First Summilux

[asiafish]

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I've got a fairly extensive M kit, with an M-E and M Monochrom (CCD) and th following lenses.

 

Leica:

28/2.8 asph

35/2.5

50/2 (latest non-APO)

90/2.8 (late 1960s)

 

Zeiss:

50/1.5 C Sonnar (modern)

50/1.5 Sonnar (1937 uncoated)

50/1.5 Jupiter 3 (Sonnar knock-off)

50/2 Sonnar (1941 coated)

 

Yes, I love Sonnars for their particular rendering, but also for their small size and light weight.  As the list above suggests, I've always gone for small and light over fast lenses, but as I use the M-E more I am interested in getting 35mm and/or 50mm Summilux lenses for a two lens, do everything including low light travel kit.

 

I've always favored 50mm, but am leaning toward the 35/1.4 FLE instead of the 50/1.4 even though I am sure that the 50/1.4 is more suited to the way I shoot.  I really enjoy both my 50 Cron and 35 Summarit, but on the M-E I've often wished for the extra speed once the sun goes down.

 

Suggstions?

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[rirakuma]

Based on your kit I the 35 lux is an excellent choice however I personally favor the pre FLE version for its smooth rendition. This will obviously depend on your style but the pre FLE version is immune to distracting bokeh while the FLE has better contrast near MFD and more bite in general. I've tried many times to provoke the pre FLE for a distracting rendering but it never disappoints and is by far my favourite 35mm in terms of performance.

[Peter H]

Clearly, some people use fast lenses primarily for narrow depth of field while others prefer them for their light-gathering abilities. 

 

Since it sounds to me as though you would be in the latter camp, I'd suggest the 35 1.4  FE will be the most suitable.

 

I've found the 35 Summilux easier to use in genuinely low light (a common feature where I live)  that the 50, enabling me to use quite slow shutter speeds and still get crisp sharpness.

 

Just as a contrast with rirakuma's sentiment in the previous post, which makes much sense, I agree the out of focus areas may, very occasionally, not be quite as silky in some situations as the pre FE equivalent, but I can honestly say that I've never once had a photo spoiled by it, but quite often taken a photo with the FE version that I would have struggled to get with a different lens. I recommend it.

[wattsy]

I've always favored 50mm, but am leaning toward the 35/1.4 FLE instead of the 50/1.4 even though I am sure that the 50/1.4 is more suited to the way I shoot. 

 

 

Sounds like you have answered your own question.

[wda]

Why try to kick the habit? GO for the 50mm. But don't sell your Summicron which is lighter and sometimes favoured for some trips. This is based on my experiences.

[TomB_tx]

I always favored 50 over 35 on film, but shooting with the M9 I use 35 most of the time. I find on digital a good 35 can crop to 50 FOV with very acceptable results, so I can use the 35 most of the time.

I haven't been successful un-cropping a 50 to a 35 FOV...

Also, a 35 is generally useful for interior shooting, where low light is most often the case.

I use the tiny 35 1.4 Nokton for indoor low light, but keep looking for the right deal on the original 35 Summilux.

[lct]

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35 and 50mm are too different to be compared. Only you can know which FL you need more actually.

As far as 35mm is concerned, you miss a 35/2 or a 35/1.4 but if you intend to keep your 35/2.5, a 35/1.4 will make more sense obviously. Everything has been said about Summilux asph and pre-asph lenses. They are so different that only you can know if you need the softness and glow of the pre-asph at full aperture with generally smooth bokeh and a lot of flare, or the sharpness of the asph with not-so-smooth bokeh around f/2 - f/2.8 and much less flare overall.

As for 50mm, you just miss a sharp 50/1.4 and the Summilux asph is the best one as you know it certainly.

[Mornnb]

As you've already got a 50mm Sonnar, I recommend going with the Summilux 35mm FLE.

The 50mm Summilux is simply a better 50mm Sonnar, but it does much the same thing. You will obtain more value from being able to shoot 35mm at f1.4.

[asiafish]

As you've already got a 50mm Sonnar, I recommend going with the Summilux 35mm FLE.

The 50mm Summilux is simply a better 50mm Sonnar, but it does much the same thing.

 

The Sonnar is very much a specialty lens.  Yes its 50mm, and yes it is high speed, but it is not in any way perfect.  The flaws are what a Sonnar so charming, and I will always own one, but I won't always use it.

