Just "accidently" bought a 50mm Summilux Asph

[Poki]

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Hi together,

 

just "accidently" bought a Leica Summilux 50mm Asph in very good condition off ebay. I followed the prices on local ebay listings for a full year now, and never have seen one of these lenses going for less than €2k. So I thought there's no harm in bidding €1600, and to my surprise, I won the bid. I am a 50mm guy, so I think there's no harm in trying the Summilux for that price. 

 

My current 50mm lens is a Leica 50mm Summicron Type IV (11819). How does the current Summilux stack up to that lens? And if you were in my situation, what would you do? Resell the Summilux for maybe a small profit, keep the 'Lux and sell the Summicron (which I also bought used, so I probably wouldn't lose much money there either) or keep both? Any other thoughts?

[Peter Kilmister]

I doubt you will use the Cron now you have the Lux. I did a deal on getting an APO Cron and it is so brilliant that I have hardly touched my Lux except to do comparison tests.

Anyway, well done for getting a bargain. The Lux is a very good lens.

[sblitz]

if you can see the difference in the rendering between the two, as some do (warmer, cooler, favors blues, favors reds, sharp in the corners, more of glow, too clinical, etc) then keep both. If not, sell the 'cron and buy yourself another focal length. IMHO

[earleygallery]

I don't know the prices but just be careful that it's a genuine sale if you have indeed got what seems like a huge bargain! There may be reasons why it didn't achieve the usual price.

 

Pay by PayPal only.

[Poki]

Thanks for your replies! 

 

@Peter Kilmister: Ideally, I'd love to have a combination of the 50 APO 'Cron and the 50 Noctilux, but that's simply not in my budget at the moment. And while the non-APO 'Cron already is a great lens, having a potentially better lens which also offers a stop more light sounds like a good idea. I just hope the 'Lux won't be worse than the 'Cron at f/2.

 

@sblitz: I've seen many samples from both, and they definitely render quite different. However, I like to keep my gear as straightforward as possible, so I want to avoid having a 50mm lens sitting around and not being used too much. Guess I have to try the 'Lux to see if I like it more than the 'Cron.

 

@earleygallery: It was like a third cheaper than the cheapest prices you usually can find the 'Lux Asph, or about the same price you usually find the pre-Asph 'Lux. A very good deal, but not too good to be true. Also, very highly rated seller who offers PayPal, so I'd say the risk is rather low. Got all my Leica equipment through ebay and never had a problem.

[Poki]

Also, just looked at the serial number, and the lens seems to be made in 2013. Not sure if it makes any difference compared to, say, the same model of lens made in the 90's, but I'm somewhat excited to try it out and see if there's any difference in build quality compared to my other Leica lenses, which all were built in the 80's. 

[Rus]

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Personally I find the 50 lux ASPH a very nice lens. Do try it out and see if you like its rendering AND weight, as these things are quite subjective.

[Poki]

Personally I find the 50 lux ASPH a very nice lens. Do try it out and see if you like its rendering AND weight, as these things are quite subjective.

 

 

Yeah, the weight might be a problem. 140 grams more than my current go-to Summicron is quite a bit for a setup I'm wearing literally all the time. Also, the finder blockage might be mildly annoying, and according to the web, the focus ring is a lot stiffer than on most lenses (although I'm used to the 90 'Cron, and it can't be worse than that, can it?). I guess I have to wait and see whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

[dpitt]

Also, just looked at the serial number, and the lens seems to be made in 2013. Not sure if it makes any difference compared to, say, the same model of lens made in the 90's, but I'm somewhat excited to try it out and see if there's any difference in build quality compared to my other Leica lenses, which all were built in the 80's. 

 

Not much difference , but the more recent will have digital encoding out of the box. 

Summilux vs Summicron are different, ASPH vs pre-ASPH is different.

 

So I would not mind keeping both, they will both have their strong and weak points. e.g.

- the weight alone is reason enough for me to keep the summicron also. 

- my summicron has a focussing tab which I prefer

- I prefer the way DOF gradually drops with pre-ASPH lenses in most situations

- I prefer the Summicron in daylight and the Summilux  in low light. Even when stopped down a bit.

- The sharpness and full stop advantage of the summilux ASPH make it unique in low light possibilities and small DOF shots

[Peter Kilmister]

@Poki: Don't buy a Noctilux without trying it first. It is enormous, very heavy, and blocks the viewfinder. IMO a costly disaster unless you really need f/0.95.

