B-A-C Posted February 17, 2015 Share #41 Posted February 17, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Since I went back to film I cannot see why I would need the APO. The Lux is an incredible lens. Maybe if I bought a high end digital... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 Hi B-A-C, Take a look here 50/1.4 asph vs 50/2 apo. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
CheshireCat Posted February 17, 2015 Share #42 Posted February 17, 2015 So the APO is clearly more sharp at the edges. Actually, this test does not show that the APO is more sharp at the edges. It just shows that the statuette is in focus on the APO image and out of focus in the Lux image, i.e. the two lenses have a different focus field shape. It also shows that non-round blades can spoil the bokeh when a lens is stopped down. I wish the OP had another picture with the Lux wide open, showing how nice the bokeh is on the Lux wide open, and how 1 stop could make a difference in the overall look of the image. P.S. Some sources state that the Lux is also an APO lens, but not labeled as such. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted February 17, 2015 Share #43 Posted February 17, 2015 Actually, this test does not show that the APO is more sharp at the edges. Maybe. However, this is in line with what I have seen in pictures from another test, which was focused at infinity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted February 17, 2015 Share #44 Posted February 17, 2015 Maybe. However, this is in line with what I have seen in pictures from another test, which was focused at infinity. A plastic-fantastic Canon 50/1.8 ($120) is better than that when properly focused, therefore I have to challenge your statement. Please point us to that other test showing that the Lux can barely resolve a 3 MP sensor at mid-frame, because this is what we are talking about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share #45 Posted February 17, 2015 [...] I wish the OP had another picture with the Lux wide open, showing how nice the bokeh is on the Lux wide open, and how 1 stop could make a difference in the overall look of the image. No pic at f/1.4 sorry but i have posted crops at f/2.8 here. I will post a link to the FF pics when time permits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted February 17, 2015 Share #46 Posted February 17, 2015 Just enlighten me though—in normal picture taking why do you feel that you need to have this Apo lens? Didn't I just say no-one said we need to have the Apo-Summicron-M 50 mm Asph? So why do you allege I felt that I need to have this lens, again? I don't need it. But I want it, I like it, and I'm glad to have it. The results from any Leica M 50 mm lens are great but those from the Apo-Summicron are even better. For picture-making, that's in no way required—but appreciated. In what way is the Summicron-M 50 mm or Summilux-M 50 mm Asph VISIBLY inferior to this lens? Detail resolution, micro-contrast, lateral chromatic aberration, out-of-focus rendition, clarity, overall transparency. When looking at each of these aspects in isolation then some of them will become obvious only at high magnification indeed—but together they form an image that is visibly superior even at small magnifications. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share #47 Posted February 17, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Here is the same boring view with 50/1.4 asph and 50/2 apo at f/2.8. Taken at the same time, under the same light and with the same focus settings as the f/2 pics above. - 50/1.4 asph: http://tinyurl.com/lekoloq - 50/2 apo: http://tinyurl.com/n6dyqd4 (M240, tripod, self timer, focus on "IX" with EVF at 10x magnification, 11 MB files) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedi996sps Posted February 17, 2015 Share #48 Posted February 17, 2015 APO, LUX and an old Nocti... i didn't need any of them, and did not get one over the other because it was 'sooooo' much better. I have them and will keep all three, because i like the different 'look' that they all give. Three 50mm lenses is perhaps overkill, but i am thoroughly enjoying using all of them, and isn't that what it is all about? and to my eyes, the APO is giving a cleaner, crisper image. A couple of real life examples attached. No doubt they would have been equally pleasing if i had used the LUX, but in a different way. Cant imagine for one minute that these images will change anyone's mind about the APO, and people will be rushing out to get one. But for me, they make me smile and all enthusiastic about getting out and using it again for the next shot. 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/241092-5014-asph-vs-502-apo/?do=findComment&comment=2766094'>More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted February 17, 2015 Share #49 Posted February 17, 2015 Didn't I just say no-one said we need to have the Apo-Summicron-M 50 mm Asph? So why do you allege I felt that I need to have this lens, again? I don't need it. But I want it, I like it, and I'm glad to have it. The results from any Leica M 50 mm lens are great but those from the Apo-Summicron are even better. For picture-making, that's in no way required—but appreciated. Hear, hear, I wholeheartedly concur . And, indeed "not needing it" could certainly be said of anything Leica together with a whole host of other things we want ...... but what's that got to do with anything? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Livingston Posted February 17, 2015 Share #50 Posted February 17, 2015 How did you get on with your Apo on your recent trip? Delighted I would guess. Will you keep both? What is your opinion of the two now you have had a chance to use it? I would be interested in your comments... (BTW. You will be pleased to know that I bought myself a 50 Lux last week from Red Dot Cameras, so will no longer hint that I would like to buy yours!! Absolutely delighted with it... I should have bought this lens first... Immediately took to it. - it feels so familiar already). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted February 17, 2015 Share #51 Posted February 17, 2015 Please point us to that other test showing that the Lux can barely resolve a 3 MP sensor at mid-frame, because this is what we are talking about. I don't know what you are talking about. I'm talking about the pictures of a clock in the center and a statue of to the side, which is softer with the 50 lux. Here is the infinity test I was referring to. Compare the clock tower crop at f2 and you'll see the same difference. Quick Test of the Apo-Summicron 2.0/50mm Asph. | Wild Places Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmobile Posted February 17, 2015 Share #52 Posted February 17, 2015 Perhaps this come down to two simple options: 1. Perfection. 2. Character (borne of imperfection). Personally, I don't think anyone needs to 'justify' owning something like the 50mm APO on needs grounds. Its a masterpiece of achievement and a wonderful thing to own. As for its importance in making photos better? IMHO, close to or actually zero. There are already some spectacular 'M' performers out there, which give enough of enough to do all we need. I feel the 50 APO is a conceptual triumph: it shows what is possible; however, at 24MP.... I am far from convinced it matters much. There is only so much perfection you can pull out there. I would of course love to own one, as long as I did not have to pay for it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
