Which 75? Noct or Cron?

[Schittra]

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I tried Noct 75/1.25 today and kinda like it. The color rendering and bokeh are superb. However, the lens is giantic! Nearly block focusing area. The weight is also another concern. 

I am thinking about 75/2 now. The size and weight are plus. Cron should deliver good color. How about other quality? 

Any input and thought please. Thank you so much. 

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[Guest]

It’s about 25% of the price of the Noctilux . I just picked up a 75 Summilux in Mint condition for about 35% of the cost of a 75 Noctilux and would prefer it to the 75 Noctilux. 

Edited December 27, 2019 by Guest

[M11 for me]

f/2.0 in low light is often enough under the condition that you accept that you need some light to shoot photographs even in low light situation. So low light often is no reason for larger aperture. Now come aspects as dof. Here you have to judge yourself how much difference this +1,5 LV changes. Be aware that we can often read here that there are the fast lenses just because Leica is able to make them and because there are people to buy them. No real reasons . . .

Edited December 27, 2019 by M10 for me

[mmradman]

It is difficult to try to answer without knowing more about your shooting style and aspiration.

What camera would you use it on, M-film, M-digital, SL/SL2 or third party mirrorless, i assume you plan to shoot on full frame sensor.

What other M lenses you have experience with, 75mm is very specialised focal length and there are other models in this focal length, by Leica and third parties.

What would you like to shoot with highly corrected 75mm full frame lens.

My experience with 75mm.

I tried APO Summicron M 75mm on M9 some time ago, found it very difficult to focus due to short focus throw, also very sharp for portrait lens, very forensic.  Later i acquired Summilux M 75mm which is more to my liking, dreamy at maximum aperture and sharp stopped down.  Initially on M9 with varied focus success and later on M240 and SL601 with increased focus success, this kind of FL is difficult to focus, some people claim good success rate but they are minority.

[Stuart Richardson]

The Summicron is the more practical lens by a long way. Sharpness appears from the data to be slightly lower on center, but higher edge to edge wider open. This does not tell the full story, however. The Noctilux seems to be focused on bokeh, and the Summicron on color purity. Personally, I would take the Summicron every time... One concern I have with the Noctilux is bokeh fringing...basically the tendency of the edges of the out of focus areas to shift slightly towards magenta or green depending on whether they are in the foreground or background. It is a pretty common problem with very fast lenses, and one that I really dislike. I have heard that the Noctilux has it, though I have not used it myself. 

[LocalHero1953]

The Summicron is compact, has a short close focus and is about as tricky to focus on a M as I would wish. It's my favourite M lens - I kept mine when I sold the M240, and use it now on the SL, CL and Sigma fp.

[ibramr]

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1 hour ago, BrianP said:

It’s about 25% of the price of the Noctilux . I just picked up a 75 Summilux in Mint condition for about 35% of the cost of a 75 Noctilux and would prefer it to the 75 Noctilux. 

Albeit I don’t have an experience with the Noctilux 75mm, the Summilux version is a very satisfying lens as BrianP has mentioned.  The Summilux version is bound to please most users, and as in my case, much more than the Summicron or the Summarit.  Because you can still find a very good late German sample of the Summilux at a relatively reasonable price, perhaps it is a good idea to start there, enjoy it’s characteristics, then go to the Noctilux version, if you so wish.  Further, I have found the Summilux 75mm and the Noctilux 50mm (both f1 and f0.95) represent the upper physical limits of the M system beyond which sustained usability (i.e., carrying a body, two lenses, and de minims accessories for a day) becomes questionable.  Of course,  here you are the judge as your mileage can vary.   Good luck and regards.

 

 

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by ibramr

[01af]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb Stuart Richardson:

The Summicron is the more practical lens by a long way.

The Apo-Summicron-M 75 mm Asph is the most impractical M lens I ever encountered. The focusing pitch is so steep it's impossible to focus accurately at short and medium distances. Instead, you have to focus approximately and then do the fine-focusing by swaying your body back and forth. Furthermore, it often creates a hot spot at the frame's center at short distances.

If the mighty Noctilux-M 75 mm Asph is too big, too heavy, or beyond the budget then the best and most practical alternative is the often underrated Summarit-M 75 mm.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, ibramr said:

Albeit I don’t have an experience with the Noctilux 75mm, the Summilux version is a very satisfying lens as BrianP has mentioned.  The Summilux version is bound to please most users, and as in my case, much more than the Summicron or the Summarit.  Because you can still find a very good late German sample of the Summilux at a relatively reasonable price, perhaps it is a good idea to start there, enjoy it’s characteristics, then go to the Noctilux version, if you so wish.  Further, I have found the Summilux 75mm and the Noctilux 50mm (both f1 and f0.95) represent the upper physical limits of the M system beyond which sustained usability (i.e., carrying a body, two lenses, and de minims accessories for a day) becomes questionable.  Of course,  here you are the judge as your mileage can vary.   Good luck and regards.