If you pick up a Noctilux cheaply on eBay then it has probably been stolen. The same applies to any cheap lens on eBay. Good dealers keep a "shit list" of stolen products.

Ask for the serial number before buying and check it with a good dealer.

In most countries it is illegal to sell stolen goods.

[Poki]

@Poki: Don't buy a Noctilux without trying it first. It is enormous, very heavy, and blocks the viewfinder. IMO a costly disaster unless you really need f/0.95.

If you pick up a Noctilux cheaply on eBay then it has probably been stolen. The same applies to any cheap lens on eBay. Good dealers keep a "shit list" of stolen products.

Ask for the serial number before buying and check it with a good dealer.

In most countries it is illegal to sell stolen goods.

 

 

Thanks for the tip! Ever since getting the 90 'Cron, I'm very aware of just how important the size and weight of a lens is. That's why I use this lens only when a subject calls for it, I never have it mounted just for fun. However, should I decide to keep the 'Lux, I won't be getting a Noctilux anyhow, because the 'Lux is a "good enough" compromise for size, weight and aperture that it could, theoretically, be my only 50mm lens. Just have to see how well I like it.

 

As for stolen lenses, I always check various online databases before buying a lens online. Checking back with my Leica dealer is a good idea, too! However, especially with auctions, there are good deals to be made, and I'm not scared to take a deal when I see one (as long as it's not actually too cheap to be true).

 

 

Not much difference , but the more recent will have digital encoding out of the box. 

Summilux vs Summicron are different, ASPH vs pre-ASPH is different.

 

So I would not mind keeping both, they will both have their strong and weak points. e.g.

- the weight alone is reason enough for me to keep the summicron also. 

- my summicron has a focussing tab which I prefer

- I prefer the way DOF gradually drops with pre-ASPH lenses in most situations

- I prefer the Summicron in daylight and the Summilux  in low light. Even when stopped down a bit.

- The sharpness and full stop advantage of the summilux ASPH make it unique in low light possibilities and small DOF shots

 

6-bit coding isn't important to me - setting it manually in the menu or choosing the auto option doesn't make a huge difference imho. However, it will probably be good for the resell value should I decide to sell it.

 

Both, my Summicron and the Summilux ASPH, share a similar "tiger claw" focus tab, so there's no difference in that regard. However, the handling and rendering seem to be very different, so I'll have to try and see if I can sell one of them without regretting it.

[lct]

The 50/1.4 asph has no tiger claw focus tab. Tiger claw is like this (pic). I have those lenses as well. The 50/2 v4 is significantly smaller, lighter and softer in borders and corners at f/2. Beware of stiff focus ring on the 50/1.4 asph. If it is like mine, using it extensively won't be enough to fix this.
 

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[Poki]

The 50/1.4 asph has no tiger claw focus tab. Tiger claw is like this (pic). I have those lenses as well. The 50/2 v4 is significantly smaller, lighter and softer in borders and corners at f/2. Beware of stiff focus ring on the 50/1.4 asph. If it is like mine, using it extensively won't be enough to fix this.

 

406475710_o.jpg

 

 

Oh, sorry, I was under the impression that the "tiger claw" term referred to the type of focus tab the 50 1.4 ASPH has. In any case, my Type IV 50mm Summicron has the same type of focus tab the 50 'Lux has, and that's my favorite type of focus tab. 

 

Are you sure the 50 'Cron is softer in the borders than the 'Lux at f/2? Because in my experience, the Summicron is plenty sharp across the frame even wide open. 

 

The stiff focus ring could be a problem. I'll try it, and if I don't like it, I am going to be able to sell it without losing money, so I'm not in a hurry.

[lct]

[...] in my experience, the Summicron is plenty sharp across the frame even wide open [...]

 

Been using mine since the eighties... Even the 50/2 v5 is stil soft on borders and corners at f/2. The only 50/2 plenty sharp at f/2 across the frame is the Summicron 50/2 apo. BTW the 50/1.4 asph is indeed sharper than the 50/2 non apo there but plenty sharp across the frame it is not below f/2.8 or f/4.

[uhoh7]

according to Puts, the v4 50 cron is sharper than the asph lux at F/2 close up.  At the same time it's fantastic at infinity across the frame from F/4 on. As the OP notes it's tiny and under 200 grams. 

