ShivaYash Posted March 18, 2018 Share #1 Posted March 18, 2018 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Suffering from G.A.S and eyeing up the classic Summilux 35, its the size that has really caught my eye. What do others think? I mainly shoot film and have the pre-ASPH f2 and the latest f1.4 ASPH. When I travel I usually just take film and the f2, but the dreamy look can be nice. Comments welcome, along with which model to go for. I rarely shoot with filters. Edited March 18, 2018 by ShivaYash Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 18, 2018 Posted March 18, 2018 Hi ShivaYash, Take a look here classic SUMMILUX. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Stealth3kpl Posted March 18, 2018 Share #2 Posted March 18, 2018 35mm? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted March 18, 2018 35mm? Yes I omitted that from the original post, now corrected. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
horosu Posted March 18, 2018 Share #4 Posted March 18, 2018 Get yourself a late german one. Coatings should be better, apparently Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 18, 2018 Share #5 Posted March 18, 2018 As far as IQ is concerned, my 35/1.4 v2 is close to my 35/2 v4 with halos around highlights ("glow") at f/1.4 and more flare generally. Both tiny lenses doing well on FF and APS cameras. 35/1.4 v2 is very soft at f/1.4 which gives a unique rendering together with glow but at f/2 and on it is usable the same way as the 35/2 v4 more or less. Compared to the latter, the 35/1.4 cannot use vented hoods made for 35/2 and 35/2.8 lenses due to vignetting with them. It needs a wider hood like the vented 12504 then, even more if you use filters because the lens itself has no filter thread so you will have to put Series VII filters, or E49 in reverse position, between the too halves of the 12504 or similar hood. If you want to reduce flare, better choose a late 35/1.4 v2 but the lens is flare prone anyway, more so than the 35/2 v4 even if the latter is not flare free like most Leica lenses from this era. None of them has the same acutance as your 35/1.4 asph anyway. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JMF Posted March 18, 2018 Share #6 Posted March 18, 2018 What do others think? I mainly shoot film and have the pre-ASPH f2 and the latest f1.4 ASPH. When I travel I usually just take film and the f2, but the dreamy look can be nice. I rarely shoot with filters. Film - Dreamy - no filters ... then get a 35 pre asph summilux v2 , dreamy wide open , close to your 35 summicron pre asph v2 when stopped down ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted March 19, 2018 Share #7 Posted March 19, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am on my third 35mm Summilux, the previous two damaged on the job. This one is of the same early era as the first two. It has the infinity lock. As I have written before it is like having two lenses in one: wide-open in contrasty light it can produce a modest glow, and regardless of contrast in the light the image is soft. Stopped down to ƒ2 or greater it is sharp. The lens shades are easily damaged and have crazy prices. For a while there was an Asian copy, and they were defect in one small regard - one of the slots from which the sprung retaining tab extended was not cut long enough. The thinnest Dremel cutting wheel (worn down to small diameter) touched into the slot fixed it in a moment. Saved over $100 EACH. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted March 19, 2018 Share #8 Posted March 19, 2018 If you already have the 35/2 pre-ASPH, the 35/1.4 pre-ASPH is only really worth it if you are going to shoot it wide open a lot. As others have said, you'll get the dreamy, glowy rendering this lens is known for. At f/2 and beyond, no major difference with your f/2. The 35/1.4 v1 (aka "steel rim") has become a collectors' item and fetches crazy prices these days, so I assume you are looking at a v2. Pico's version, with infinity lock, is rather rare. I have a couple of late German ones, without infinity lock and with the standard plastic focus tab (which is prone to breaking, although metal replacement ones are now available thanks to a forum member). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted March 19, 2018 Share #9 Posted March 19, 2018 The lens shades are easily damaged and have crazy prices. For a while there was an Asian copy, and they were defect in one small regard - one of the slots from which the sprung retaining tab extended was not cut long enough. The thinnest Dremel cutting wheel (worn down to small diameter) touched into the slot fixed it in a moment. Saved over $100 EACH. Thanks, Pico. I have a couple of these copies that I ordered to avoid destroying the original hoods. One works perfectly, the other one spins almost freely and was therefore relegated to the 'useless bits' drawer. Now I have another good reason to take the Dremel for a spin. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frase Posted March 19, 2018 Share #10 Posted March 19, 2018 (edited) I've had one for years bought it when Leica had no digital Ms so was really cheap, there does seem to be quite a variation in quality. Compared to the 35mm Summicron V4 all wide open, sorry thats not right its Summilux compared to Nikon 35mm f2 Ai. Summilux 15fbpicwideopen35lux_1 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr Nikon 15fbpicNikonaiwideopen35mm_1 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr Summilux crop 15fbpicwideopen35lux_2 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr Nikon crop 15fbpicNikonaiwideopen35mm_2 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr Edited March 19, 2018 by Frase 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted March 19, 2018 Share #11 Posted March 19, 2018 http://marinewildlife.co.uk/info/leica-35mm-f1-4-pre-aspheric-summilux-m/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steamboat Posted March 19, 2018 Share #12 Posted March 19, 2018 F1.4 has the "looking out of a train window" quality. I almost never used it at f1.4. The main problem with the lens and what drove me crazy was the 1-meter minimum focus. If you're sitting in a cafe and want to photograph the person you're having coffee with you have to lean back in your chair to get the minimum 1-meter. That said I used the lens as my primary lens from around 1973 to 2005 - what, 30+ years - before I threw in the towel and got a 35mm f1.4 Summilux asph. The size of the lens is quite small and really remarkable for that fast and wide a lens. Neat little lens. Good luck with your photography. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 17, 2021 Share #13 Posted January 17, 2021 The Nokton 35/1.4 v2 "SC" is less flare prone than the Summilux 35/1.4 v2. The latter has more glow (halos around highlights) at f/1.4 and the Nokton looks significantly sharper at f/1.4 and f/2 with more contrast generally but it has more distortion than the Summilux. Bottom line the Summilux is still unique at f/1.4 to me but otherwise the Nokton SC has become my favorite compact 35/1.4. FWIW. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Prime Posted January 17, 2021 Share #14 Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Steven said: The description you guys have made of the pre aspherical Lux reminds me a great deal of my 600 dollars Nokton Classic: - Soft and glowy wide open - Halos around highlights - Sharp like a cron stopped down - pancake size Hmmmm..... but the Nokton can focus at 0.7 I have this lens too, version 1, and find it to be a solidly built lens. Images have been good out of my CL. I’m moving this lens over to my M4, not sure how I’m going to get along with it on film as I read that there is focus shift issue around f2.8. I never saw an issue on my CL, obviously, and hopefully it’s not too relevant on film. Edited January 17, 2021 by Mr.Prime Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommonego@gmail.com Posted January 18, 2021 Share #15 Posted January 18, 2021 I recently had my 35 Summilux cleaned, and the haze doesn't bother me now. It is very sharp f4-11, I have heard it described as almost 2 lenses in one. I bought this one 40 years ago because it was slightly better at f5.6 than the Summicron I had at the time. Having the right lens shade helps because then you can use filters with it, I used a Kodak outside clamp filter holder for I while, bought a Chinese copy of the 12504 recently, the Leica ones are really expensive. I like the lens, always have but it needs a shade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 23, 2021 Share #16 Posted January 23, 2021 14 minutes ago, Steven said: I have the MC. What’s the difference with the SC? SC: More pleasant bokeh (to me) and more glow (halos around highlights) at f/1.4. Glow remains more discrete than that of the Summilux pre-asph though. Bit less contrast too i guess but my experience with the MC was too short to be sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernstk Posted January 23, 2021 Share #17 Posted January 23, 2021 1 minute ago, Steven said: Does one need a summilux if one owns a nokton ?! 😂😬 Does one need a Porsche if one owns a Ford? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
evikne Posted January 23, 2021 Share #18 Posted January 23, 2021 2 minutes ago, Steven said: Does one need a summilux if one owns a nokton ?! 😂😬 Probably not. Unless you (like me) miss the real Leica feeling. 😁 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 23, 2021 Share #19 Posted January 23, 2021 4 minutes ago, Steven said: Does one need a summilux if one owns a nokton ?! 😂😬 Cannot speak for the Nokton MC but as far as the SC is concerned, yes if you like glow at full aperture and the character of the 'Lux. Yes also if you like flare as the 'Lux is almost a champion there . Yes too for distortion as the 'Lux has very little of it contrary to the Nokton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
evikne Posted January 24, 2021 Share #20 Posted January 24, 2021 There are some great wide open shots on this page: https://jxqandyou.wordpress.com/2018/06/23/unsung-heroes-the-leica-35mm-summilux-pre-asph-v2/ 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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