My Take on the APO-Summicron SL 35mm Asph

[panoreserve]

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vor einer Stunde schrieb jonoslack:

Haha - same problem here - exactly. BUT let's face it, the 24-90 really covers most of those 'once in a lifetime' situations, and although the primes are lovely (my 75 is the most used) those situations aren't usually dependent on an extra  couple of stops. . . .

As always I have to agree with you😉. BUT: since I had purchased the SL 75, I am „rediscovering“ my old affinity to prime lenses😇, just liking their max. aperture (2.0),  rather compactness and therefore unobtrusiveness. The SL + SL 75 (or 90/50/35...) attracts much less attention than our VE 24-90 (with or without hood). Last but not least - as good the VE is, the SL-Apo-Summicrons are even slightly better...

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[Chaemono]

Can’t compare. The SL Summicrons are meant to be used wide open. Stopping them down a bit increases perceived sharpness but not materially and with the result of losing the wide open creative effect that Jono‘s pictures show. The 24-90 can be stopped down without regrets and it’s an absolute stunner at 35 mm f/4.5, for example. I used a tripod and compared it to the 16-35 at 35 mm f/4.5 and decided to keep it. I won’t get the 35 Summicron-SL because I can’t make photographs like Jono shows. But I’m learning to love the two shorter zooms stopped down to their optimum performance. 

[helged]

1 hour ago, Chaemono said:

Can’t compare. The SL Summicrons are meant to be used wide open. Stopping them down a bit increases perceived sharpness but not materially and with the result of losing the wide open creative effect that Jono‘s pictures show. The 24-90 can be stopped down without regrets and it’s an absolute stunner at 35 mm f/4.5, for example. I used a tripod and compared it to the 16-35 at 35 mm f/4.5 and decided to keep it. I won’t get the 35 Summicron-SL because I can’t make photographs like Jono shows. But I’m learning to love the two shorter zooms stopped down to their optimum performance. 

+1.

Regarding the 24-90: This is the  b e s t  lens I have tested/used for astropohoto at the wide end, wide open (e.g. in comparison with Nikon 12-24 f2.8G, Zeiss Otus 28 f1.4, Sigma 18mm f1.8 ART, 21SEM, 28Lux-M, etc). Very impressive; hardly any distortion of the stars, even into the corners. Slight 'downsides' are the performance at the long end (80-90mm; slight loss of sharpness), and that the lens can be somewhat prone to flare. Otherwise an excellent zoom.

Regarding the 16-35: This is  n o t  the best astrophoto performer (triangle-shaped stars in the outer 20% of the frame) at the wide and and wide open. But it will hardly flare - which is a remarkable quality for a zoom. Actually, it's flare resistance beats all wa primes I have/have tested. It is an exceptional wa lens - if size and weight is acceptable. It certainly is for me...  

75mmSL: Simply pleasant rendering, at least based on my eyes. 

Thus, if I am limited to carry one lens, like for some types of hiking or where I don't want to change lenses (dusty air, downpour, without cover at sea during strong winds), or with a lot of people around, etc., I pick the 24-90, and I have most of the focal lengths covered. If I can carry two lenses, 16-35+75 is my fav combo...

Edited March 6, 2019 by helged

[scott kirkpatrick]

In case you like to have the data to backup speculations like "sharpest at f/2.0 -- it's all downhill from there...", the data sheets that we've all been admiring from Peter Karbe's presentation last year are now on the Leica website.  To download them, go to the page advertising the 35 SL-SC, scroll down to "Technical Data," and click on the download button at the top of the data listing.  Start here:  http://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL/SL-Lenses/Prime-Lenses/APO-Summicron-SL-35 

The figures are awesome, and they do support the claim that f/2.0 is sharper (>=80% MTF out to the edges) than at higher f-stops.  This is what gives a lens the name "diffraction-limited.

[willeica]

I am glad that Leica have put this out as my photo of the same charts has been shown all over the internet since I included it in an article which I wrote after the LHSA event in Wetzlar last October. It was then copied by Leica Rumors and grew from there. As a presenter, Karbe is a bit of a laid back 'slow burner', but when he put up the MTF charts he (or the charts) got a spontaneous round of applause from the audience of Leica fans. Instead of applauding I just took a photo. I also saw the lens at dinner in Wetzlar on the following night. A member of the Leica team brought it (on an SL on his shoulder) to the dinner and just mentioned to me quietly what he had on his shoulder. I captured a shot of it as he went up to see Dr Kaufmann at the end of the dinner and that also appeared on Leica Rumors.

