Owning both 28mm Summicron and Summilux?

[Ouroboros]

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28mm or equivalent fov is my most used focal length across all the film and digital formats I use.  

I've just returned from Egypt where I took both my 28mm summicron asph and 28mm summaron asph.  Both are small and easily carried  but it was the summaron asph which I used the most.

It has a distinct character that is different to my other 28mm M mount lenses, so if I were the OP I'd go for either the summilux or summicron (not both) with the summaron for it's unobtrusive portability and different qualities. 

 

On 1/10/2020 at 10:57 PM, leicarox said:

Hi all,

I'm sort of going on a lens binge here. Does it make sense to get the 28mm in both Summicron and Summilux (both current versions)? My other lenses are 50mm APO and 50mm Summilux.

Will I be let down with image quality or anything on the 2.0? 

Would a better route be the Summilux 28mm and fill the gap with either a 35 Summilux or Summicron?

I'm thinking the 28mm 2.0 for vacations and times when I'm really trekking around all day and the 1.4 weight or size may be an issue. Of course, maybe the 1.4 weight might not be an issue and I can just carry that everywhere 🙂

Thanks!!

 

 

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[Ouroboros]

16 hours ago, Herr Barnack said:

The maximum aperture of f/5.6 leaves me a bit puzzled though.  Apparently its old time rendering is the attraction...

There is more to the 28mm summaron than some obvious vignetting if that is what you mean by old time rendering.  Someone on here once described it as a polite lens, which at the time I thought was a rather daft description.   Now that I have the lens I can see the point he was trying to communicate.  

I'm fairly sure it's not against any rules of physics or photography for a lens to have a maximum aperture smaller than f1.4, f2 or f2.8.   

During the trip to Egypt I mentioned in my previous post I was usually exposing around 1/125th-1/500th second exposures at f8 during the daytime and I think I got away without being tutted at by the tripod Police on a couple of occasions. 

[Herr Barnack]

Quote

... Of course the 28 lux is in another league, but you pay for it in bulk and weight.  Nonetheless, I made two 10-day trips last year with the 28 lux as my only lens and I couldn't be happier with the results.

I have found that shooting with the Q2 and its 28mm f/1.7 lens has renewed my interest in acquiring the 28mm f/1.4 Summilux for my M kit.  Thanks to the Airbus tariff it is now priced at $7295 USD though, which is hideously costly.  I think I will be taking up prospecting for gold as a hobby. 🙄

[james.liam]

1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

I have found that shooting with the Q2 and its 28mm f/1.7 lens has renewed my interest in acquiring the 28mm f/1.4 Summilux for my M kit.  Thanks to the Airbus tariff it is now priced at $7295 USD though, which is hideously costly.  I think I will be taking up prospecting for gold as a hobby. 🙄

Airbus tariff?

[ardbeg]

President Trump, responding to a WTO finding of anticompetitive behavior  / government subsidies regarding Airbus, has In retaliation recently increased US import tariffs on three things beloved by many — German glass, Scotch whisky, and French wine.

[james.liam]

1 hour ago, ardbeg said:

President Trump, responding to a WTO finding of anticompetitive behavior  / government subsidies regarding Airbus, has In retaliation recently increased US import tariffs on three things beloved by many — German glass, Scotch whisky, and French wine.

Ah!
With Brexit days away, you can probably scratch off Scotch from your list. 

[tgray]

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I thought long and hard about the Summilux as 28 is my favorite focal length and I (used to) shoot a lot of film where I could really use the extra stop. After looking at a bunch of photos I decided to stick with my Summicron. The size is perfect and the look is perfect for me. In fact I bought the new version of it as well. 
 

I’m sure the Summilux is a wonderful lens and maybe one day I’ll end up with one.  Mind you I don’t care that much about the shallow DOF with the 28 and others have priorities different than me. 

[fabior]

having two lenses of the 28mm focal length my choice was for the two extremes. summaron f5,6 and summilux f1,4.I am very satisfied. I like them because each has its own distinct character and they allow me to choose them according to need. the summaron is the one I have used the most so far, particularly when hiking or walking for a  day, it is so small that the m10-D fits in my pocket and is lighter. For multi-day trips and occasions for indoor events, the summilux is irreplaceable in my opinion. I also have the habit of using a 21mm finder with edges for 28mm traced by me with tape because it allows me to frame better having a wider view ... but first I focus! I originally had a 28mm  elmarit III  but I sold it due to its size in relation to brightness.

[ellisson]

I'm looking for a 28mm lens, considering the  28mm summicron second version and the 28 summaron f5.6 new version.  For my shooting, I'm not so much concerned with speed at this wider focal length: other lenses such as 35mm (I have Pre-asph 35mm summilux and a 35mm summicron v 1)  can give the shallower DOF and speed when I need it.  Just another way to approach things if you can be flexible with the focal lengths.  

[ellisson]

1 hour ago, Steven said:

Go for the summaron then. Unique look, and a pleasure to use with its compact size. 

One question I have about the summaron 28 5.6 is how it would perform on an APC sensor camera such as the CL or TL-2.  Although I would no doubt appreciate the vintage look (softening at the edges and vignetting as I have read in some reviews) on a full frame camera, would this be lessened on the smaller size sensor camera?  I would use the lens on an M10 and and for really light kit, on the TL-2.   So I wonder how the images would look on a cropped sensor.  

Edited February 21, 2021 by ellisson
additional info

[humerc]

I just recently bought the 28 Lux in addition to my 50 Lux and a 35 Cron v2. It completes my Kit as an everyday / every occasion Lens. Every time you don't know what lens to take - take the 28 Lux - you won't be disappointed. (Landscape, Portraits, Low Light). I really like it so far and have taken a few of my favorite pictures of the last years with it - and I only have it 2 weeks now.

If I had to take a decision between Cron and Lux it would be the Lux - no question!

[lethaln]

I've owned the 28 summaron for a while now, and it is one of my favourite lenses to use. Not only does it give such beautiful unique pictures that I like, the weight and compactness is such an added bonus for me. 
As you can imagine, the drawback is the light capabilities especially when its getting darker and at night. So I've tried both the 28 cron v2 and the 28 lux to help complement my light needs, and found myself keeping the 28 cron v2. Although I agree and sometimes do miss the 28 lux especially at f1.4/2 where it is a completely different beast, I think ergonomics and joy of us was a bigger factor for me.  The weight difference of the 28 lux (vs a 28 cron or the 28 summaron for that matter) was a bit too much for me and often left me reaching to use the 28 cron v2 instead. 

[Mahesh]

On 2/22/2021 at 12:18 AM, Steven said:

I have the Lux, which I adore, and it might become my favourite lens of all times. It is more when I am serious about taking photos. 

Since using the lux, I have been growing fonder and fonder of the 28mm focal length and I am now thinking of adding a more compact option for daily carry. The Summaron is the obvious choice as I love the look of the images and the look of the lens. But considering the fact that the times I need to be the most often lightweight is at night, I also added in my considerations the 2.8 elmarit. I like that lens too, but im less familiar with it. 2.8 is manageable at night, especially in BW. 

Oh elmarit is lovely, I've tried Cron before but didn't like it. I love the colourful, contrasty look coming from elmarit. Though I'm thinking of Lux now which i can afford but is soo expensive.