50mm summicron APO vs V5

[phototrope]

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I'm in a position where I can purchase a new 50mm summicron APO.  However, I happen to be one of those people who much prefers the Noct f/1.0 to the Noct f/0.95 for its rendering.

I've tried both of them in the Leica shop. The APO is superb without a doubt, but there's something about the V5 that I also like. I know I can buy both, but I want to limit myself to just one 50mm summicron.

So I'm wondering if anybody here has owned both 50 summicrons and prefers the drawing of the 50mm summicron v5 to the 50mm summicron APO. If so, can you explain why?

 

 

Edited May 7, 2019 by phototrope

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[dkmoore]

Do you own the Noct f/1.0?

My guess (and purely a guess based off of other fast lenses I do own) is that by F2 it probably behaves similarly to the V5 Summicron.

If you don't currently own the Noct f/1.0, but you prefer that lens/rendering, I noticed Leica Miami currently has one for a couple of grand cheaper than a new APO.

P.S. Sorry I didn't answer your question directly. The APO is going to be the polar opposite of the Noct F1.0 at wide apertures.

Edited May 7, 2019 by dkmoore

[lct]

Are you comparing 50/2 apo to 50/2 v5? If so the 50/2 apo is not the lens i would use for soft portraits obviously. Better choose the 50/2 v5 or a 50/1.4 pre-asph for this purpose. For landscapes, differences are mainly visible at f/2 and f/2.8 where the apo has less field curvature and is sharper at edges and corners.

[ramosa]

By coincidence, I stumbled upon this online earlier today:

https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2019/3/1/the-uncelebrated-forty-year-anniversary-of-the-leica-50mm-f2-summicron-m-version-iv

 

It deals with the two lenses that you mentioned.

[Del-Uks]

I even like the version IV a little more because it's lighter (195g). 😜

 

[budjames]

I own the Noctilux 0.95 (current version), Summilux 50 and APO Summicron 50. The APO has become my favorite 50 for its excellent IQ, iight weight and compact size.

I'm probably going to sell my Noctilux as it is a lot of money to just stay sitting on a shelf.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

[ChicagoMatthew]

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4 hours ago, budjames said:

I own the Noctilux 0.95 (current version), Summilux 50 and APO Summicron 50. The APO has become my favorite 50 for its excellent IQ, iight weight and compact size.

I'm probably going to sell my Noctilux as it is a lot of money to just stay sitting on a shelf.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

Word on the street is you use that 75apo more than the 50apo... maybe you should sell that one to me.

[james.liam]

I owned/own both  at different times, as well as the 50 Summilux.

The pre-APO Summicron is of Mandler design and you will detect the gentlest glow @ f/2 (at least that's what I saw with my sample several years ago). IIRC, some focus shift from f/2.8-5.6 but by 5.6 and beyond, you can't pick them apart. Sounds like you're a glow-o-phile if the Noctilux f/1 is your thing.

You buy the APO for its brilliant, unequaled performance @ f/2. If wide-open shooting isn't a priority, save your money for a trip somewhere instead.

[budjames]

8 hours ago, ChicagoMatthew said:

Word on the street is you use that 75apo more than the 50apo... maybe you should sell that one to me.

Strictly a rumor. I'm keeping my APO Summicron 75. Nice try though.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

[AndreasG]

I got a Summicron 50 V4 in 1986 and I still work with it. Version 5 is the same optical design, only the lens hood differs. Once I tested the APO Summicron, it did not improve my photos, probably my fault, so I decided not to buy one.

[Jon Warwick]

I owned both the lenses that you specifically mention, and compared them on a tripod side by side.

The APO gives better edge to edge sharpness; no obvious field curvature; higher contrast; higher acuity; better flare control (vs my version of the v5, at least, that suffered from a lot of veiling flare); higher build quality. 

Resolution wise, it was near impossible for me to see any difference, but I was using a low 24 megapixel M240. On the S1R in high resolution mode, I’d assume the difference here would be apparent and makes the APO more future proof for handling any resolution sensor that may come. In that sense, I perhaps should have kept the APO and waited for a sensor to come along with sufficient resolution to do that aspect of the lens justice.

But, in the end I sold both, given I decided to only stay in the M range for film (M7 and 75mm 2.4 Summarit). And for digital, moving into the L Mount - via an S1R (the high resolution mode for huge prints is astonishing) and because even with the 24mp SL I found that SL prime lenses bettered all M lenses with the only obvious downside being the size of the SL lenses relative to the little 50 APO.

[Nick_S]

1 hour ago, Jon Warwick said:

...my version of the v5, at least, that suffered from a lot of veiling flare

Mine too -- it flares terribly under certain conditions.

[Anika]

@ Phototrope

So how you decided? Apo or not Apo?

[phototrope]

34 minutes ago, Anika said:

@ Phototrope

So how you decided? Apo or not Apo?

@Anika I went for a Noctilux 50/1.0 E58 and am more than happy on it. The size is just right - smaller than I expected. I use film only at the moment and the extra 2 stops are invaluable. 

There may be an APO in the future but for now I’m content. 

[microview]

On 8 May 2019 at 3:42 AM, ramosa said:

By coincidence, I stumbled upon this online earlier today:

https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2019/3/1/the-uncelebrated-forty-year-anniversary-of-the-leica-50mm-f2-summicron-m-version-iv

 

It deals with the two lenses that you mentioned.

All his examples, however, are from scanned film. Haptics observations relevant of course.