indergaard Posted February 17, 2015 Share #53 Posted February 17, 2015 Here is the same boring view with 50/1.4 asph and 50/2 apo at f/2.8. Taken at the same time, under the same light and with the same focus settings as the f/2 pics above.- 50/1.4 asph: http://tinyurl.com/lekoloq - 50/2 apo: http://tinyurl.com/n6dyqd4 (M240, tripod, self timer, focus on "IX" with EVF at 10x magnification, 11 MB files) Thanks. Besides the +3 sat of the APO50 image, I really can't tell much difference. Yes I noticed the horrible blob in the middle, and that it is rougher on the Lux, but that's about it - the specular highlight looks bad in both pictures no matter what. I would be more interested in seeing them wide open though. Lux at 1.4 and Cron at 2, with a subject about 2 meters away, and some distance available behind the subject. Comparing the Cron and Lux at the same aperture is kinda pointless. That's like comparing the Noctilux and the Lux at f/1.4, which makes no sense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share #54 Posted February 17, 2015 [...] Comparing the Cron and Lux at the same aperture is kinda pointless. That's like comparing the Noctilux and the Lux at f/1.4, which makes no sense. Matter of tastes i guess, it makes a lot of sense to me. I would not compare lenses at different apertures personally and i never did it if memory serves but YMMV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted February 17, 2015 Share #55 Posted February 17, 2015 My humble opinion is, not knowing the APO50 from own experience, that the APO50 is, on a Monochrome, a very nice and handy, non-cumbersome alternative for a sheetfilm camera of 5*7 or 8*10 in your backpack for landscape photography. I think BerndReini's link above illustrates that unequivocal. I would be afraid, or my subjects, to do portraiture with it. For glamourphotography, magazines etc. it might give a different / new imaging style. For streetphotography it probably has no surplus-value above a Summarit or Elmar 50 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted February 17, 2015 Share #56 Posted February 17, 2015 I don't know what you are talking about. I'm talking about the pictures of a clock in the center and a statue of to the side, which is softer with the 50 lux. Here is the infinity test I was referring to. Compare the clock tower crop at f2 and you'll see the same difference. Quick Test of the Apo-Summicron 2.0/50mm Asph. | Wild Places We are talking about the same thing. Thanks for the link. The 1:1 crops on that page show that the APO is better at f/2 outside of the center due to a flatter focus field and better corrected aberrations. Still the Lux has a much higher resolution than what is presented in the "clock and statuette" test in this thread. In other words, you could move the statuette a bit and show that the Lux "is better" than the APO, just because the statuette will be in the Lux's plane of focus and not in the APO's. Hard to do that with buildings at infinity, though . In that case, just stop down the Lux to have the same quality, and - as far as I can see in the test - better than the APO at f/2 (and I like it better at f/8 too). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Warwick Posted February 17, 2015 Share #57 Posted February 17, 2015 I feel the 50 APO is a conceptual triumph: it shows what is possible; however, at 24MP.... I am far from convinced it matters much. There is only so much perfection you can pull out there. Totally agree with that. I've tried the 50mm APO on an M240. The look was very smooth and with high resolution, the colors very nice, no field curvature etc. All in all - very impressive. Beautiful in fact. BUT .... I would equally say that I didn't see an obvious difference in centre RESOLUTION vs a Lux (or vs a non-APO Summicron). Is this surprising? Perhaps not in my view. I could have misinterpreted this comment (and clearly the M240 didn't exist then) but perhaps we need higher resolving sensors ..... such as the Monochrom that i think punches above its weight (beyond 24MP) ..... "The lens will of course only reach peak performance in conjunction with the M9 Monochrom because it has the resolution" ....... Peter Karbe & the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. Same type of comment I got from a major Leica boutique too ....... the Monochrom will show the difference achieved by the APO with regards to resolution. The M9 or M240 -- less obvious perhaps? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
don daniel Posted February 17, 2015 Share #58 Posted February 17, 2015 I got my Apo-Summicron 50 a few weeks ago. For those of you who can understand German they can read my small review of this lens. The other ones might have look at the included pictures. I think they explain without words why I have lent my Summilux 50 to a friend of mine so that he can decide if he wants to buy it. I will not use the Summilux anylonger. I liked it very much but the Apo-Summicron is the ultimate 50mm lens for a Messsucherkamera. Das Apo 50 – Leicas optischer Geniestreich! | danielnussbaumer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted February 17, 2015 Share #59 Posted February 17, 2015 but perhaps we need higher resolving sensors And you will be getting them too, because it's one of the certain places sensor design can go, and because it's the singular spec Marketing can use to hook consumers for the next 'You want the best, don't you?' upgrade campaign. s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted February 17, 2015 Share #60 Posted February 17, 2015 And the whole flare panic around the apo50 is gone? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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