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f/5.6

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Edited by evikne
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6 hours ago, Dennis said:

Is the 'modern' gap between the pre-asph and the pre-fle huge? Does it lose all the charm?

Huge difference in the correction of coma (the source of some glow, and the soft edges/corners in the pre-asph) and spherical aberration. Leica was especially proud of how nearly-perfect the coma correction is in the 35 Summilux-M ASPH (either FLE or pre-FLE).

From the first sentence of the data sheet of the pre-FLE ASPH:

The outstanding imaging performance of this very compact lens is due to the application of aspherical technology. It delivers high contrasts, excellent detail rendition over the entire image area, good field flatness, and it has extremely low coma.

I shot a comparison of both pre-ASPH and ASPH v1 with "fairy lights" in around 2003, and was amazed at how the tiny lights in the corners of the frame remained pin-points even at f/1.4 (and better than the 35mm Summicron-M ASPH can do at f/2.0). Unfortunately I no longer have those shots, and and have never had a chance to repeat the experiment.

The ASPH v1 does have its own charm - "persuasive" resolution/micro-contrast/definition across the whole frame at f/1.4, and moderate (perhaps "creamy") overall contrast and bokeh. Definitely NOT "clinical," especially at f/1.4, while being "cleaner" than the pre-ASPH. Microscopically warmer color than the pre-ASPH.

One of the transitional lenses between Mandler and Karbe (designer was Walter Watz, under the supervision of Lothar Kölsch) - and Leica's signature lens 1994-2004 (advent of the 50 Summilux ASPH).

I liked the imaging - but not so much the ergonomics (weight, size, and the fatter focus tabs Leica introduced around 1991 or so). I've tried it three times, and may go for a fourth if a good deal comes my way (while keeping the pre-ASPH this time as well ;) ).

Shot below is f/1.4 on Ilford Pan F, from 2003. (click through for larger)

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Edited by adan
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vor 17 Stunden schrieb Knipsknecht:

[...] without being a one-trick Pony.

@hdmesa and @pippy

I am sorry, I didn't meant this as a derogative towards the Summilux. I wanted to focus on the Voigtlander and express that the Voigtlander is (in my opinion) not a one-trick pony. After reading your comments I realized that it could be understood as a comment about the Lux. Sorry, guys, that wasn't my intention - but my wording was bad😓!

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m3, summilux 35 pre-asph (v2 Canada), delta 3200 (dd-x) printed on mgfb warmtone (top) and classic (bottom)

Edited by Aryel
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12 minutes ago, Knipsknecht said:

@hdmesa and @pippy

...I am sorry, I didn't meant this as a derogative towards the Summilux...

Hey, no need to apologise, Knipsknecht; I was just slightly confused by your statement.

Certainly the early 35 Summilux lenses have a particular type of rendering when shot wide-open but below, say, f2.8 they perform like any other top-quality lens of that era so in some respects they might be considered to be more versatile than many other 35mm lenses rather than less so.

As it happens I have a great liking for Voigtlander's lenses myself. Until I picked-up my Summilux the most-used lens in my bag was one of their 40mm f1.4 Noktons.

Philip.

 

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Tower Bridge viewed from the Horsleydown Steps, Shad Thames, London.

M-D Typ-262, '74 v2 Summilux, Circ. Pola;

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Philip.

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M11 -|- 35 Lux Pre-ASPH v2 -|- f/1.4

> click to see sharper version <

//

Standard C1 B&W -|- No Adjustments

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Cropped -|- Mastin Labs Ektar 100

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Sunset walk with the M11 + 35 Lux pre-ASPH. First shot is f/8, most of the rest are wide open.

Click to scroll though sharper versions:

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Crop from previous image:

About a 90mm crop:

 

 

Edited by hdmesa
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Well I managed to track down a minty 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH v2 (1991) made in Germany. Finding a later model was not easy let me tell you! It should ship from London to the Bay Area tomorrow. DHL is usually pretty speedy.

Look was this thread has done to me! I guess the 28mm Summaron will have to wait a little longer…

Erik

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42 minutes ago, egrossman said:

Well I managed to track down a minty 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH v2 (1991) made in Germany. Finding a later model was not easy let me tell you! It should ship from London to the Bay Area tomorrow. DHL is usually pretty speedy.

Look was this thread has done to me! I guess the 28mm Summaron will have to wait a little longer…

Erik

Erik, Not to interfere in any way with your lens preferences, yet if I may I'd like to share that while my favorite focal length is 50mm and I own some very special and unique lenses in that FL, I feel my most special and unique lenses are my 35 1.4 pre-asph summilux lenses: first a 1961 35 1.4 Steel Rim and a late German titanium finish  360 serial number 35 1.4 pre-asph. I also recently traded away my mid 80's Canadian V2 black Summilux as it fell right between these two with the primary differences between all three of these 35 1.4 pre-asph version showed up when shot wide open f1.4, with the Steel Rim presenting the most acuity, clarity and a tie with the later German titanium for sharpness, whereas the Canadian copy was slightly less sharp and also presented a sort of halo of white around the subject, with the Titanium and the Steel Rim showing a glow on the edges and tips of the the subject matter. From f1.7 on up all three are incredibly sharp and wonderful lenses. I wish you well with your new lens as I know I will never sell my German titanium copy.

