First 50mm... Noctilux or APO-Summicron?

[lexontario]

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I  would suggest to get the 50 APO over the Noctilux. I think its a keeper. I have a 50 APO.

I also have 28 Elmarit, 21 SEM, and a 50 Cron V5, I like all of them.

After you can buy second hand lenses and try them, if they are not what you expect or need, you can resell them without 

large depreciation. So many great lenses to chose from,  all having their own character.

There are reviews comparing 50 mm lenses  you may wish to view, may help narrow down between what you want

and what you need.

https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2018/8/6/leica-50mm-noctilux-summilux-summicron-all-versions-plus-summarit-f15

 

 

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[Stein K S]

On 8/10/2019 at 1:52 PM, lexontario said:

I  would suggest to get the 50 APO over the Noctilux. I think its a keeper. I have a 50 APO.

I also have 28 Elmarit, 21 SEM, and a 50 Cron V5, I like all of them.

After you can buy second hand lenses and try them, if they are not what you expect or need, you can resell them without 

large depreciation. So many great lenses to chose from,  all having their own character.

There are reviews comparing 50 mm lenses  you may wish to view, may help narrow down between what you want

and what you need.

https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2018/8/6/leica-50mm-noctilux-summilux-summicron-all-versions-plus-summarit-f15

 

 

Thanks for this streetsilhouettes link. Makes me ¨recheerish¨ my silver 50 cron v5 😊... and keeping GAS away at least for a while.

[jdlaing]

First 50 mm?

Summarit or Summicron.

[lykaman]

On 8/9/2019 at 4:21 AM, Mark T said:

You should buy the most expensive one

& Why not? A camera for each Lens, you don't want to spend time changing Lenses! 

[steamboat]

A bit late here but there's one more thing. The Noctilux minimum focus is 1-meter. The Summicron is 0.7-meter. That is a big difference. I know it doesn't sound like much but the .7-meter is good. Not great but good. The 1-meter is a pain at times. I've owned two lenses with 1-meter minimum - the 35mm Summilux f1.4 (classic) and the 50mm Noctilux f1.0. Anyway - for sure - go with the APO. BTW, I have pretty good luck with my 70's (v3?) 50 Summicron. It's on my M right now (I shoot daily). 

[M11 for me]

Most important: Leica first. And then: Please buy the most expensive lens and then be proud of it. Weather or not you understand anything about lenses does not matter at all.

Why should it.

[Herr Barnack]

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If you are trying to choose between the 50/0.95 Noctilux and the 50/2 APO Summicron, I would say get the APO Summicron.  It is more of an all-around 50mm and is much lighter, less bulky and easier to work with than a Noctilux just because of the size/weight factor. 

That having been said, I would encourage you to look at the 50/1.4 Summilux ASPH.  Many consider it a must have lens and it seems to me to be the best all-around 50mm that is in current production.

If you want to buy the most expensive M lens as some suggest (hopefully as comedy), get the 75mm f/1.2 Noctilux. 

The highest price would not be my primary criteria for choosing a lens, though.

Edited August 11, 2019 by Herr Barnack

[01af]

Am 10.8.2019 um 07:36 schrieb Fedro:

I have [...] amazing lens.

All this is exactly what I just wanted to say. So, +1.

[T25UFO]

On 8/9/2019 at 3:22 PM, Jeff S said:

If you have to ask the question or rely on a poll, then neither.  There are many other fine choices that are also capable of superb results... or not.... depending on the user.

Jeff

Excellent advice.  When buying into the Leica M, there is always the temptation to spend big on lenses.  DON'T.  It isn't necessary.  The 50mm APO is a superb lens - it should be for £6,175 - but the Summarit is brilliant for £1,330.  And yes, I do have the 50mm APO, which I saved (and saved, and saved, and saved) to buy!

[T25UFO]

Here's another idea if the OP really wants to spend big:

https://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/m-lenses/14501-leica-retro-apo-summicron-m-50mm-f2-asph-m-black-chrome.html

 

[Michael Hiles]

On 8/10/2019 at 7:52 AM, lexontario said:

I  would suggest to get the 50 APO over the Noctilux. I think its a keeper. I have a 50 APO.

I also have 28 Elmarit, 21 SEM, and a 50 Cron V5, I like all of them.

After you can buy second hand lenses and try them, if they are not what you expect or need, you can resell them without 

large depreciation. So many great lenses to chose from,  all having their own character.

There are reviews comparing 50 mm lenses  you may wish to view, may help narrow down between what you want

and what you need.

https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2018/8/6/leica-50mm-noctilux-summilux-summicron-all-versions-plus-summarit-f15

 

 

 

All I could see was that (maybe) the old f1.5 Summarit was slightly softer that more modern lenses (no surprises). Otherwise I could see nothing to seriously differentiate one 50mm from another in terms of image quality. So I will stay with my Summicron Ver.V and lament my stolen V11.

Edited August 11, 2019 by Michael Hiles

[Ernest]

APO-Summicron-M Black Chrome Edition (700 pieces) has the vintage inspired design of the scalloped focusing ring and separate brass lens hood. This is the same vintage design as my current LHSA APO-Summicron-M. If the scalloped focusing ring and separate lens hood is not an issue, then the APO with focusing tab is the other option. Of course, the alternative no one discusses is the Summilux-M 50mm ASPH. Black-Chrome Edition that Peter Karbe says is actually an APO, just not designated, in an interview with Overgaard. 

