B-A-C Posted March 31, 2017 Share #21 Â Posted March 31, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is the latest happy discovery in the leica world: the lux asph "is also apo, yayyy". And yet, there is no way to tell. Just another justification to justify unreasonable love for the Leica magic. Â That's like eating kosher and then on the 6 o'clock news they tell you that you've always been served pork disguised as beef. You just couldn't tell from all the great taste (true story). APO beef. It always was APO but you didn't know. Tasty APO Beef. Â I own the summilux asph and I don't like it compared to the older 50s. Totally lacks personality. Now it's APO you say? Suddenly I'm starting to love it... Â I don't really understand the post. Â Peter Karbe said the Lux is an APO long ago. Â They didn't designate it as such for marketing purposes. Â Good day sir! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Hi B-A-C, Take a look here Choosing a 50mm: What made you decide?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jeff S Posted March 31, 2017 Share #22 Â Posted March 31, 2017 Karbe gives insights into the design goals and build challenges in this 2009 interview... http://www.shutterbug.com/content/leica-lens-saga-interview-peter-karbe#5DkPRFvO17CjfqDK.97 Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soden Posted March 31, 2017 Share #23 Â Posted March 31, 2017 Ok, if were citing examples... my current line up is: Summarit f/1.5, Noctilux f/1.0, Summicron ridged, and APO-Summicron. I have had the Summilux asph, Summicron IV and the Elmar. But I did not like the rendering on these. I tend to prefer more extreme. Â If to choose only one, I'd probably go with the APO, because I have the 75 lux. If I only could choose one and only one lens and it had to be a 50, I'd go with the f/1 Noctilux as I find the rendering superb. Â As leica users we have a wide range of choices, don't ever discount the older lenses because they are not razor sharp (for pixel peepers) , because they bring many other good qualities to the table. Â The best analysis that I have read comes from Putts. His writing is both comprehensive and exhaustive. His lens saga is extreme. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelwj Posted March 31, 2017 Share #24 Â Posted March 31, 2017 This is the latest happy discovery in the leica world: the lux asph "is also apo, yayyy". And yet, there is no way to tell. Just another justification to justify unreasonable love for the Leica magic. Â That's like eating kosher and then on the 6 o'clock news they tell you that you've always been served pork disguised as beef. You just couldn't tell from all the great taste (true story). APO beef. It always was APO but you didn't know. Tasty APO Beef. Â I own the summilux asph and I don't like it compared to the older 50s. Totally lacks personality. Now it's APO you say? Suddenly I'm starting to love it... I'm no APO expert, but I'm getting hungry for some APO beef. Delicious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted March 31, 2017 Share #25 Â Posted March 31, 2017 Apo Pastrami sandwich, the best! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted March 31, 2017 Share #26 Â Posted March 31, 2017 I don't really understand the post. Peter Karbe said the Lux is an APO long ago. They didn't designate it as such for marketing purposes. Good day sir! It's just that lately I've noticed that people put emphasis on "the Summilux asph is APO too! But just not marked as such" as if it would make that lens special again, or doubly special all of a sudden. Â Somekind of justification. A new magical feature. A rabbit in the hat! Â The thing with this apo stuff is that you can't tell it's apo if they don't tell you it's apo. Just like asph elements in entry level dslr zoom lenses: it's not asph until it's Leica A$PH! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arichter Posted March 31, 2017 Share #27 Â Posted March 31, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Somekind of justification. A new magical feature. A rabbit in the hat! And probably less CA than the previous Summilux too? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted March 31, 2017 Share #28 Â Posted March 31, 2017 Probably. But it is my understanding that apo should completely eliminate CA, not a fraction of it. Therefore it's all a marketing game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abram Posted March 31, 2017 Share #29  Posted March 31, 2017 I'm sure I'm not the "norm" but I have tried my share of 50mm lenses as it is definitely one of my favorite focal lengths. I never really liked the Summilux ASPH. I don't know what it was about that lens but it just never really produced a look I was happy with. I did however really enjoy the 50mm C-Sonnar which I foolishly sold, but I'm using a late Summicron IV which is beat up a bit and has a couple chips in the front element and yet I'm completely happy with it. My other 50 is the Elmar-M which I can find no fault with, it's effortless to focus, sharp as I could want and has a very pleasant rendering.  I've grown to enjoy older lenses and I stopped chasing after "perfection" in my images (which is largely subjective anyways). Though if given the opportunity I would really like to at least TRY such lenses as the APO Summicron and the Noctilux just to observe their renderings with my own images. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted March 31, 2017 Share #30 Â Posted March 31, 2017 Sold my 50mm Summilux ASPH and kept the 50mm Summicron V4/tabbed for it's light weight and tiny size which is great for traveling and the 50mm Noctilux ASPH for it's unique rendering. Â Â I'm happy having this combination of 50s to choose from, depending on the situation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted March 31, 2017 Share #31 Â Posted March 31, 2017 Over the years, I've had Elmar 5.0cm f/3.5, collapsible Summicron 50mm f/2, tabbed mid-1990s Summicron 50mm f/2, and just bought a 2009 edition Summicron again. I've used the Summilux and Noctilux a couple of times, considered a six-bit-coded Noctilux 1.0 a few months ago but found I didn't really want the weight and bulk that much. I bought the Summicron I have now as it is a good modern lens with well-known imaging qualities, and its light and small. Â So ... my long track record with Summicron 50 mm lenses won over the desire to get something faster. I don't really need faster. And the price on this was was quite reasonable given its near-MINT condition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
taosantamonica Posted April 1, 2017 Share #32  Posted April 1, 2017 I’ve had the Noct for a couple of years now and it’s always on either my MM1, or the SL in my bag….(before the SL the M9P and M240P) I can’t remember the last time I used my 50lux/asph. I do use my ZM Sonnar on the MM occasionally. I don’t have any problem with the size/weight especially considering the wonderful images I get with it....the uniquness at .095 or even stopped down. I find it to be as good in detail and sharpness at 1.4 as the 50lux/asph with better out of focus areas and still excellent at 5.6/8. I do use a 28cron or 35fle for people street photography but other than that I’m very happy with the Noct in most other circumstances. I could be very happy with it being my only 50 lens or my only lens on the SL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted April 1, 2017 Share #33 Â Posted April 1, 2017 I have chosen all of my lenses without being obsessive regarding edge-to-edge sharpness because none of my viewers/clients could care less, and I hope you feel the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted April 1, 2017 Share #34 Â Posted April 1, 2017 It is such a personal choice, and often a nagging "perceived need" to go after a specialty lens...just because it is different, has been highly marketed, carries a big price tag, and of course will produce "noticeably outstanding" photos which will demonstrate one's mastery of photography which will be acknowledged by many. Well, as indicated above, it just doesn't wash in my world. But to satisfy your hunger, go for it, you will probably be able to resell it without much loss if you, like me, find it doesn't, deliver miracles. At least you tried. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted April 1, 2017 Share #35 Â Posted April 1, 2017 I have chosen all of my lenses without being obsessive regarding edge-to-edge sharpness because none of my viewers/clients could care less, and I hope you feel the same.Are there any technical aspects of a lens that your viewers/clients do care about?Perhaps someone could produce a range of minimally functioning lenses with the worst specs possible. In theory one could whack a massive markup on them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.mu Posted April 1, 2017 Share #36  Posted April 1, 2017 Hi LeicaBoss,  A few months ago I went through the same decision process. I have a 1960's 50mm Summilux v2 and I wanted to get a modern 50mm.  After reading the forum discussions and looking at examples online, I really thought that I would buy the 50mm APO summicron but after testing both lens at the Leica store in Berlin I bought the Noctilux f/0.95. I'm extremely happy with the lens and use it for everything from street, travel, portraits, to low light photography. If possible, test the lenses before buying.  Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffry Abt Posted April 1, 2017 Share #37 Â Posted April 1, 2017 I sold my Nocti 50 f/1 and bought the Cron APO 50mm. Why? The apochromatic correction of the APO 50mm. I was tired of fighting with it in the Nocti images. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff S Posted April 1, 2017 Share #38 Â Posted April 1, 2017 I've been using a noctilux 0.95 for a couple of years. But it's size and weight belied the compactness of the M. So I used it at night and very special outings where I really played with minimum DOF. While I loved the results, I enjoyed the experience less. Â I just picked up a 50mm Elmar-M 2.8. It's tiny, balances well when pulled out and takes very nice pictures. When collapsed, it's almost as small as the new Summaron 2.8. I love having it on my camera as my main lens and has replaced my 35 Lux as the lens that sits on the body in the bag. Â So now I have a 50 that I like and a noctilux that I use when needed. I find I'm shooting 50 now because I resolved the size and weight issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaBoss Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share #39 Â Posted April 6, 2017 Thanks for all your insights guys! Â After some good thinking and searching I found a great deal. I decided to scratch my Noctilux itch. Now the waiting begins.... I'm excited and scared at the same time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsydaus Posted April 7, 2017 Share #40 Â Posted April 7, 2017 Probably. But it is my understanding that apo should completely eliminate CA, not a fraction of it. Therefore it's all a marketing game. Not true. It's possible to get the 50 APO to show minor CA in extreme circumstances but for the most but it's CA free. It comes down to how much it is corrected. Not black and white. Â Â Â Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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