Leica Summaron-28 -image thread

[jaapv]

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Difficult to tell IMO, there haven't been many photographs posted with the new lens. I haven't seen Sean Reid's photographs, only those posted on the Leica website and a few in this thread such as the ones Robert has posted. The Leica ones are interesting to me in that they indicate how the lens might handle strong oncoming light (and are closer in that sense to Adam's examples with the old lens) but I'm not sure Robert's show much other than that the lens works and has noticeable vignetting. The only way to have a proper idea about this lens, I think, is to try the lens for yourself and that is what I intend to do during the next week or so. In my case, I want to try it with film and get a sense of how strong the vignetting is and the type of flare that can be induced or not (contrary to what I think Adam and Rick like, I don't want big gobs of flare, haloes and the like, but would rather it was controlled like in the Leica example below and unlike the blobs of flare I'd typically get from my 28 Summicron). In truth, I should be running a mile from this lens – it is expensive, very slow (which will mean having to carry another lens if I expect to be using my camera in anything other than daylight), doesn't focus closer than 1m (which is a disadvantage with a 28mm IMO) and vignettes noticeably – but I like the idea of a tiny lens like this enough that I have to at least try it out for myself. 

 

 

 

 

The vignetting is, according to the technical data online now, 2.5 EV values wide open. In this digital age it is not very relevant, being easily controlled in postprocessing.

 

If you find this lens too expensive, you could have a look at the M-S Optics Apoqualia.

[Robert M Poole]

Difficult to tell IMO, there haven't been many photographs posted with the new lens. I haven't seen Sean Reid's photographs, only those posted on the Leica website and a few in this thread such as the ones Robert has posted. The Leica ones are interesting to me in that they indicate how the lens might handle strong oncoming light (and are closer in that sense to Adam's examples with the old lens) but I'm not sure Robert's show much other than that the lens works and has noticeable vignetting. The only way to have a proper idea about this lens, I think, is to try the lens for yourself and that is what I intend to do during the next week or so. In my case, I want to try it with film and get a sense of how strong the vignetting is and the type of flare that can be induced or not (contrary to what I think Adam and Rick like, I don't want big gobs of flare, haloes and the like, but would rather it was controlled like in the Leica example below and unlike the blobs of flare I'd typically get from my 28 Summicron). In truth, I should be running a mile from this lens – it is expensive, very slow (which will mean having to carry another lens if I expect to be using my camera in anything other than daylight), doesn't focus closer than 1m (which is a disadvantage with a 28mm IMO) and vignettes noticeably – but I like the idea of a tiny lens like this enough that I have to at least try it out for myself.

 

 

You're right, I didn't set out to write a review on the lens or I would have tried it in some different situations to see what it could do. I just walked into the shop and was given it to look at. I'd read briefly about it but other than that it was my first encounter. Saying that, my brief review (basically just what I posted in this thread) on my blog has had over a thousand views [emoji54]

 

www.robertpoolephotography.com

[wattsy]

The vignetting is, according to the technical data online now, 2.5 EV values wide open. In this digital age it is not very relevant, being easily controlled in postprocessing.

Yes, I know (I posted the link to the manual - with the vignetting data - earlier in this thread). I think I'll consider how relevant the vignetting is, thanks.

 

 

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[A miller]

Difficult to tell IMO, there haven't been many photographs posted with the new lens. I haven't seen Sean Reid's photographs, only those posted on the Leica website and a few in this thread such as the ones Robert has posted. The Leica ones are interesting to me in that they indicate how the lens might handle strong oncoming light (and are closer in that sense to Adam's examples with the old lens) but I'm not sure Robert's show much other than that the lens works and has noticeable vignetting. The only way to have a proper idea about this lens, I think, is to try the lens for yourself and that is what I intend to do during the next week or so. In my case, I want to try it with film and get a sense of how strong the vignetting is and the type of flare that can be induced or not (contrary to what I think Adam and Rick like, I don't want big gobs of flare, haloes and the like, but would rather it was controlled like in the Leica example below and unlike the blobs of flare I'd typically get from my 28 Summicron). In truth, I should be running a mile from this lens – it is expensive, very slow (which will mean having to carry another lens if I expect to be using my camera in anything other than daylight), doesn't focus closer than 1m (which is a disadvantage with a 28mm IMO) and vignettes noticeably – but I like the idea of a tiny lens like this enough that I have to at least try it out for myself.