Then, if you require a Noctilux, consider the very special Noctilux-M 75mm.

[Jeff S]

56 minutes ago, Ernest said:

Of course, the alternative no one discusses is the Summilux-M 50mm ASPH. Black-Chrome Edition that Peter Karbe says is actually an APO, just not designated, in an interview with Overgaard. 

 

Well, five people in this thread already mentioned the standard 50 Summilux M ASPH, which is optically the same as the black chrome version.  I prefer mine ergonomically to the standard 50 APO M Summicron.  There are, however, different possible degrees of APO correction.

I’ve cited before this interesting and informative old interview with Karbe regarding the Summilux...

https://www.shutterbug.com/content/leica-lens-saga-interview-peter-karbe

Jeff

[Ernest]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

Well, five people in this thread already mentioned the standard 50 Summilux M ASPH, which is optically the same as the black chrome version.  I prefer mine ergonomically to the standard 50 APO M Summicron.  There are, however, different possible degrees of APO correction.

I’ve cited before this interesting and informative old interview with Karbe regarding the Summilux...

https://www.shutterbug.com/content/leica-lens-saga-interview-peter-karbe

Jeff

Great Shutterbug article, Jeff. Much more technical info than Overgard’s take away:

“The Leica 50 mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 from Leica is an aspherical lens, and according to lens designer Peter Karbe it's even an APO lens. That means it's corrected greatly for the color light rays, red, green and blue. If you look at APO-lenses generally, they have really bright and accurate colors. The funny thing is that I never really got a Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4 when it came out in 2004.”

https://www.overgaard.dk/leica-50mm-Summilux-M-ASPH-f-14-APO.html

Cheers, Rog 

Edited August 13, 2019 by Ernest
Font

[evikne]

In the interview PK says among other things: "One key element in achieving good bokeh: when you stop down to a small aperture, the iris diaphragm should maintain a nearly circular shape."

But the 50mm Summilux ASPH's diaphragm is far from circular when stopped down. And that is quite annoying in some situations. The previous model (non-ASPH) was much better in this regard.

[RexGig0]

In my opinion, the M10 handles, at its best, with a relatively compact lens, so my default answer, between the Noctilux or Summicron, would be the Summicron. I actually started with the Leica M system, by choosing a pre-owned, well-preserved Summilux-M 50mm ASPH at a local Leica dealer, and then deciding to buy a new M10. This Summilux provided a “look” that I wanted, unavailable with any 50mm available for my Canon and Nikon SLRs. I certainly do not regret buying the Summilux; I plan to keep it forever, but I soon knew that I would want to add a Summicron-M 50mm lens, too. 

I recently bought my Summicron-M 50mm lens, a pre-APO, pre-ASPH, special edition which has no integral sliding hood, and accepts 12585 and 12504 hoods, so the lens, itself, is quite compact, with a profile that I find most beautiful. Using a beautiful lens just might help me to be more creative, no? Until my ‘Cron’s images disappoint me, I am in no hurry to acquire an APO Summicron-M 50mm ASPH. It is not just about the cost; I could get the money, but first, have to convince myself that “it is worth it.”

As for a Noctilux-M 50mm, well, I have no plans, at this time, to add one, and, again, it is not just about the cost. As has already been mentioned, a Noctilux is not a “better” lens than an APO Summicron ASPH. I would have to decide that a Noctilux would help me to create a specific effect, in my images.

 

[earleygallery]

Nobody has asked why are you choosing between those 2 lenses? They're quite different and I don't think it's usually a choice between them.

So what are you looking for in particular? What subjects do you normally shoot? What is important to you?

Don't make the mistake of thinking just becuase they're the two most expensive 50's in the current line up that they're also the 'best'.

[budjames]

I own both and the Summilux 50. They are all great lenses for various reasons.

My goto 50 is my APO Summicron. It is insanely sharp and contrasty, small and light.

The Noctilux 0.95 is awesome for the shallow depth of field, but it is really heavy and large.

Regards,
Bud James

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

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[nilca]

On 8/9/2019 at 5:55 AM, Milan_S said:

You will buy one of them and eventually want to buy the other. 

I had the three modern fast 50s but decided to keep only the two the most extremes: 50 APO and 50 Noctilux f0.95

Both are very different and fit each other well. I use the 50 APO much more due to weight and size. 

So buy the 50 APO first you will never regret it, superb sharpness and micro contrast with a touch of swirly bokeh. The 50 APO reminds me of a MF lens. 

The 50 Noctilux f0.95 is gorgeous for it's rendering of people half or full body...

 

50 APO 

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50 Noctilux f0.95

 

 

Agree 100%, that's what I did too and realized you had to have both for just that one f-stop...

[james.liam]

On 8/11/2019 at 10:49 AM, jdlaing said:

First 50 mm?

Summarit or Summicron.

Gateway drugs.

Better to start with the 'trophy wife', as it were.

50 APO.

Edited October 27, 2019 by james.liam