APO-Summicron- wasted on film?

[Jon Warwick]

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On 9/3/2019 at 8:32 PM, adan said:

I would say a hard-cutting APO lens is even more useful on film (taking pictures on - more or less -- dried Jello) than on digital, where a certain amount of extra "edge-function" is built right into the medium.

This is an old thread I'm resurfacing. I fully agree with this view (based on previously using an M 50 APO with my M7).

After selling that relatively expensive M 50 APO lens to park the $ elsewhere, I'm back to using another "hard-cutting APO lens" with my film M7, this time in the form of the Voigtlander 50 APO Lanthar ....we didn't have this lens option when this discussion was last open!!

I think modern high-acuity lenses + film is a really good combo; whereas with digital sensors, IMHO I still think these lenses can often render an excessive edge sharpness & contrast that is hard to tame, especially if aiming for natural and flattering portraits. 

Edited September 23, 2021 by Jon Warwick

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I've noted lately, there are quite a few APO 50 'crons available from private sale in the US $6000-6400 range, which is a rather nice discount below new-retail prices.   Still difficult for this M-film-only shooter to justify.  The regular Summicrons are very good in their own rights.