 

 

 

I would not be concerned about the 75 Lux being from the last series ie assembled in Germany as all the glass came from Canada ELCAN as did the majority of the parts. Many lenses from this last series have made in canada engraved on the barrel even though the box and paperwork say made in Germany. Also the last 2 didgets are 10 of the serial number as against 15 on the 2nd series made in Canada.The only contribution from germany was to make the mount a little lighter. ELCAN,s lens making heritage is 2nd to non.

[a.noctilux]

I second 01af for the Apo-Summicron-M 75mm which is very difficult to use "precisely" at close distance (less than 1m).

If used correctly the results from this apo 75mm are very "strong" (subtle hues of colors, microcontrast, one of the best 75mm in "results").

Now I prefer the Summarit-M 2/5/75 that I have recently, nice results and much easier to use (limited by construction to 90cm that's fine for me).

For long decades, I appreciate the Summilux-M 1.4/75mm, but now less use.

I had tried out the new Noctilux 75mm and I'm sure now that super lens is not for me.

 

If I had to choose just one 75mm, the lesser 2.5/75 would be this only one.

[01af]

vor 25 Minuten schrieb a.noctilux:

Now I prefer the Summarit-M 75 mm 1:2.5 that I have recently, nice results and much easier to use (limited by construction to 90 cm that's fine for me).

The current version—i. e. the Summarit-M 75 mm 1:2.4—has a minimum focusing distance of 0.7 m.

[a.noctilux]

17 minutes ago, 01af said:

The current version—i. e. the Summarit-M 75 mm 1:2.4—has a minimum focusing distance of 0.7 m.

You are right, the 2.4/75mm that was I searched second hand but never found one.

I thought that this 2.4/75mm may be so good that people who had one keep it 😉.

Then one day I had found one 2.5/75mm, bought it for very cheap second hand to try it out (as I had already 75mm Summilux and Apo-Summicron of my wife),

and never happier to use this nice and light Summarit-M.

 

I've tried it with Elpro for lesser distance ( LV/EVF use ), this can be my way of using it = OVF/RF to 90cm then Elpro for closer and EVF.

Edited December 27, 2019 by a.noctilux

[Stuart Richardson]

1 hour ago, 01af said:

The Apo-Summicron-M 75 mm Asph is the most impractical M lens I ever encountered. The focusing pitch is so steep it's impossible to focus accurately at short and medium distances. Instead, you have to focus approximately and then do the fine-focusing by swaying your body back and forth. Furthermore, it often creates a hot spot at the frame's center at short distances.

If the mighty Noctilux-M 75 mm Asph is too big, too heavy, or beyond the budget then the best and most practical alternative is the often underrated Summarit-M 75 mm.

It is interesting to hear this, as I never had a problem in that regard. But based on your feeling, I think it makes sense to advise if you are going to be doing a lot of focusing very close, then another lens might be easier. That said, the floating element in the 75mm Summicron is one of the reasons it has such good close performance...

The 75mm Summilux is another great lens, but it does show a lot of coma, softness and color fringing from 1.4 to 2.5 or so. After 2.8 it is a nice, sharp lens. I agree that it is a great choice for portraits, but if you are looking for sharpness at 1.4, the Noctilux would be the way to go.

[Fedro]

I think it depends on what you are looking for .. and I guess that the fact that you mentioned the Cron and Noctilux means that you prefer modern designs

if you need mainly for portraits AND you can afford it AND are ok with the weight, get the Nocti, otherwise the Cron

The Lux is a lovely lens, as many point out, but a very different rendering, color palette etc ..

[Mark T]

The 75mm summicron is great. if you think you might like it, don't hesitate. Yes, as with any fast aperture lens, focussing at 70 cm wide open is tricky. Stop down in this situation. I never understand the moaning about it. Work with the lens and get great results. Enjoy 

[mikeamosau]

I’ve shot with both, and both are fantastic lenses. depends on what your plans are, ie. What camera to pair it with. 

Ive shot the Noctilux on the SL and M10. Both were great, sharpness is awesome. Depth of field is insane.
 

I ended up buying the Summicron for size, but also found a 50mm Noctilux f/1.0 at the same time that I desperately wanted. I’m constantly blown away by the color and sharpness of the Summicron. 
 

So not really any bad choices here, go with what your gut, and heart, tell you. If you really want the Noctilux and end up buying the Summicron, you will constantly be tempted and wish you had tried the other. So go with what you want. 

[a.noctilux]

We are lucky to have choices.

 

Schittra, you can likely begin with one (or the two ! ) then take time to learn their pro/con properties.

If your 50mm choice is 0.95 Noctlux or 1.0, maybe the Apo-Summicron-M 75mm can do the balancing ...

If your choice is Apo-Summicron 50mm (one day ...), then you can see later for 75mm (why not the Summarit-M 75 😌 one day ).

[otto.f]

Lux of course

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[Del-Uks]

Lux here as well. 

[james.liam]

7 hours ago, otto.f said:

Lux of course

 

6 hours ago, Del-Uks said:

Lux here as well. 

Hate shorthand. NoctiLUX  or SummiLUX?

 I handled a Noctilux on an M10 courtesy of my local Leica Store for a bit and it was not a natural fit. The absurdity of its size on an M becomes apparent after just a few minutes. Really meant for an SL-sized body.