Go on, flame me, I deserve it: 50SL curious

[geetee1972]

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I know I am going to get crucified for this, and quite rightly so! Do your worst but then once you have, let me know your serious thoughts.

 

I have, of late, become quite curious about the 50mm SL- Summilux. Despite all my protestations and temper tantrums about this lens, I have now finally started to see some examples of work with this lens that are quite sublime. Tellingly, the work I am seeing is in the genre of portraiture so the appeal and qualities of the lens are easier for me to see.

 

I have come into some money that would allow me to buy a copy but I would also have to sell my current M 50mm Summilux to justify the purchase. I would be loath to be without a small 50 so would also have to add a second hand Zeiss ZM at some point as well.

 

The alternative would be to buy a second hand copy of the 24-90; there’s one in the UK currently for £2111 from a reputable dealer. At that price I could afford to keep the 50mm M-Summilux. The attraction here, and with the fifty, is AF and weather sealing, both of which continue to be reasons why having at least one native SL lens is appealing (again, despite my previous protestations). AF appeals because my eyesight is degrading and weather sealing because I live in the UK.

 

I also have my Zeiss ZM 35mm Distagon which I adore and will keep regardless.

 

What then to do – given my focus on portraiture, street portraiture and street photography in general, is the 50SL the right choice?

[satijntje]

Why not get the new 75 Summicron SL?
Great lens and small enough.

John

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[geetee1972]

Why not get the new 75 Summicron SL?

Great lens and small enough.

John

I have thought about that but the problem there is that I'm not convinced the 75 is useful enough as a sigle focal lenght. I've had a 75 before and I did really like it for three quarter length portraits but it's a bit limited for other stuff. Even if the 50SL is large, it is still a 50mm so can be pressed into service for general photography.

 

Perhaps the right answer is thje 50mm SL-Summicron but I've no idea when that will be released.

[helged]

I have thought about that but the problem there is that I'm not convinced the 75 is useful enough as a sigle focal lenght. I've had a 75 before and I did really like it for three quarter length portraits but it's a bit limited for other stuff. Even if the 50SL is large, it is still a 50mm so can be pressed into service for general photography.

 

Perhaps the right answer is thje 50mm SL-Summicron but I've no idea when that will be released.

 

 

For the 50 SL-Cron; the Leica webpage states the second half of 2018 (but this is no guarantee for the time of the actual release, as we all know...). Based on your portraits - that I very much like - I would think either the 50 SL-Lux or the 50 SL-Cron would fit your style of shooting. I have an SL-75 on order since I have several 50mm lenses already...

[Paul J]

I'm not convinced the Summilux-SL is going to give you significantly more than your Summilux-M is already giving you. Except for more size and more expense. So it comes down to how much you want AF.

 

 

In that situation I think I would find the zoom plus Summilux-M more useful.

[wattsy]

Yes, I agree that there is not really much meaningful difference between the Summilux-M and the Summilux-SL and the choice between comes down to size and need/desire for AF. I suspect Greg is barking up the wrong tree in looking at the lens and might perhaps consider a change of format instead. 

[geetee1972]

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Yes, I agree that there is not really much meaningful difference between the Summilux-M and the Summilux-SL and the choice between comes down to size and need/desire for AF. I suspect Greg is barking up the wrong tree in looking at the lens and might perhaps consider a change of format instead. 

That's an interesting point and one I have considered.

[hillavoider]

I got a 50 SL to capture my 1.5 year old in action, its great for the street too, new firm ware made it faster, but .... heavy 

[jaapv]

I would be very surprised if anybody could see a real-life difference between images from the SL and Summilux-L and M10 and Summilux-M, let alone SL and Summilux-M. Unless it is about AF convenience (SL) or size (M), a waste of money IMO.

[geetee1972]

There's a certain amount of irony that most people seem to be suggesting the SL-50 isn't going to do much more than offer me AF and weather sealing and that perhaps for the expense it would incur, it's not worth the investment.

 

As much as I've championed the virtues of manual focusing for slowing things down and making compiosition more deliberate, my eyes are getting worse and I am finding it harder to do.

