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35mm 1.4 Summilux pre-asph


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Well that's exactly the point here. The little summicron v4 is a wonderful lens in its own right, and its bokeh is of course very nice,  but what the Summilux delivers at 1.4 is different with that dreamy soft glow. It's something the summicron even wide open doesn't obtain.

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On 8/29/2018 at 8:20 PM, CharlesL said:

Per request, here is the lens mounted on an M240 (heavily clothed in gaffer tape).

 

 

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I would add gafer tape to the top edges where the straps rub.

 

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This thread has made me want to get mine of storage and use it again. Has anybody had any luck 6-bit coding the lens - I know Leica doesn't do it. Any ideas on what lens you'd code it to? Perhaps not worth worrying about but I just had a 28mm f2.8 Elmarit V2 custom coded and it's working great - but there are similar 28mm lenses that are coded. I'm thinking the 35mm Summilux f1.4 is probably closer to a V3 35mm Summicron. It bears no resemblance to the asph 35mm's.

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Technically, there is no such thing as a 6-bit code for the 35 Summilux - no pattern of dots a digital M will recognize.

With the M10 (at least) the pre-ASPH Summilux appears in the menu as a choice ("35 f/1.4 11869/11870/11860") - there is no need at all to substitute some other lens ID. I am using that for my Voigtlander 35 f/1.4.

If one must substitute some other lens coding, the Summicron version 4 is the closest optical design (7 elements) - I used that on my M9.

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So to keep the thread going, i wanted to share more images of this little gem, but this time with the m10 :)

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

One more, with a bit of glow...  (heavily cropped)

 

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Edited by mdg1371
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I've tried all 35mm Leica lenses & my two favorite ones are: 

1) Summicron 8 elements (small, beautiful rendering, and the amazing old school bokeh which is my favorite of all 35s)
2) Summilux steel rim with goggles (i prefer this to the lux pre-asph v2, but only with goggles as it allows to focus as close as 0.65; beautiful rendering, glow & bokeh, especially when used with b&w film or monochrom)

If you like the glow, the summicron 8 elements also has some nice glow wide open. Between the summicron 8 elements and v2 lux pre-asph I would go with the 8 elements, simply because it has better built and focuses to 0.7m vs 1m on the lux. Both lenses look amazing on B&W! These are my two only 35mm lenses and I do not plan on selling them, especially as it's becoming harder and harder to find them in good condition.

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  • 4 weeks later...

After messing about with too many 35s (CV Ultron, Canon ltm, Summicron Asph), I've just acquired a beautiful 1992 Titanium copy of this lens at a reasonable price, and I think it's a keeper; on brief acquaintance there's no focus shift, it seems quite sharp wide open and with my '50s bakelite Leitz hood "Summaron 3.5cms, Summicron 5cms" flare seems to be minimal. There is however a large piece of dust just behind the front element, so a cla would be good, and I'd quite like to get the lens coded if possible (11869/11870/11860) - I believe there's a highly-thought-of technician in Holland who might be able to help. Does anyone have details please?

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2 hours ago, Musotographer said:

After messing about with too many 35s (CV Ultron, Canon ltm, Summicron Asph), I've just acquired a beautiful 1992 Titanium copy of this lens at a reasonable price, and I think it's a keeper; on brief acquaintance there's no focus shift, it seems quite sharp wide open and with my '50s bakelite Leitz hood "Summaron 3.5cms, Summicron 5cms" flare seems to be minimal. There is however a large piece of dust just behind the front element, so a cla would be good, and I'd quite like to get the lens coded if possible (11869/11870/11860) - I believe there's a highly-thought-of technician in Holland who might be able to help. Does anyone have details please?

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-news/leica-repair-specialists/

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  • 6 months later...

I have the opportunity to trade my 35 Summicron v.4 for a 35 Summilux v.2 in very good condition. I'm very in doubt, maybe this is a stupid decision, because I am very satisfied with my Summicron. But since I sold my 35 Lux FLE, I have missed the extra f-stop (I'm a bokeh lover after all). I'll lose the 0.7 m near limit and I am not very fan of the "glow". But I have seen in picture examples in this thread that it's possible to "tame" it with the right lighting conditions and some post processing.

I know that nobody else can make this decision. There are pros and cons with both lenses, but it's very tempting to try something new. After a while I'll know if my choice was right or wrong. But if it turns out to be wrong, it's always possible to trade it for another Summicron.

Edited by evikne
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On 9/11/2019 at 1:07 AM, evikne said:

I have the opportunity to trade my 35 Summicron v.4 for a 35 Summilux v.2 in very good condition.(…) I am not very fan of the "glow". But I have seen in picture examples in this thread that it's possible to "tame" it with the right lighting conditions and some post processing.

I would rather say "pre processing", exposing for the highlights will do the most in "taming" the "glow". One from yesterday @1.4, if any, the glow should have appeared on the shoulder.

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From the same session @5.6:

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14 minutes ago, Jul said:

I would rather say "pre processing", exposing for the highlights will do the most in "taming" the "glow". One from yesterday @1.4, if any, the glow should have appeared on the shoulder.

Thanks for the input and great picture examples. Yes, I mean the most important factor is the preventive measures, like avoiding challenging lighting conditions and exposing for the highlights. I have gained quite a bit of experience with my Noctilux f/1.0, which I think has much of the same challenges as the Summilux.

But I've also experienced that quite a lot can be done in post processing. For example can the LR's Dehaze tool reduce the glow effect a bit, and "flat" faces can be improved with some Clarity.

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