 

 

Ian - to me, that sun blob is quite inappealing and not the type of special flare that i was trying to illustrate. Perhaps the difference is that the sun blob was taken with a digital camera, which is relatively inartful at rendering highlights, whereas the flare that i know and love from this lens comes from film, which is very artful at rendering highlights.

Apples and apples are needed...

Edited October 28, 2016 by A miller

[sdk]

Inherent or not, all lenses offer the photographer expansion of artistry.. Leica lenses offer that "nth" degree more..L

 

I do agree that lenses cannot be creative on their own. It's the person behind the lens and camera that is or isn't creative. Some lenses (including this reissued Summaron 28mm) may inspire a more creative approach, while others (like the 28mm ASPH lenses) might inspire a more documentary/technical approach. However, there is no reason a person with a contemporary high image quality lens can't use that lens for creative purposes, just as there have been many great photographers shooting high-quality documentary working with old-design, aberration-rich lenses throughout the history of photography.

 

I disagree strongly that Leica equipment inherently offers any more capacity for creativity than any other makes do. Camera makers just make tools, and a creative photographer will make use of whatever tools suit their vision and their budget. For some people, that's a Leica, for others it's an Olympus Pen digital, for some it's a Holga, for some it's a digital point and shoot, for others it's an old film camera they picked up for hardly any money. 

 

What I like about Leica M-P system is the combination of their high quality contemporary lenses with small, portable cameras that are easy to carry anywhere. I like the rangefinder for fast, accurate focusing, the traditional controls, the simplicity of the system as a tool. But I can use other cameras like the brilliant Nikon D800E, and I do often shoot the same sort of pictures with both systems. I carry my Leica almost every day though, and usually get out the D800E when I know I want to use its superior resolution sensor, or for macro or long telephoto work, or long exposure night photography, for much of which the M-P is inherently less suitable because it's not an SLR.

Edited October 28, 2016 by sdk

[wattsy]

Ian - to me, that sun blob is quite inappealing and not the type of special flare that i was trying to illustrate. Perhaps the difference is that the sun blob was taken with a digital camera, which is relatively inartful at rendering highlights, whereas the flare that i know and love from this lens comes from film, which is very artful at rendering highlights.

Apples and apples are needed...

It's the absence of blobs, arcs and haloes that interest me. I don't think there is anything inherently "artful" about flare, even if it can be visually appealing in some contexts.

 

 

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[A miller]

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It's the absence of blobs, arcs and haloes that interest me. I don't think there is anything inherently "artful" about flare, even if it can be visually appealing in some contexts.

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Then for you it would seem to come down to a improved size v reduced optical quality trade off

[NB23]

I love the hood.

[adli]

The new lens en tour in Beirut.  In my opinion it is perfect for street photography. The small size of the lens make the camera non intrusive, and it seems to made for shooting at f/8 prefocused to 3 meters. Then you will have almost anything within the depth of field if you are not a pixel peeper.

 

Will post some pictures taken with the lens in a day or two.

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[plantagoo]

Looks really weird on the M240. Somehow as if it was meant for a different camera.

 

Have fun with it. Looking forward to see your pictures.

 

Here are some first shots with the "new" summaron.

