Thoughts on the HC 100 2.2 vs. the Leica S-summicron 100?

[ropo54]

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Just wondering whether anyone has thoughts on the these 2 options for the Leica S 007.  Primary use would be candid photos. (Or, compared with the S70 or S120).

 

Thanks,

Rob

Edited August 10, 2018 by ropo54

[FlashGordonPhotography]

I have only shot with the S100 twice. I own the HC100, S120 and S70.

 

Wide open, there's no contest. The S lenses are better. Noticably. The HC100 is actually pretty good as the corners are cropped on a mini MF sensor. It renders really nicely. But it doesn't compare to the S100 which is both epically sharp and renders beautifully. The DoF is really thin on these lenses BTW.

 

Stopped down to 2.6-2.8 the HC100 is much sharper, especially in the corners Very close to the S but not quite. At f4 it's not a huge difference at all.

 

Having gotten a great deal on the HC100 I have little interest in buying the S100. I find it great for portraits wide open and super sharp stopped down. Also I can use it on both systems.

 

If you have the S120, I don't think you'll see the 1/2 a stop in normal usage as the longer lens visually accounts for most of the difference.

 

In summary. There's nothing like the S100, anywhere. It's special. But really only if you're a portrait specialist. Otherwise the S120 or HC are both really great lenses.

 

Gordon

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[ropo54]

Thank you, Gordon. Just the assessment that I wanted.

Rob

[kparseg]

Thank you, Gordon. Just the assessment that I wanted.

Rob

Candid - 100S, strobes - HC100. 

[hoppyman]

I have no experience with the HC. I have shot only a handful of frames (wide open with that Summicron. When you mention candids, I would guess that you would be working stopped down for any DoF at all to assist in working quickly?
In my opinion,  if you were shooting stopped down and presumably handheld you wouldn't see the very best from what that Summicron can do? Doesn't mean you can't use it of course and have that capability for other ways of shooting
Especially if you already have the 70, I think it would work every bit as well for the candids that you described
As a portrait lens in studio  I think that the 120 is superb

Edited August 11, 2018 by hoppyman

[FrankS]

I have had both lenses and find both really excellent.  Very little difference except I found the HC a bit sharper at mid apertures and the S100 a tad better wide open.

[Photon42]

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I only recently bought a pre-owned HC100. What were my thoughts? Well - I wanted to try that focal length and wanted at least one lens with a central shutter.  I have also figured that the resale value of the lens is more or less stable. S100 lenses are not often available on the used market, and if they are, they are priced like a new HC100 or higher.

The S is really a cool system with all the adapters available and accessibility to all types of lenses.

[Guest]

I have both the HC100 and HC150mm..........the 150 is my go to lens for portraiture as it is super sharp wide open. The HC100 is hard to nail focus at F2.2 I therefor stop down to f4 and at that it is amazing

 

Neil

[RVB]

I have only shot with the S100 twice. I own the HC100, S120 and S70.

 

Wide open, there's no contest. The S lenses are better. Noticably. The HC100 is actually pretty good as the corners are cropped on a mini MF sensor. It renders really nicely. But it doesn't compare to the S100 which is both epically sharp and renders beautifully. The DoF is really thin on these lenses BTW.

 

Stopped down to 2.6-2.8 the HC100 is much sharper, especially in the corners Very close to the S but not quite. At f4 it's not a huge difference at all.

 

Having gotten a great deal on the HC100 I have little interest in buying the S100. I find it great for portraits wide open and super sharp stopped down. Also I can use it on both systems.

 

If you have the S120, I don't think you'll see the 1/2 a stop in normal usage as the longer lens visually accounts for most of the difference.

 

In summary. There's nothing like the S100, anywhere. It's special. But really only if you're a portrait specialist. Otherwise the S120 or HC are both really great lenses.

 

Gordon

 

S120 is amazing , only downsides are weight and slow focus, I also owned the HC100, its a good lens but S100 has better colour has a nice effect on skin.

[Arif]

I had the HC 100 and sold it once I got my S100 which I found to be both sharper and more pleasing to my eyes.  The colors were slightly different and another reason to keep the S100 and match the look with my other pictures.

[Photon42]

 

S2, HC100 at f2.2

[ropo54]

Great shot, Ivo. Thank you.

Rob

[geetee1972]

Rob - if you're still considering an HC lens and dont have the HC adapter for it, then my local camera shop is selling one second hand for a crazy £400, which is about $500. See the link below:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-S-Adapter-H/323279770066?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D72eaedab917d4a668eedd0b93d67fd3c%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D11%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D142900699993%26itm%3D323279770066&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A564c4824-a462-11e8-bf74-74dbd180a4bc%7Cparentrq%3A56d784f51650ab4530adee4afff664b7%7Ciid%3A1

 

It seems like the consensus is that the Hasselblad lens is good and considerably cheaper than the S100 (especially if you can get the adapter as cheap as above) but the S100 is much better (and it should be for the money).

[ropo54]

Thank you, Greg.  An excellent price, indeed.  (I'm in the 'still considering' mode now, but as to the focal length of 100mm vs. the others which I already own, the 120mm and 70mm).

Rob

Edited August 20, 2018 by ropo54

[Guest]

Thank you, Greg. An excellent price, indeed. (I'm in the 'still considering' mode now, but as to the focal length of 100mm vs. the others which I already own, the 120mm and 70mm).

Rob

Rob you don't need to pay all that.....this is what I got

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F352316182153

[ropo54]

Rob you don't need to pay all that.....this is what I got

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F352316182153

 

Thanks, Neil. Superb price. Let me start considering a 100 HC, again.

Rob

[Guest]

Thanks, Neil. Superb price. Let me start considering a 100 HC, again.

Rob

Rob

If you already have the S120 forget any 100mm lens....,.you already have the best S lens out there.

Now the HC300 is pretty special on the S

Neil

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/fhnouj1cpkkjikz/AAAN9YtgJY3V-n0ePl4A5g_ma

Edited August 20, 2018 by Guest

[ropo54]

Yes, thanks; that's why - the 120 - I've hesitated in pulling the trigger on the S or HC.

Rob

Edited August 20, 2018 by ropo54

[Photon42]

Thanks, Neil. Superb price. Let me start considering a 100 HC, again.

Rob

 

 

This is Stan Tamarkin, IIRC. I've got my adapter from him as well. Crazy price.

Edited August 20, 2018 by Photon42

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[Photon42]

Yes, thanks; that's why - the 120 - I've hesitated in pulling the trigger on the S or HC.

Rob

 

New anyway. The used market for the Leica 100 is not really there. Privately sold 100 are often unrealistically priced. The HC used is much easier to find and can be sold with little or no loss. And it fits H and X1d bodies, if that matters.