50mm f1,4 or 50mm f2...Suggestions!

[Gregm61]

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I believe most who use either a 50mm or 35mm lens as their primary optic, unless the price is simply out of the realm of even the most remote possibility, there is the inevitable pull to get the f1.4 lens. I've owned the 35mm Summicron (both Pre-ASPH and ASPH), f2.4 Summarit and the Voigtlander 35 Ultron, all fantastic lenses, yet the call of the Summilux was always there and I eventually had that scratch that itch.

 

The question you have to ask yourself is, will the 50mm Summicron truly satisfy your wants. Forget needs, let's be honest here. The Summilux for me was a want, not a need. If it was me, the 50mm Noctilux would fit in that "out of even the most remote of possibilities" category, leaving the Summilux as the ultimate end-goal.

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[IkarusJohn]

They are all good choices.

 

I have 5 Leica 50mm lenses (for TL2, SL and M) and they are all good and all different.  I really like the 50 Summilux-M.  Mine is the silver chrome version, so it is brass underneath and what others consider heavy.  Doesn't bother me a bit.  With an M10, I'd go for the more modern ASPH designs.

 

If I was buying one 50 for an M10, I'd get the Summilux-M 50 in black chrome - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1131770-REG/leica_11688_summilux_m_50mm_f_1_4_asph.html At $4,395, it's a bargain compared to the APO Summicron-M 50 ...

Edited January 16, 2018 by IkarusJohn

[Herr Barnack]

With the M10's high ISO capability, the need for f/1.4 in terms of exposure are fading.  The main consideration for the 50 Smmilux ASPH is whether or not you need/want paper thin DOF; some like it, some detest it.  The main arguments against the 50/1.4 ASPH are weight and price.

 

You say you are more than satisfied with your Elmarit 28/2.8; that leads me to believe that the Summicron 50/2 (non-APO) or even the Summarit 50/2.4 would be a good choice for you.  With regard to the 50/1.4 ASPH, only you can decide if the ASPH construction, very thin DOF when wide open and the extra one f/stop of light gathering are worth an extra $1600 USD.

[lct]

Do you expect to shoot children or other moving subjects indoor or outdoor in dim light? If so, you will need faster lenses than f/2 soon or late. Unless you find 6400 or 12800 iso clean enough on your M10 that is. Matter of tastes but i have a cleaner body (Sony A7s mod) and my favorite lenses in low light are still Summiluxes 50/1.4 or Sonnar 50/1.5 allowing me to use faster shutter speeds if needed. And i can shoot at f/2 with them as well . Only con of Summiluxes is size and weight if you need a compact lens but even the Summicron 50/2 apo is not that compact by comparison. Better choose a Summicron 50/2 v5 or v4 then. FWIW.

[TRIago]

Get the classic. Get the Cron.

 

 

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[dugby]

In order of buying sequence I bought and still concurrently use:

 

1) Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm

2) ASPH Summilux-M 50mm (LHSA)

3) APO Summicron-M 50mm

 

To me each step was a significant change, if I had to chose only one, it would be the APO.

Edited January 17, 2018 by dugby

[henning]

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I have had and used many 50's from the Nickel Elmar to the current Noctilux as well as those from other manufacturers. I still have 3: the last 50/2.8 Elmar, the 50/1.4 ASPH and a v2. f/1 Noctilux. The 50/1.4 ASPH in comparison with the Summicron is sharper until f/5.6, is much better closeup and has virtually no focus shift. The latter is fairly significant to me, and why I won't use the Sonnar f/1.5 on a digital body, even though I like many of its other characteristics. The 50 Elmar-M is more of a lighter and smaller version of the Summilux than of the Summicron in performance. The Noctilux is its own beast, with significant focus shift as well as other aberrations but it's certainly not a reasonable all rounder.

 

In any case the Summilux ASPH is my all round go to lens. Yes, it's heavier than the Summicron, but it's very even in its performance and the weight difference when considering camera, lens, mostly at least one additional lens plus extra battery is very small. But this is a preference born from 55 years of using Leicas, including every Summilux version and every Summicron version. Opinions will definitely differ.

[james.liam]

I would caution everyone to remember that predominantly shooting a color sensor vs. monochrome will greatly determine preference. Your mileage will vary.

 

Just speculation of course, but some above minimizing the apparent cost/benefit of the APO may have never used one on a Monochrom. 

[colonel]

 

I would like to buy another lens and decided to go for a 50mm. If I check the technical specification and the price of the Leica lens I cannot really understand if I should go for the Leica Summilux 50mm f1,4 ASPH or for the Summicron 50mm f2...

