often the case, Bill Parsons is right. The old Summilux-M 50 mm is very resistant to flare, and handles light sources with aplomb. The fingerprint wide open is very pleasant, with good definition on axis and quite a bit out, and then a gradual fall-off in the direction of the corners. At f:5.6 or 8 sharpness is very good over the entire full format picture. I sold my lens before I got my M8, but I think this old warhorse (no optical change since 1961!) will do very well in he digital world. All this refers to the 1962 or later lens (2nd version). The first version from 1959 was so-so. Leitz drastically redesigned the lens, but did not tell anyone—the new version came under the same name, and in what was outwardly the same mount! The only sure way of telling the versions apart is that the new one begins at # 1,844,001. Leitz didn't confess until around 1986, when the mount was changed from chrome to black. The old man from the Age of the Summarit the serial # on mine begins with 39... is there a good resource to check such things? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bernd Banken Posted May 9, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 9, 2007 two months ago I bought a new Summilux 50 f 1,4 pre asp. as the black paint version. It has the knurled focus ring which I like so mutch because it's very similar to my old Nikkor 50mm f2. The second good point ist the sliding hood. It very fast to put into position for my street photography. Aspherical lenses are more razor sharp which I don't like so mutch, sorry... Here are two pics, one wide open and the second stopped down, all on HP5+ / ID11 dev. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Bernd Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Bernd ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/23604-50mm-pre-asph-lux/?do=findComment&comment=250345'>More sharing options...
lct Posted May 9, 2007 Share #12 Posted May 9, 2007 Great lens indeed. Reasonable sharpness, more forgiving than the 50/1.4 asph for portrait, smooth bokeh, virtually no flare at all. The built-in hood is useless with a filter on (1st pic). The B+W metal hood (2nd pic) is excellent but might damage filter threads in case of bump or drop of the lens. Rubber hoods block 1:1, 0.85x and 0.72x viewfinders but i did not try one with the M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #13 Posted May 9, 2007 Great lens indeed. Reasonable sharpness, more forgiving than the 50/1.4 asph for portrait, smooth bokeh, virtually no flare at all. The built-in hood is useless with a filter on (1st pic). The B+W metal hood (2nd pic) is excellent but might damage filter threads in case of bump or drop of the lens. Rubber hoods block 1:1, 0.85x and 0.72x viewfinders but i did not try one with the M8. ah cool. very clear. b+w hood metal hood is hard find (at least according to b&h). i presume the hood will fit on top of the leica uv/ir filter!? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemeng Posted May 9, 2007 Share #14 Posted May 9, 2007 I have a 1989 E43 50mm M 'lux. For a hood I use a cheap screw-in vented metal hood by "heavy2stars" - an eBay, Hong Kong outfit. eBay Store - Heavy2stars Photo Gear: Step Rings, Leica Items, Other Brand Hoods (enter "leica hood" in the store search panel) I've used the hood for a couple of years now. Works well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 9, 2007 Share #15 Posted May 9, 2007 i presume the hood will fit on top of the leica uv/ir filter!? Yes, no problem at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted May 9, 2007 I have a 1989 E43 50mm M 'lux. For a hood I use a cheap screw-in vented metal hood by "heavy2stars" - an eBay, Hong Kong outfit. eBay Store - Heavy2stars Photo Gear: Step Rings, Leica Items, Other Brand Hoods (enter "leica hood" in the store search panel) I've used the hood for a couple of years now. Works well. i have the 46mm version with serial # starting with 39... it looked quite recent, any ideas when this particular model was made? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #17 Posted May 9, 2007 Yes, no problem at all. great. is this the b+w 46mm hood? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 9, 2007 Share #18 Posted May 9, 2007 i have the 46mm version with serial # starting with 39...it looked quite recent, any ideas when this particular model was made? What is the third digit? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #19 Posted May 9, 2007 not 100% sure (its at home), probably 8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 9, 2007 Share #20 Posted May 9, 2007 great. is this the b+w 46mm hood? It is a Schneider sold as "B+W" by B & H. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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