[asiafish]

One thing is that of the lenses I own now, the 35 Summarit and 50 Summicron are my workhorse lenses, and between them I like the 35 Summarit a bit better.  I would sell the Summicron if I bought the 50 LUX, but I would keep the Summarit if I bought the 35 Lux FLE.

[lct]

Aside from their focal length, the Sonnar-C 50/1.5 and the Summilux 50/1.4 asph have little in common i must say. I use the former for soft portraits at f/1.5 where it is rather unique, but focus shift is too strong in RF mode IMHO. No focussing problem in EVF mode though but the Summilux asph is much sharper below f/2.8 anyway. 

[Mornnb]

One thing is that of the lenses I own now, the 35 Summarit and 50 Summicron are my workhorse lenses, and between them I like the 35 Summarit a bit better. I would sell the Summicron if I bought the 50 LUX, but I would keep the Summarit if I bought the 35 Lux FLE.

I did. The Summarit is a perfect street photography lens. It is harmlessly tiny and has a very high contrast rendering that looks great in monochrome.

[asiafish]

Aside from their focal length, the Sonnar-C 50/1.5 and the Summilux 50/1.4 asph have little in common i must say. I use the former for soft portraits at f/1.5 where it is rather unique, but focus shift is too strong in RF mode IMHO. No focussing problem in EVF mode though but the Summilux asph is much sharper below f/2.8 anyway. 

No EVF mode for me, I shoot an M-E and M Monochrom (CCD).

 

My Sonnars are all quite sharp wide-open, but all are optimized for f/1.5 except for the f/2, which is optimized for f/2.

[asiafish]

I did. The Summarit is a perfect street photography lens. It is harmlessly tiny and has a very high contrast rendering that looks great in monochrome.

 

Looks great in color too.  It is one of my favorite lenses and despite owning many 50mm lenses, I've been quite happy with the little Summarit as my only 35 for going on three years now.  I just want more speed for the M-E.

[uhoh7]

FLE is an unbelievable lens.

 

One of the few I still lust for

[lct]

[...] My Sonnars are all quite sharp wide-open, but all are optimized for f/1.5 except for the f/2, which is optimized for f/2.

 

Mine is optimized for f/1.5 as well but as far as sharpness at full aperture is concerned, it doesn't play in the same league as the Summilux asph ii must say. All the charm of the Sonnar lies in this softness though IMHO. I like much the Summilux pre-asph as well but the Sonnar is my favorite 50 for soft portraits by far. YMMV. BTW if you're after the same rendition in 35mm, i would stay away from the 35/1.4 FLE that you could find harsh by comparison.

[asiafish]

Mine is optimized for f/1.5 as well but as far as sharpness at full aperture is concerned, it doesn't play in the same league as the Summilux asph ii must say. All the charm of the Sonnar lies in this softness though IMHO. I like much the Summilux pre-asph as well but the Sonnar is my favorite 50 for soft portraits by far. YMMV. BTW if you're after the same rendition in 35mm, i would stay away from the 35/1.4 FLE that you could find harsh by comparison.

 

Not after Sonnar look in a 35 or 50 Lux as I've already got four Sonnars for that.  What I want with a Lux in both focal lengths is an all-around suitable for everything from portraits to landscape, travel, street, artistic and everything else I happy to see when out and about, but also fast enough for available darkness in color with the M-E.  Currently my 50 Cron and 35 Summarit have those roles, but obviously aren't fast enough in low light on the M-E, though they do fine on the Monochrom as that camera has a clean-enough ISO 5000.  The M-E is clean enough to ISO 1250, so f/1.4 should be adequate where f2.5 is fine on the Monochrom.

 

This is just a case of which to buy this year, and which to save until next year.  I plan on sitting out the upgrade dance on bodies for the entireM240 generation and perhaps even whatever comes next as I love the M9 look and my M-E has a brand new sensor (original type) and my Monochrom is a brand ne replacement camera (also original type sensor).

[lct]

The current Summilux 35 & 50 are the way to go then.

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[asiafish]

The current Summilux 35 & 50 are the way to go then.

 

The problem is that I woud love both, but can only budget one.

[lct]

If you feel that your four Sonnar 50 and your Summicron 50 are sharp enough for your needs, your only reason to buy a 6th 50 would be GAS if you ask me.