Summilux or summicron 50mm

[Bjorkman]

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I'm looking for my first Leica 50mm lens.

 

I've just recived my M6 TTL and soon going to order a M240.

I need the 50mm as a multipurpose lens, portraits, street, landscape and so on.

 

And I'm down to the pre asph summilux or the pre asph summicron.

I've read that the corn is the sharpest, but I like the fast possibilities with the lux and the extra bokeh.

The weight is not a problem between the two for me.

 

My concern is the lux is "too soft" even stopped down for a multipurpose lens?

Prehaps the cron is bright enough?

[pgk]

And I'm down to the pre asph summilux or the pre asph summicron.

This has been discussed numerous times on this forum - try searching and I'm sure that you will find vast amounts of information on the differences.

 

FWIW I would suggest that if you really don't need f/1.4 then go for a Summicron. If you require a fast aperture lens then the Summilux. Both are very good lenses with slightly different characteristics but the fundamental difference is the aperture. If you don't need f/1.4 then buying a Summicron makes good (and economic) sense. Also FWIW I've owned Summicrons, pre-aspheric and aspheric Sumiluxes and have settled on the aspheric Summilux because its wide open perfomance is undoubtedly better than the pre-aspheric and I do use it wide open fairly frequently. If I didn't I would have kept the pre-aspheric for occasional full aperture use.

[lct]

My concern is the lux is "too soft" even stopped down for a multipurpose lens?

Softness of the pre-asph Summilux 50/1.4 is only visible in the corners and the borders of the frame. In the center, it is as sharp as the non-apo Summicron 50/2.

[bocaburger]

I currentyly have a pre-ASPH Summilux and a current (optically) non-APO Summicron 11819. The Lux is very near in character to the prior version Cron 11817. To get the same sharpness across the entire field to equal the Summicron at f/2.8-4, the Summilux needs f/8-11. That is not to say the Lux is horribly soft in the outer regions ever, it's not, it's a subtle thing.

 

WIth the M240, I find f/2 is plenty fast enough. But as you intend shooting film, YMMV.

[snooper]

What lens did you get with your M6 TTL, if any?

 

If you are looking for your first lens being a first 50mm on a first Leica, everybody should agree to say you'll be very happy with a Summicron - that you can find second hand very easily.

 

This will save some money for your "soon-to-be-desired" Summicron 28mm

[luigi bertolotti]

I completely agree that if you don't NEED 1,4 a good used Summicron is the perfect choice for a frst tme Leica user; I ahve a Summilux pre asph, and it is inpractice identical to the 1st version rigid Summicron, at same f stops, but with M240 I bought another Summicron (3rd version, Canada, 1980) and it is even better than the old one... a good item can be found just around/under 1000 Euros and imho is a smart choice.

[Bjorkman]

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After hearing your imputs, maybe I'll go for the cron and later on get a summarit 50mm 1.5. (I've been comparing sample images on the 1.5 and 1.4 and the former I think I like the look of a bit more)

Too have the 1.5 as a pure bokeh lens and the cron as general purpose, any thoughts on that combo?

 

My TTL were body only and 28 Is a bit too wide for me right now, Im aiming to start with a 50mm and a 90mm

[james.liam]

If you're looking for an "interesting" 50 without the busy bokeh of the ƒ/1.5, consider the 50 rigid or DR. Later Summicrons are doubtlessly sharper over a larger area of the frame but this one's bokeh is lovely for portraiture. The swirly bokeh of the 1.5 is an acquired taste and less versatile for varied applications. Always bear in mind that these older 50's had soft front elements and are often found with cleaning marks, scratches and of course, haze.

 

The new CV 1,5/50 ASPH is also a great option to consider, giving you the added stop and a wide-open rendering reminiscent of the pre-ASPH 50 Summilux.

[gyoung]

I have a mk1 Summicron (first rigid type) which I have used on my M3 for30 years

When I bought my M6ttl I found it not so easy to use the Summicron with it as it has an aperture ring with two serrated grips, one each side. This is great when setting the aperture from a meter reading, ie down away from your eye. When using the M6ttl you are adjusting the aperture at eye level and it seemed more comfortable in use with lenses which have a complete serrated ring which is easier to grasp when at the eye.

So I went looking for a newer 50mm Summicron with such an aperture ring, while looking I was offered a Summilux of the last pre aspheric type for a price which was no more than I was expecting to pay for a Summicron, and on a try it and bring it back if you don't like it basis.

So I tried it, and I love it, so I kept it. Its sharpness is indistinguishable in practice from the Summicron at 4 and below and not much softer at wider apertures (and much better at 1.4 :-)

The ergonomics worked out well too,, there's more to lenses than sharpness

 

Gerry

[michaelwj]

After hearing your imputs, maybe I'll go for the cron and later on get a summarit 50mm 1.5. (I've been comparing sample images on the 1.5 and 1.4 and the former I think I like the look of a bit more)

Too have the 1.5 as a pure bokeh lens and the cron as general purpose, any thoughts on that combo?

 

My TTL were body only and 28 Is a bit too wide for me right now, Im aiming to start with a 50mm and a 90mm

 

One thing you may not have considered apart from the look of the lens is its use. Many older lenses only focus to 1.0m or 0.9m, while newer (1960's on) tend to focus to 0.7m. This difference is not trivial, I know I couldn't live with 1.0m as the closest focusing on my main lens.

The combo you suggest sounds fun, I'd get the cron first.

 

Good luck and enjoy,

Michael

[tobey bilek]

If you can not afford the current 1.4, buy a Summicron, any Summicron. Each version is improved over previous.

 

Dual Ranges have mechanical coupling problems with digital. A Rigid is the very same optics .