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

[Mr.Q]

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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.

 

Exactly, Noctilux's are slow and heavy to use.

 

I'd put the Zeiss in that category as well, thus not the best M lens available, especially for a rangefinder.

For a lot of folks, ergonomics and usability are more important than that last 1% of optical prowess.

[Mr.Q]

By the way, I like the way the FLE draws over the Zeiss, so even that 1% is debatable 

[Mark T]

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.

Just like the Zeiss, the Noctilux lenses aren’t best either...

[james.liam]

Just like the Zeiss, the Noctilux lenses aren’t best either...

 

 

If by 'best' one means sheer optical performance (resolution, distortion, color fidelity), I don't believe the Zeiss is exceeded even by the 50 APO. 

 

If by 'best' you mean portability, ergonomics, haptics and pleasing rendering at the cost of some ideal resolution, then it isn't.

[ramarren]

I've had many 50mm f/1.4 and f/2 lenses. The difference in shallow DoF achievable between them is irrelevant for my needs. There are several revisions of both the Summicron and Summilux 50mm over the years. The current, modern 'Lux is a beautiful lens and renders gorgeous images. So does the 'Cron, and also the APO 'Cron. 

 

But ... I have the current generation standard 'Cron and fitted an aftermarket rigid lens hood to it; never liked the slide out hood on any lens. Done. The photos it makes are spectacular and it works brilliantly on both my M4-2 and M-D typ 262. Not much else to say about it, it just works to my satisfaction. 

 

 

Leica M-D + Summicron-M 50mm f/2

ISO 400 @ f/5.6 @ 1/90

Three frames, exposed hand-held, stitched in Lightroom 6.x.

[tobey bilek]

One advantage I found was when my son grabbed my 1.4 (latest)  and compared it to his 50 2.0 current.    Bokeh is worlds better with`Lux.  He does have a flair problem.

 

If you take pics at f4 and smaller,  and keep sun to your back,  Summicron makes great pics.

 

Find a nice version 3,  or Elmar M 2.8 of which I have 2.  I use the Elmar M mostly.

[Peter H]

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I don't think you'd go wrong with a Summicron. I recently got my MM back from Leica with new sensor, and the first thing I did to try it out was this study in the kitchen with my 50 Summicron wide-open- I find the bokeh at f2 perfectly satisfying. I also have the C Sonnar for it's affect and for extra speed.  I agree as mentioned by 01af with high iso in digital cameras that Summicron at f2 will usually suffice, and it is nice and light to carry.

 

 

 

I hope your Citroen is insured against accidents with irresponsible tomatoes.

 

Otherwise, yes, I agree the Summicron is the choice I'd make if I were starting from here.  f1.4 no longer seems as necessary or desirable as it once did.

[B-A-C]

I will say the photos from my Lux ASPH are special.  There is nothing wrong with any other Leica 50s but the Lux is out of this world.  Tough to make a bad decision here...

 

One advantage I found was when my son grabbed my 1.4 (latest)  and compared it to his 50 2.0 current.    Bokeh is worlds better with`Lux.  He does have a flair problem.

 

If you take pics at f4 and smaller,  and keep sun to your back,  Summicron makes great pics.

 

Find a nice version 3,  or Elmar M 2.8 of which I have 2.  I use the Elmar M mostl

[Lonescapes]

I really can't say enough, when an expensive proposition like this is involved, about renting the lenses in question for a couple days, so you can shoot the same photos with both of them, look at the files, and make an informed decision.

 

I prefer the Cron, pre-ASPH. I'm a very, very big fan of subject isolation, but 50/2 = 25, which, in vastly oversimplified terms nonetheless makes clear that shooting the Cron wide open is going go give you very, very shallow DOF, and tons of subject isolation. The difference between 2 and 1.4 at this focal length, on full-frame, is really just gilding the lily.

 

So while the Lux is marginally nicer for what I tend to shoot, it's not so much nicer that it negates the size/weight/subtlety savings of the Cron.

 

Also, in my experience, at 50mm and longer, ASPH is overrated. Softer renderings can actually make a lens more versatile for detail and portrait shots. If you want sharp, stop down and it's more than adequate.

 

At 35, I could see wanting ASPH, though I find I rarely need it. At 24, the wide focal length I shoot, I find lens sharpness and a modern rendering is very important to me.

Edited January 31, 2018 by Lonescapes

[LeicaDreamer]

Hi everybody!

 

Thanks a lot for your suggestions and for sharing with me your personal experiences, I really appreciate!

 

After considering all of the aspects just would like to inform you that I bought an used Leica Summicrom 50mm f2 found here in the section “ Buy and Sell”!!!

[Lonescapes]

It definitely won't disappoint. Many happy users out there!

[julianf73]

On 1/16/2018 at 12:02 PM, jto555 said:

This may sound mad but I would suggest going for one of the lenses over the other will not make any real difference to your photography. The difference between f1.4 and f2 from a depth of field perspective is small and will not ruin a photograph if you can only shoot at f2 instead of f1.4. Also, in Photoshop you can soften a background if you have to.

 

If the Summercron is the APO then the extra sharpness will only be seen by you on the screen at 100% or if you print really large and somebody walks right up to the print! It happens a lot. Most viewers of the photographs will not see any difference.

 

Buy the cheaper lens and use the £2,000 to go on a photographic holiday to Iceland. Or do a few weekend breaks to Europe and photograph portraits of people you meet. Do a couple of training days with Leica Akademie.

 

Best advice I have seen on this forum!