35mm Summicron V1 vs Summilux Steel Rim V1

[reddot925]

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Hi all,

 

What's your opinion on these two lens?   The summicron v1 8 elements seems to get a lot of praise for sharpness across the frame while the Summilux steel rim is softer but have a more of a glow to images.  Both seem to have excellent build quality.

 

If you could choose one of these two lens, which would you choose?

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[iaeaix]

Your comments on the two lens are true.

It is very difficult to choose one among the two, if you own both. If you own both, you would keep them.

Either one can't the other.

 

 

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[colint544]

I used to have the v1 eight element. Bought it in 1998 for £350. Sold it in 2011 for £1650. Damn, I wish I'd kept it. If only I'd known about the future M Monochrom. Build quality on the v1 eight element is second to none, and I found it to be very sharp, even wide open. It had slightly lower contrast than modern aspherical lenses, but that's great, especially if you're shooting it on an M Monochrom. It's also tiny, with perfect handling and ergonomics. A veritable jewel of a lens.

 

The Summilux steel, I have no experience of, but it's also very compact and, as you say, has lots of "glow" about it, when shot wide open. As far as I know, it only focuses to one meter, whereas with the v1 eight element, you can get down to 0.7 of a meter.

Edited July 21, 2017 by colint544

[luigi bertolotti]

I'd choose the Summilux : have both, not too distant in age (Lux 1765xxx Cron 1971xxx) and, practically speaking, from 2,8 on Summilux is very similar to Summicron : 1,4, in safe conditions of light, is really usable on Summilux, and is its plus; I add also that Summilux is fantastically compact and, finally... my chrome item has a lovely gem-like aspect

 

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Edited July 21, 2017 by luigi bertolotti

[reddot925]

Thanks Luigi

 

They are very comparable in size and gem like aspect no?  since the 8 element is also chrome based and very jewel like from what I've used in the past, or maybe I'm missing something?

 

 

I'd choose the Summilux : have both, not too distant in age (Lux 1765xxx Cron 1971xxx) and, practically speaking, from 2,8 on Summilux is very similar to Summicron : 1,4, in safe conditions of light, is really usable on Summilux, and is its plus; I add also that Summilux is fantastically compact and, finally... my chrome item has a lovely gem-like aspect

Summilux_35_my_bw.jpg

[iaeaix]

Summilux v1 is much heavier than Summicron V1, Summicron has some aluminum there and Summilux is all Chrome with steel filter rim.

 

 

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[luigi bertolotti]

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Exactly... Summilux "shines" more  ... and the bigger and less recessed front element adds to the feeling...   

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Edited December 24, 2017 by luigi bertolotti

[Erato]

• E39 lens filters club vs. E41 unique.
• Weight - 150 g / 5.29 oz vs. Weight - 245 g /8.64 oz M3 - 195 g / 6.88 oz

Edited April 11, 2021 by Erato

[horosu]

I had the good fortune to have both for some time. The Summilux Steel Rim at f2 was sharper than the Cron 8 elements by some margin. At least that was true of the lenses I had. From 2.8 on they were identical

[horosu]

2 hours ago, Steven said:

But you stayed with the 8 elements, right ? 

Yes, I did :-). I found another copy which is better at f2 than my previous one (probably because it is 2 years younger)