[jaapv]

It is your money - and I think having difficulty focusing is a good reason to switch to AF. Just don't expect different  quality images.

[ropo54]

GeeTee:

I have the SL 50 and love it.  

From what I have read, it renders at f1.4 similarly to the 50 AP0 at F2.

As for pricing, it is less expensive than the 50 APO and on the pre-owned market can be purchased for around $4000 USD.  

I would add: why not manual focus when you choose to do so?  The AF now is much improved and significantly faster.

 

Only you can decide whether the price makes it worth it.  In 'Leica-world' I do not find it oppressively expensive!

 

Hope all is well.

Rob

[geetee1972]

 

It is your money

 

I definitely deserve that!

 

 

on the pre-owned market can be purchased for around $4000 USD

 

That would be my preferred option and I have seen one before on the used market here but not lately. The FX rate currently means that 4000USD is aroud GBP2900 and I can get it brand new for £3600.

Edited March 19, 2018 by geetee1972

[ropo54]

 

 

 

That would be my preferred option and I have seen one before on the used market here but not lately. The FX rate currently means that 4000USD is aroud GBP2900 and I can get it brand new for £3600.

 

I'm not sure whether it is worth it for you to save $1000 usd for pre-owned; that's your call. There are many on eBay in the USA. I have seen them sell for as low as $3700 here.  (You might also look on "Fred Miranda Buy/Sell")

 

I'll keep an eye out for you if you really are interested, just let me know.

 

Rob

[Fedro]

I definitely deserve that!

 

 

That would be my preferred option and I have seen one before on the used market here but not lately. The FX rate currently means that 4000USD is aroud GBP2900 and I can get it brand new for £3600.

 

I saw a second hand 50SL for sale in the UK last month around 3k GBP, not sure if it was the same one

 

 

The 24-90 is great btw ..

[LD_50]

I own the 50 Summilux M ASPH and the 50 Summilux-SL. I’ve shot both on the SL and the M lens on an M240 extensively.

 

Since I started shooting the SL lens I have stopped using the M lens on the SL because I prefer the photos from the native lens. I do still enjoy the M lens on the M240.

[Herr Barnack]

@geetee,

 

If I were in your shoes, I would keep the 50mm Summilux M and get the preowned 24-90 SL lens you mentioned.  While it does not offer f/1.4, from 50mm to 90mm when shooting at f/2.8 you will get bokeh backgrounds if you are shooting up close to your subject.  I think the 24-90 would make a very nice do it all lens for the SL; with the high ISO capability that the SL offers, the maximum aperture of f/2.8 is hardly a liability. 

 

The upside is that you get to keep your 50 Summilux M.  I had the 50 Summilux millennium #11623 which I traded in to help pay for my M240.  I have sorely regretted letting that lens get away.  Based on my experience, I would advise against letting go of your 50 Summilux.

 

Regarding eyesight and manual focus:  My eyes aren't that great these days either, so I wear glasses when shooting.  I have become accustomed to it and in my experience it is not as big of an inconvenience as some imagine it to be.  It is a small price to pay in order to continue using my M camera and lenses.  I have toyed with the idea of Lasik surgery which would free me from glasses but haven't taken the plunge yet.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Herr Barnack

[RoySmith]

One important feature of the 50SL lux is the weather sealing. I love going out with just the camera and lens and not worrying about moisture. I use the 130cm Harry Benz Brogue SL strap cross body and find the weight is not uncomfortable. This applies to the 24-90 SL as well.

 

 

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[Bill W]

I have the 50SL and I love it. I also have the 50 M Lux and love it as well. For me they are separate systems and I rarely put an M lens on my SL even though I have the adapter. I have the 24-90 for my SL but wanted a native prime. I have not really had any interest in the 75 or 90 for the SL. FWIW

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[satijntje]

... or get that "cheap" second hand 24-90 and wait for the 50mm Summicron SL APO that will come on the market during the second half of 2018.

For me personally the 50mm SL Summilux is too big and too heavy.
You will love that Summicron and you will not be disappointed if that 50mm is of the same quality as the 75mm :-)

John

 

p.s. 2100 Pounds for a 24-90 I have never seen before. Excellent price for an outstanding lens