Finally bought 35mm summilux FLE

[jmahto]

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Finally bought 35mm summilux FLE. Spent couple of hours shooting bookshelf trying to understand focus point shift wide open and closed. Finally convinced that I can see exactly what Tim Ashley describes here

Tim Ashley Photography | Leica M 240 with 35mm F1.4 FLE - some observations

 

Short lesson is to forget EVF and enjoy RF focusing. Spent my morning shooting wide open with 2 stop ND filter and found it to be pleasure on M240.

 

Bokeh is nervous wide open though but that's why I have 50lux.

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[mmradman]

Shot as in your example best at f5.6 or f8, save f1.4 - f2 for poor light or main subject you want to separate from background closer to you.

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[jmahto]

Shot as in your example best at f5.6 or f8, save f1.4 - f2 for poor light or main subject you want to separate from background closer to you.

 

I was testing to see the effect by shooting at 1.4 in bright daylight. I did like somewhat dreamy (due to background blur) effect in my picture above. However I do agree that most of my daylight shots will be at f8 for nature shots.

 

I did try shooting indoors at 1.4 and was happy.

[uroman]

any valid comparison to the zeiss 1.4?

[jmahto]

any valid comparison to the zeiss 1.4?

 

I tried to find that myself before buying. I guess Dglloyd liked the zeiss over FLE. I haven't seen Zeiss 1.4 in person but it seems it is little bigger and slightly heavier. I went with FLE since I don't see drove of people selling FLE and ordering Zeiss. Of course the price difference is quite attractive and if that is the driving criteria then choice is clear. I simply took a chance since a known devil is better than unknown.

 

So far I am happy.

Edited December 27, 2014 by jmahto

[freitz]

I went through that article myself before buying the 35 FLE. I bought the lens and haven't thought once about the article in 6 months and 10000 pictures until now. I would enjoy it and shoot.

[james.liam]

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Sean Reid recently did a careful review of the ZM 1,4/35 and substantiated Lloyd Chambers' findings on its technical excellence but in the end, he preferred the FLE's look. Lloyd sold his FLE shortly after the review.

 

Different strokes....

Edited December 27, 2014 by james.liam

[jrp]

Sean Reid recently did a careful review of the ZM 1,4/35 ...but in the end, he preferred the FLE's look.

 

Actually, I thought that he preferred the Zeiss technically, but did not like the amount of viewfinder blockage.

[james.liam]

Actually, I thought that he preferred the Zeiss technically, but did not like the amount of viewfinder blockage.

 

That, primarily and he also mentions better flare resistance, higher contrast and deeper blacks when color images are converted with the Leica.

[Brenton C]

Thanks for this report. Its a bewildering array of options. I am starting to consider options for lens#2 for my M3. Its to be a wide angle, but more than that I don't know.

I take it that exame #2 above is to illustrate "nervous bokeh." What a great turn of phrase.

[keithlaban.co.uk]

To achieve critical focus when shooting from a tripod I use the EVF in combination with magnification and peaking. When shooting hand-held I rely on the rangefinder.

Edited December 28, 2014 by KeithL

[keithlaban.co.uk]

I should add that above applies to my use of the 35mm Summilux ASPH only.

[jmahto]

Few more results for my last few days of walking around and getting used to this lens. I have been using RF focusing and have found no issues. The first picture is at f4 and the second picture is an extreme crop to show sharpness on the fabric.

 

Last three pictures are example of flare. These are the worst in almost 10 shots either directly at the sun or sun just outside the frame. I had the hood on. I can live with this much flare. In comparison my 28mm cron ASPH flares more.

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[jmahto]

I take it that exame #2 above is to illustrate "nervous bokeh." What a great turn of phrase.

 

Yes, the example #2 was a crop of the first picture to show the not so smooth Bokeh. I guess I read someplace else using the phrase "nervous" to describe such. Don't blame me.

[freitz]

I don't think the flaring is that bad. I almost never have flares in my shots, however I tend to shoot before 10 am and after 3:30 in the Mid Atlantic, gives me about 2 hours of non direct sunlight.