about Summilux 50mm

[kengai]

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Between the 50mm II and the ASPH. which choice, or what differences in yield are obvious?

[Symeon]

In general aspherical optics correct chromatic aberrations and have superior color fidelity, alas often very contrasty and sometimes very clinical. I have used most 50mm lenses and I found the early ones weak when used at f1,4. The version 1 Summilux 50 Asph (FLE) is probably the very best Leica has ever made, but it has some focusing issues.

[chris_livsey]

Had both, summary:

 

50mm II - Classic Leica "look" full of character (read that as flaws if you sit on the other side of the fence)

 

ASPH - Modern lens, sharper, more contrast, more even across the field and the stops, looks like almost every other modern Leica lens (read that as good or bad depending on which side of the fence you sit)

 

You have a choice, randomly buy one and take the small loss on selling to try the other, with luck you will love the first one, if you know what kind of lens you want you will choose wisely. We can't decide where you sit, sometimes shooters have both for all the above characteristics.

[Ecar]

A point worth considering: the MFD of the pre-ASPH v2 is 1m, the ASPH is 0.7m.

If you like the pre-ASPH look and need the shorter MFD, the latest pre-ASPH (v4, the one with the slide-out hood) is the only game in town. It has the same optical formula as the v2/v3.

[lct]

Summilux 50/1.4 v3 (silver 11856, black 11868, titan 11869) in indeed the better compromise for those finding the 50/1.4 asph too clinical. 0.7m MFD, built-in hood and shorter focus throw that v2.

50/1.4 v2 (11114) and v3 (11868):

 

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Edited March 21, 2018 by lct