Noctilux 0.95 vs Summicron APO 2.0

[coz]

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Greetings, 

Can I ask users of the Noctilux 0.95 and Summicron apo 2.0:

If you stop down the Noctilux to 2.0 is the performance equivalent to the Cron APO at 2.0? Or is the Summicron technically superior? 

I'm trying to decide on of these two. I was leaning towards the Summicron but started to think about the above. Of course considering cost and ergonomics are vastly different too.

I've only used the latest 50 summilux on various cameras.

 

 

[Stealth3kpl]

Whatever the answer is, get the Summicron. You'll get tired of carrying that Noctilux and will stop taking it out.

Pete

[coz]

Hah,   for sure that is a major consideration!

Thanks

 

[padam]

The APO-Summicron is a lot sharper at f/2 across the frame, the Noctilux is optimised to be sharp at the central area of the frame at wide apertures.

https://www.opticallimits.com/leicam/860-noctilux50asph?start=1

https://www.opticallimits.com/leicam/678-summicron50?start=1

And that is only the 'old' Summicron, they haven't tested the APO 50, but it should be sharper still.
But again, these are different lenses that not necessarily worth comparing with charts, just look at the images.

[FrozenInTime]

Leica’s MTF data suggests the 50mm Noctilux never catches up with the APO-Summicron.

 

[darkinners]

I have been in the exact situation, Noctilux 0.95 or APO50. 

I ended choose the APO50 and not regretting one bit for following reasons

 

1. Noctilux just too big and heavy for Leica M system

2. 0.95 wide open is very hard to nail the focus for RF and I do not like using EVF.

3. APO50 just a marvelous little lens from the engineering standpoint and the image quality stand point. 

[Gobert]

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Two completely different lenses. Incomparable. Despite the weight, I prefer the Noct., being my holy grale.

[padam]

2 minutes ago, Gobert said:

Two completely different lenses. Incomparable. Despite the weight, I prefer the Noct., being my holy grale.

True, albeit one is the most expensive current production 50mm with the other coming in second, so in that way they are going to be compared.

[coz]

Great points thanks for the comments.

I guess a case can be made to own both as said many times.  I think I'm going for the summicron and may rent a noctilux one day to experiment.
 

Best

 

[evikne]

I don't quite understand the logic of the opening question. If the performance of the Noctilux at f/2.0 isn't equivalent to the APO Summicron, isn't it worth having? What about the more than two extra stops that the APO Summicron lacks?

The question should rather be whether you want/need these extra stops or not.

[coz]

4 minutes ago, evikne said:

I don't quite understand the logic of the opening question. If the performance of the Noctilux at f/2.0 isn't equivalent to the APO Summicron, isn't it worth having? What about the more than two extra stops that the APO Summicron lacks?

The question should rather be whether you want/need these extra stops or not.

Agreed that makes sense.  I was hoping to get the Noctilux have the speed advantages and then I was asking was if I stop it down am I missing anything at 2.0 that the summicron delivers.  

[darkinners]

24 minutes ago, evikne said:

I don't quite understand the logic of the opening question. If the performance of the Noctilux at f/2.0 isn't equivalent to the APO Summicron, isn't it worth having? What about the more than two extra stops that the APO Summicron lacks?

The question should rather be whether you want/need these extra stops or not.

I think the question make perfect sense. The OP could have been wanting to use F/2.0 most of the time but would love the flexibility to have 2 extra F stops in some extreme low light situation. In the perfect world, one could have bought both of them and 2 camera body to go with each of them but we are not always living in the perfect world. 

[evikne]

I think the APO is best from f/2.0 and down, and the Noctilux is best from f/1.4 and up … 😉

[Keith (M)]

Well, given the foregoing surely the answer is the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH!  f1.4, 335g, doesn't block the viewfinder, superb resolution.  (Yes, I have one...).

[evikne]

12 minutes ago, Keith (M) said:

Well, given the foregoing surely the answer is the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH!  f1.4, 335g, doesn't block the viewfinder, superb resolution.  (Yes, I have one...).

Yes, the Summilux is the obvious compromise between the two lenses. And by far the cheapest.

[astrostl]

MTF isn't everything, but Lens Rentals has a comparison of the two (and more) at https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2014/06/comparing-rangefinder-and-slr-50mm-lenses-version-0-7/. Verdict: APO is well ahead in the center, way ahead in the middle, and massively ahead on the edges when both are at f/2.0.

Edited January 18, 2020 by astrostl
clarification

[lct]

3 hours ago, evikne said:

The question should rather be whether you want/need these extra stops or not.

+1

[james.liam]

The only effect of stopping down the APO is changing depth of field. It s razor sharp at all apertures. Same can’t be said of the Noctilux. 

[evikne]

But the Noctilux is definitely sharp enough also wide open when using selective focus (f/0.95 is not meant for having everything in focus). And a consequence of some areas being very blurry is that the sharp areas appear even sharper.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[darylgo]

The noctilux will perform very close to the Summilux at similar apertures, but the apo summicron renders detail that neither of the other two could match.  I find I don't often need the detail of the summicron including landscapes, shooting the Summilux mostly, the others sit idly but very much loved.   

Edited January 19, 2020 by darylgo