 

The Summilux is higher contrast and sharper (copy dependent)

 

It is much better at 1.4 which is why its a no brainer if you have the cash

 

If not consider the 50mm summarit instead of the summicron, a hair's breadth less sharp but higher contrast and better flare control

Also consider the Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 which is brilliant. somewhat warmer then the summilux and also not quite as sharp wide open but 90% of the way there ...

 

Over the years I have always gravitated to the fastest lenses, so consider slower lenses either a waste of cash on the journey or a useful tool for having a smaller size option when required. Although the former is usually the true winner !

Edited January 18, 2018 by colonel

[dunhoy]

Buy both, used, for the price of the Lux... problem solved!

[Balivernes]

Concurring with @Neekon and a couple of others in this thread, I’d advise to go with the Summilux as a companion to your Elmarit as it brings very different and complementary capabilities to the table. I use these 2 lenses as my standard “duo” for 70% of my outings, sometimes adding a 90mm Elmarit. My alternative setup is a 35/75 duo (to which I’ll add a 21mm SE some day).

 

Those 2 Summilux stops vs the Elmarit will allow you to minimise ISO/maximise shutter speed in all lighting conditions. They will also maximise your DoF flexibility while remaining much more manageable than a Noctilux.

 

There is indeed a weight penalty vs current summicron (100 to 200g depending on version), but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The M10 being itself quite heavy for its size, that difference is not substantial enough to impact the experience. I use the black chrome ‘lux and am absolutely delighted.

 

You can always purchase an additional slower/smaller/lighter 50mm later on if you feel like it. I occasionally use a second hand Zeiss f/2 Planar as an easy going lighter weight option, and see absolutely no quality penalty there. You can get a minty one for around 400 EUR.

[mmx_2]

On film or with M8 or M9, another stop of lens speed would make an important difference. With the high-ISO capabilities of the Leica M10, definitely not. So go for the Summicron-M 50 mm ... it's not only more affordable, it also shares the E39 filter size with the Elmarit-M 28 mm Asph.

 

The only weak point of the 50 mm Summicron is some inclination to flare. But then, many user of this lens aren't having any problem with that. So try it, and if you like it then don't waste any thoughts on anything else. If you don't then also consider the Summarit-M 1:2,4/50 mm ... a badly underrated lens for sure.

 

This "is some inclination to flare" made me sell my Summicron 50 and keep my asph Lux. The lux is much more flare resistant. I don't know if my cron was particular bad (or my just lack of skills ) but it was a “big enough” problem for me. The cron is sizewise very attractive, light, E39 etc, but the hood (on V5) is crap and it flared way too often for me.

 

A used copy of the current lux 50 can be found in my country for around 2500€-3000€ and it will propably be the only 50 you ever buy .

Edited January 22, 2018 by mmx_2

[M11 for me]

Yes, correct, this is the one I meant.

 

The APO Summcron indeed has aspherical lens inside. I just mention as your recomendation was for a non aspherical 50mm.

[colonel]

With the M10's high ISO capability, the need for f/1.4 in terms of exposure are fading. 

 

I hear this a lot

To be honest my old M9 was better ISO performance then film and I used it at 640 a lot, uprated in processing to 1250

 

However there is always an argument for 1.4. More depth of field control is just better and its always to good to have more light

 

spend a week with the Sony A7S II and the 50mm f1.4 and then tell me

Edited January 26, 2018 by colonel

[TomB_tx]

I agree with Herr Barnack - since getting the M10 my 1.4 lenses stay on film cameras, and even my Summicrons see less use. I shoot mainly indoors, and now my 2.5 Summarits stay on the M10 most of the time.

[Budfox]

The 50 summilux is the best lens Leica makes. Get the black aluminium version.

[M11 for me]

The 50 summilux is the best lens Leica makes. Get the black aluminium version.

I thought that the term „best“ is relevant primarily for the latest 35mm Summilux asph. FLE

[james.liam]

Nah. The best Leica lens isn’t a Leica at all.

 

Zeiss ZM 1,4/35.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Mr.Q]

The Zeiss is huge/heavy, blocks the VF, has no 6-bit coding, has no focus tab.

 

It may provide marginally better technical IQ, but given the aforementioned annoyances it's not even close to being the best.

[james.liam]

The Zeiss is huge/heavy, blocks the VF, has no 6-bit coding, has no focus tab.

 

It may provide marginally better technical IQ, but given the aforementioned annoyances it's not even close to being the best.

So are the 50 Noctilux and the new 75 Noctilux. The Zeiss is optically superb, free of focus shift and in the age of EVF, its viewfinder blockage becomes less of an encumbrance. No tab, 6-bit coding? Not a deal-breaker. My older Leica and LTM lenses don’t either. Edited January 27, 2018 by james.liam