 

https://robertpoolephotography.com/2016/10/26/626/

[TheGodParticle/Hari]

I much prefer it without the hood

 

 

[ECohen]

Please excuse my naive questions and know that I sincerely rely on this esteemed forum to help educate me....especially in matters of Leica history

Not being well versed in classic Leica lenses. And under the impression that some classic lenses have unique and special characteristics on film.  These special characteristics don't necessarily translate to today's digital sensors.
This "new" 28mm f/5.6 lens having 6 bit coding is intended for today's  Digital M's
 

What is the appeal of this classic design on today's digital camera?
Why would I choose this over the more versatile elmarit?.....and a little Photoshop.
Is Leica resurrecting the film classics with a "collect 'em all" marketing intent?
 

Thanks in advance for your response.

[MarkP]

Why am I not surprised you got one so quickly TGP :-)

 

Can you please start posting some pics and comparisons to the other 28s?

None down here yet in the Antipodes.

Edited October 29, 2016 by MarkP

[TheGodParticle/Hari]

Why am I not surprised you got one so quickly TGP :-)

 

Can you please start posting some pics and comparisons to the other 28s?

None down here yet in the Antipodes.

Sure thing Mark, will do. Hope you have been well.

 

I only have the 28 Summicrons to compare with though ...

[wattsy]

Then for you it would seem to come down to a improved size v reduced optical quality trade off

 

 

Certainly the size/weight is a major attraction (which is not entirely rational considering that the Summicron I already own is one of the more compact 'faster' lenses in the M range) but, because I like to shoot towards the light I would welcome a lens that didn't flare in the way that modern aspherical lenses tend to do. That said, this thinking is just pre-purchase justification for something I clearly don't have a practical need for and that I probably want because it looks like a nicely made, relatively timeless piece of basic photographic equipment that fits in with the type of gear that I find myself wanting to own nowadays. Photography is becoming an increasingly tangential part of my wider interests and anything that is the antithesis of the 'sharper, better, faster' mindset that I have previously bought into, now gets my attention.

[MarkP]

Sure thing Mark, will do. Hope you have been well.

 

I only have the 28 Summicrons to compare with though ...

 

 

Yes I've been well thanks.

 

If it's the just replaced 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH (11604) then I'm interested as it's my most used 28mm lens.

[james.liam]

Have to hand it to the Leica marketing people.

If you look at the threads here, most on the M side have steadily grown silent since the arrival of the SL, except for this one on this little lens.

Whether it's for everyone, is readily available or even reallly merits its lofty price, they have succeeded in creating quite a buzz.

 

Hari must be BFF with Peter Karbe by now

We should petition Wetzlar for a permanent parking spot for "Herr Doktor Hari". Our inside man at the Mothership

Edited October 29, 2016 by james.liam

[semi-ambivalent]

...just pre-purchase justification for something...

Well, that's an honest remark. Rest assured, the new 5.6/28 will have samples on the used market soon enough, just as there are looow-mileage samples of the recent 2/28+35 and the 2.8/28. You can save some money while ruminating on the reports from the early adopters; balance it all against aesthetics and desire. (That last one always causes problems, some sort of master plan in the way of things.)

 

s-a

 

"I knew when I could go through an entire R.E.I. catalog and not want anything I saw I had made some sort of breakthrough."

 

-A friend (despite being a Canon nutter)

[animalhairs]

The new lens en tour in Beirut.  In my opinion it is perfect for street photography. The small size of the lens make the camera non intrusive, and it seems to made for shooting at f/8 prefocused to 3 meters. Then you will have almost anything within the depth of field if you are not a pixel peeper.

 

Will post some pictures taken with the lens in a day or two.

 

 

That's an attractive lens and hood. Can't wait to throw one on my MP and see what the rendering is like with film. 

Edited October 29, 2016 by animalhairs

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[tsleica]

Sometimes a lens can be just too small...and just a pita to use..fiddly stuff... and I don't have large hands..

I actually like small lenses though...sometimes..

But if Leica came up with a small lightweight body to mount this on..well then...that's another story entirely..maybe worth the price..

I think as an art lens..this would be cool..

But there are so many used options for less cash..