The strange thing is that I have no interest whatsoever in L mount cameras and lenses. For me, Leica is LTM and M models and there are more than enough of those to keep me going for the rest of my life.

William

[scott kirkpatrick]

Now for the next round of speculation.  The 50 SL-SC is now posted with its own little section on the Leica site, promising delivery in first half of 2019.  No shooting examples yet, so I wouldn't say it is "in the wild," but at least the "Wanted" posters are up.

I wonder what the team will be doing in the empty second half of 2019.  Perhaps finally shipping the SL2?

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by scott kirkpatrick

[helged]

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1 hour ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

The figures are awesome, and they do support the claim that f/2.0 is sharper (>=80% MTF out to the edges) than at higher f-stops.  This is what gives a lens the name "diffraction-limited.

Incredible. Has anything close to this been seen before (keeping science, industry and military aside)?

[Peter Branch]

The new 35mm Apo SL certainly behaves like a Diffraction Limited lens in that the MTF performance deteriorates as it is stopped down from its maximum aperture.

Whether it is Diffraction Limited is something only Leica can certify and so far they seem to have been silent on this point. 

 

[scott kirkpatrick]

I agree.  What we hear will be from management, and a grain of salt is always indicated.  But what a lens!  I'm #3 at my dealer.  I hope there is a significant initial burst before things settle down.

[Jon Warwick]

Is there any solid data or views on the 35 SL Summicron, specifically with regards to distortion (with and without software correction)?

It's the type of test Reid Reviews would conduct in his typical excellent fashion, but i don't see that he's added this lens yet to his index.

I do a lot a architecture images, hence the distortion question! If I get the 35mm SL lens, it would be used on an S1R in high resolution mode.

Thanks for any help.

[helged]

Not exactly what you ask for, but nevertheless: 

 

[helged]

Technical data are available towards the end of the 35-SL page http://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL/SL-Lenses/Prime-Lenses/APO-Summicron-SL-35

 

Edited May 6, 2019 by helged

[Bob Andersson]

Crikey. Those MTF charts! 🤩

[jplomley]

Over a year late on delivery and still impossible to get. And no sight on the 50 APO.  Just what the hell do they do in Wetzlar all day?

[thighslapper]

1 hour ago, jplomley said:

Over a year late on delivery and still impossible to get. And no sight on the 50 APO.  Just what the hell do they do in Wetzlar all day?

Make Leica Q2's to try and get the waiting list down to manageable levels ..... 

[AZN]

Unfortunately there is nothing new in this.

There were similar incredible delays when the 50-APO-M and 50-Noctilux-M (f0.95) were announced.  6++ months later you still could not buy the lenses.

Had hoped that now with modern manufacturing techniques and the "L Camera Aliance" things would be more customer-oriented but... obviously not.

"Just be patient!" "What's the hurry?" "It will be worth the wait!" etc.  =/

Edited May 15, 2019 by AZN

[jonoslack]

32 minutes ago, AZN said:

Unfortunately there is nothing new in this.

There were similar incredible delays when the 50-APO-M and 50-Noctilux-M (f0.95) were announced.  6++ months later you still could not buy the lenses.

Had hoped that now with modern manufacturing techniques and the "L Camera Aliance" things would be more customer-oriented but... obviously not.

"Just be patient!" "What's the hurry?" "It will be worth the wait!" etc.  =/

Oh! I think that’s unfair. These lenses are difficult to make, with lots of rejects and extreme quality control. Even with modern manufacturing techniques. 

There’s nothing they would like better than to get these lenses out quickly  it just isn’t that easy!

 

[scott kirkpatrick]

Mine is supposed to be on its way to me now.  And I was not the first in line at my dealer.  So they are flowing.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[AZN]

3 hours ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

So they are flowing.

Good to hear, although it isn't happening in my part of the globe...  Maybe @ 5 made it to Australia as part of the original shipment.  Further deliveries are unspecified and unknown.

[IkarusJohn]

I’ve decided to give the 75 Summicron-SL a try.