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8 minutes ago, insideline said:

Erik, Not to interfere in any way with your lens preferences, yet if I may I'd like to share that while my favorite focal length is 50mm and I own some very special and unique lenses in that FL, I feel my most special and unique lenses are my 35 1.4 pre-asph summilux lenses: first a 1961 35 1.4 Steel Rim and a late German titanium finish  360 serial number 35 1.4 pre-asph. I also recently traded away my mid 80's Canadian V2 black Summilux as it fell right between these two with the primary differences between all three of these 35 1.4 pre-asph version showed up when shot wide open f1.4, with the Steel Rim presenting the most acuity, clarity and a tie with the later German titanium for sharpness, whereas the Canadian copy was slightly less sharp and also presented a sort of halo of white around the subject, with the Titanium and the Steel Rim showing a glow on the edges and tips of the the subject matter. From f1.7 on up all three are incredibly sharp and wonderful lenses. I wish you well with your new lens as I know I will never sell my German titanium copy.

My favorite focal length used to be 50mm and I own a range of lenses in that focal length. More recently, I’ve come to prefer 35mm and the softer pre-ASPH should be a nice contrast to the pre-FLE and v4 Summicron that I currently use.

Thank you for the good wishes and happy shooting!

Erik

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Well my lens arrived and was rather quickly mounted to my M10-D. First sample pics (at 1.4) were of the requisite cat and I'm pleasantly surprised that it's sharper than I anticipated. Definitely a more controlled glow as well (the second cat pic is a crop of the first). This v2 is a late (1991) German-made model, so I presume it has newer lens coatings. 

Erik

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Edited by egrossman
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14 hours ago, egrossman said:

Well my lens arrived and was rather quickly mounted to my M10-D...

Congrats on the new arrival (and the cat), Erik, and I trust it will be as good as you hoped it would be!

Philip.

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One from yesterday. Entrance and foyer of the "Picture House Central" Cinema and Cafe-bar, Great Windmill Street, London W1.

I like to imagine that the two chaps just visible in the snap are texting each other asking 'I'm here; where the Hell are You!?!'...

M-D Typ-262, '74 v2, 1/180 @ f1.4, ISO 200;

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I took the Pre-ASPH out today for the first time and am surprised at how (relatively) sharp my copy of this lens is wide open. This photo was taken wide open on an M10M (orange filter). The glow also seems quite controlled.

Based on other samples on this thread, I expected soft, glowy images wide open.

This is a German-made lens from 1991 (35702xx).

Erik

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16 hours ago, egrossman said:

I took the Pre-ASPH out today for the first time and am surprised at how (relatively) sharp my copy of this lens is wide open. This photo was taken wide open on an M10M (orange filter). The glow also seems quite controlled.

Based on other samples on this thread, I expected soft, glowy images wide open.

This is a German-made lens from 1991 (35702xx).

Erik

Great to hear Erik.  Yes my 35:1.4 v2 is sharper than my Summicron 35s for example the v4.  I was surprised by that too. Great shot 

Edited by grahamc
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1 hour ago, egrossman said:

I will need to do some experimenting to better understand the differences of the 3 35mm lenses I have. I also own the 35mm Summilux pre-FLE and 35mm Summicron v4...

Funny you should say that, Erik.

After I acquired my LLL 35mm f2 '8-Element' (reverse-engineered 1958-style Summicron) lens I went out snapping with that lens on one body and the Summilux on the other and I was amazed to see how similar the lenses rendered from f4 down. Not long afterwards I read that many years earlier Erwin Puts had written pretty much exactly the same thing so it transpired that I was merely experiencing first-hand what was already a well-known aspect of these two designs.

I'd also like to go back to something Graham wrote in the post preceeding yours;

"...my 35:1.4 v2 is sharper than my Summicron 35s for example the v4..."

In a comparison test undertaken of all versions of the 35 Summicron lenses from the 1958 v1 '8 Element' to the current ASPH Ken Rockwell (FWIW) has written;

"...(the 8 Element is) the sharpest in the corners wide-open, except for the ASPH, and the sharpest in the center. At most apertures, it's actually the sharpest lens here! It has slightly less contrast on digital at f/2, but on film it looks spectacular at every aperture..."

My take on all the above - and all that I've read from reliable sources - is that these c. 1960-'95 Summilux lenses have always been known to be very sharp indeed. The early ones varied quite a bit in the 'glow' stakes when used at or near max. aperture but from f4 down they are quite simply superbly capable lenses.

And, from time to time, I'm quite partial to a bit of f1.4 Mad Glow...

Another thing to take from Mr. Rockwell's observation is that the 8-element Summicron might actually deserve its lofty reputation - at least in part.

Philip.

Edited by pippy
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