 

No doubt the asph is super, and nice and fast. Its 335 grams and quite a bit bigger. Sometimes that matters alot.

 

I have 10 fifties. I use the v4 cron by far the most. Mandler's masterpiece, and arguably the best 50 of the 20th century. 

 

However for 1600USD I would buy a asph also LOL

[semi-ambivalent]

Poki,

 

The 50 V4 is one of my favorite lenses, if not the favorite. You got such a good deal on the Summilux perhaps there's no need to have only one, to have to decide. I shoot film so I can't weigh in on ultimate resolutions, and it's unlikely we see in the same manner so I can't speak to any differences in the way the two render or which you might prefer. I had a few 1.4 AiSes in my Nikon days but all my Leica lenses are 1:2 or slower but that max. aperture has rarely bothered me and never stopped me from getting a shot I wanted. I'd say keep both for now and decide later, in the fullness of time. It's not likely you're going to take a loss on the Summilux and the Summicron, being 2nd hand to begin with, a loss would be small indeed. (The regret perhaps larger. )

 

Here's a couple images of my usual kit and what it can do. Enjoy your quandary!

 

s-a

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[Poki]

according to Puts, the v4 50 cron is sharper than the asph lux at F/2 close up.  At the same time it's fantastic at infinity across the frame from F/4 on. As the OP notes it's tiny and under 200 grams. 

 

No doubt the asph is super, and nice and fast. Its 335 grams and quite a bit bigger. Sometimes that matters alot.

 

I have 10 fifties. I use the v4 cron by far the most. Mandler's masterpiece, and arguably the best 50 of the 20th century. 

 

However for 1600USD I would buy a asph also LOL

 

All the samples I've seen also seemed to show the 'Cron to be sharper than the 'Lux. Having said that, the bokeh of the Summilux ASPH looks extremely nice, and it deals with light sources within the picture amazingly well. 

 

I guess my lens collection will just have to grow, too many different lenses for different shots. I just couldn't resist trying the 'Lux at that price, and I'm pretty sure there's nothing to lose here.

 

Poki,

 

The 50 V4 is one of my favorite lenses, if not the favorite. You got such a good deal on the Summilux perhaps there's no need to have only one, to have to decide. I shoot film so I can't weigh in on ultimate resolutions, and it's unlikely we see in the same manner so I can't speak to any differences in the way the two render or which you might prefer. I had a few 1.4 AiSes in my Nikon days but all my Leica lenses are 1:2 or slower but that max. aperture has rarely bothered me and never stopped me from getting a shot I wanted. I'd say keep both for now and decide later, in the fullness of time. It's not likely you're going to take a loss on the Summilux and the Summicron, being 2nd hand to begin with, a loss would be small indeed. (The regret perhaps larger. )

 

Here's a couple images of my usual kit and what it can do. Enjoy your quandary!

 

s-a

 

 

semi-ambivalent, thank you, that sounds like great advice! Most probably, neither of the two lenses will lose much value in the next months, so I'm in no hurry to decide which one(s) to keep. To be honest, I miss the depth of field capabilities of my NEX-7 / Mitakon 35mm T/0.95 combo, and while the Mitakon lens handled horribly and was far too heavy for a walkaround lens, it did indeed produce rather nice images. Ahh, can't wait to finally try the Summilux ... Come on, ebay, ship already!

[lct]

[...] I miss the depth of field capabilities of my NEX-7 / Mitakon 35mm T/0.95 combo [...]

 

You should get about the same DoF with a 50/1.4 on a Leica M.

[Poki]

Received the 'Lux today and have to say the first impression is very good. The focus ring is much smoother and easier to turn than expected (I thought it would be closer to the focus ring of the 90mm Summicron tbh). The aperture ring has no play and feels like it's engineered to a higher level of precision than the aperture rings of my older Leica lenses. And, although I didn't have time to shoot anything yet, just testing a few shots around the house already shows amazing bokeh! Can't wait to try the 'Lux for portraits.

 

The only little downside is the built-in lens hood. It's tight and seems well made at first glance, but the way it is built means you can get it stuck a little if you try to retract it from just one side. Not a big deal, but it seems the 50 APO 'Cron is the only lens with a flawless built-in lens hood.

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Hallo,

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