80 Lux R Rom vs 75 lux f/1.4 M

[Franka373]

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Besides price are there any real differences between these two lenses to be used on an M10P?

Edited January 16, 2020 by Franka373

[John McMaster]

The 80mm is cheaper but would have to be used with LV/EVF only...

john

[farnz]

The 80/1.4 Summilux-R is shorter and stubbier than the 75/1.4 Summilux-M.  Of course once you add the M to R adaptor that might no longer be the case.

Pete.

[Franka373]

Thanks for the replies.  Looking more about rendering than size differences. Are they similar?   Both are Mandler designs as I understand it.  

[chasdfg]

Mandler designed many lenses and they generally have the mandler look. To me the 50summilux pre-asph and noctilux f1 have stronger similarities to the 75lux and 80lux than other lenses he designed, but the closest rendering lens to either lens would be each other.

There's a post on a website which shows some side by side differences. 

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/summiluxes-75-or-80/

I've shot both, but never at the same time. They certainly have a very similar signature. 

I currently own the 75lux and shot for some time with the 80lux. After brief use of the 80lux on the M (previously used it on a Nikon D800), I sold it - the use with live view or evf only takes away the joy of shooting on the M for me. It was difficult to hand hold for long periods. This said, I never used the hand grip with the lens. I think this would help balance it out a little. I always liked the rendering of the 80lux and thought about it often over the past 5 years.

I stumbled upon a good deal for a 75lux recently and picked that up. It is a relatively large M lens but it is still rather compact at infinity. It gives me the rendering I have been missing, and to be honest if someone took a picture with the 80lux or 75lux and asked me to guess which lens took it, I would be hard pressed to tell which lens did. Only in side by side comparisons would the differences show to me (as per the link above).

To me the biggest things to consider are cost and ergonomics. The 80lux is about 1.5x to 2x less expensive than the 75lux if you add the R to M adapter cost. If you don't use a portrait focal length lens a lot, then the 80lux may be a better option. I personally find this rather circular in reasoning as the very reason why you use it even less is because it is difficult to hand hold or annoying to use with the evf. 

If you have decided on the 75lux, the next issue is finding a copy which focuses accurately. There are many threads on this. Hope this helps!

Edited January 17, 2020 by chasdfg

[james.liam]

1 hour ago, Franka373 said:

Thanks for the replies.  Looking more about rendering than size differences. Are they similar?   Both are Mandler designs as I understand it.  

At full aperture, the 75 might be a hair sharper centrally, whilst the 80 appears to deliver a softer bokeh. The former is minor, the latter subjective.The optical designs are exceedingly similar though not an exact match. But they render so similarly that it is challenging to discern them apart.

Edited January 17, 2020 by james.liam