Summicron 28 quality differences?

[juppmain]

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Hello, 

 

I'd like to get a 28 mm lens. I'm interested in low light use, F 2.0 would be nice.

I read a lot about the Summicron and there seems to be mixed opinions about that lens.

Some have flare issues, focus shift, etc...but there are also folks who say it is their favorite lens of all time.

 

So what are your opinions about that lens?

How do you like it on film/digital?

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

[jip]

I have it I love it!

 

Way better than the 28 elmarit-M ASPH and I thought it couldn't get any better when I still had the Elmarit-M ASPH...

 

 

Read my review about the 28 elmarit, and make it twice as nice with a classical rendering and you've got the summicron.

 

http://jipvankuijk.nl/leica-elmarit-m-28mm-f2-8-asph/

[sdk]

I actually have the opposite opinion from Jip, and prefer the Elmarit ASPH 28mm to the Summicron ASPH, especially for landscape work. However, I am keeping both, and like the Summicron for photographing people at events and indoors. Both are very good lenses and both produce a sharp image at the focal distance. Both have some field curvature, and both are a bit flare prone if the front element is struck by light from the side. The Elmarit is less isolating at wider apertures than the Summicron, both because it does not open as wide and because it has much smoother bokeh (at moderate focusing distances, circa 2 meters and up, though it gets a bit rougher at close distances of about 0.7-1 meter). The Elmarit's generally smoother bokeh and high contrast makes the lens more Zeiss-like, more modern, in its rendering. It is more transparent, and imposes little signature due to its well-controlled aberrations.

Edited July 10, 2015 by sdk

[lct]

You will see lots of posts about this lens here. All i can say is people claiming that the 28/2 has focus shift or is "boring" have never used one or got a faulty copy. I have no experience with the new Summilux but the Summicron is the best 28mm lens i've ever used over my otherwise favorite Zuiko 28/2 and Elmarit 28/2.8 asph. YMMV.

[lct]

Contrary to what sdk wrote above, and with all due respect, i find that in general use my Elmarit 28/2.8 asph has a slightly harsher bokeh.

Edited July 10, 2015 by lct

[rafikiphoto]

No flare or focus problems with my 28/2. One of my favourites.

[Jeff S]

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I read a lot about the Summicron and there seems to be mixed opinions about that lens.

 

You mean just like every piece of gear discussed on the forum?

 

Only way to know is to find a sample (rent, borrow or buy) and determine if it suits your style and preferences.

 

For me, it was a favorite on my M8.2, but now the 35 Summicron ASPH has substituted on the M240 for its similar FOV.  And, yes, there are mixed opinions here about that lens, too….doesn't matter to me.

 

There are also myriad discussions about the hood on the 28 Summicron ASPH…many, like me, have found a smaller one…but recommendations vary….not surprisingly.

 

Jeff

[LeicaPassion]

It is my favorite lens for street. With the MM1, it is sharp without being digitally harsh. Tones are splendid. Images are more film-like than digital at least IMHO. Its rendering is more laid back than the 35 lux.

[farnz]

Along with my f/1.0 Noctilux it is the most flare-resistant lens I have ever used.  I have heard plenty of people point to focus shift in many fast rangefinder lenses but the 28 Summicron is not one of them and I have never experienced focus shift in mine.

 

Pete.

[jrp]

Mine is back in Germany being tweaked; I don't think that it was ever right (massive back focus).  The main difference that you will see between the Summicron and Elmarit is that the latter produces more contrasty pictures, which makes them harder to post process.

[juppmain]

Thanks for your input, very helpful.

Sounds like I the perfect 28 for my needs.

[jip]

I have both, but think the summicron is smoother overal especially the bokeh... I find the Elmarit harsher. More modern sure, but my summicron is absolutely not prone to flare!!

[MarkP]

I fully agree with all of the positive comments about the 28 Summicron posted above.

[IWC Doppel]

A superb lens the 'modern, boring' comments I don't feel apply to the 28mm Summicron, it has a softness and naturalness to the bokeh coupled with incredible resolution. I think the 28 Summicron has a lot to live up to and it's light, small enough and I have used it since my M8 days with great pleasure

 

It is right at home wide open with performance that some lenses at F4/5.6 struggle to match

[menos I M6]

I have personally owned and used three copies of the 28 Summicron ASPH (and tried a few more in shops when buying one).

All copies I have bought have had original 6-bit coding lens mounts, so they where of later production dates.

 

None of the copies I have tried showed any optical issues one would be concerned like the mentioned soft corners, focus shift, etc …

Some copies I have had in my hands showed the often discussed issue of loose front part of the lens.

From the three personal copies of the lens I had (I still have the last one of these and will not make the mistake of selling a 28 Summicron again), only one had the loose front part of the lens which was an easy fix (testing after the fix did not reveal any optical issues).

 

My personal opinion: there are either broken or good copies of the lens around the second hand market. When you buy one that is broken, either get it fixed or replaced. Any 28 Summicron that is not broken is a fantastic lens and one should not be reluctant to own it as every day one doesn't own it one cannot go out and can produce great pictures with it.

 

The 28/2.8 is not my cup of tea - although it's size is fantastic, it's super high contrast is simply not suited to everyone's taste (mine it is not).

 

 

One tip:

When buying a 28 Summicron, it is imperative NOT to use the supplied OEM lens hood (large hard plastic) and handle the lens but it's lens hood. This will put undue repeated stress on the lens' assembly and will over time result in loose mechanics of the lens.

A much better lens hood (if needed at all, as the 28/2 itself can be used without reservation without hood) is the old 35 Summilux ASPH square plastic hood with lock ring or (the very expensive) 12466 round aluminum lens hood, made for the 28/2 and 35/1.4 ASPH.

Edited July 14, 2015 by menos I M6

[MarkP]

 

A much better lens hood (if needed at all, as the 28/2 itself can be used without reservation without hood) is the old 35 Summilux ASPH square plastic hood with lock ring or (the very expensive) 12466 round aluminum lens hood, made for the 28/2 and 35/1.4 ASPH.

 

Agreed. I use both of these alternative hoods depending on my mood.

However the old 35mm Summilux hood (which I mostly use) does sit right against and crowd the aperture ring.

That gorgeous round scalloped hood is very expensive and now difficult to find.

[MarkP]

I refer back to my Boricron posts (from #14) 

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/210636-tim-ashley-on-m240-and-28-cron/page-2

[nelly]

Another vote in favor of the 28mm Summicron which I have been using flawlessly on my M6 and M9 for a number of years

And like others have noted I also switched out the cron hood for the older 35mm Lux hood too.

[DBAUDUI1]

The new release of the Summicron 28 has a better hood and is even better than the first release of the Summicron 28. It is really a perfect lens: superb resolution and colour rendition; no astigmatism, no flare, no distorsion,  no curvature of field and no back focus. Mecanically it is also more compact and more solid (no loose screw any more).

It is nearly as compact as the new Elmarit 28 and is really a winner!

 

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Hallo,

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[DBAUDUI1]

I have actually sold the old release of the summicron 28 to buy the new release of it jusr for these reasons. The old release was also veru good, but the new one is more suited to the digital M 240 and followers.