My 35mm journey

[rtai]

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4 hours ago, grahamc said:

Good work ! 😂

out of interest, what made you keep both a Canada and a Germany preA v2 ?

I bought an M10M last year and prior to that shot exclusively b/w film mostly TMax 400. Because of my job required regular international travel I was able to align my photography with work so I got to use my gear often. Lenses with high contrast that look good with color aren’t ideal with b/w. The exotic lenses like 8 elements and steel rim and AA are end game lenses but I didn’t think they were worth their asking price as users and I am not a collector. Regrettably I sold them and they are now 5 to 20 times more expensive especially the AA. Anyway the two Pre-A and Pre-FLE Asph perform the best in my eyes with the M10M. Another 35mm I haven’t tried is the APO. I am on a waiting list for one. 

Edited August 26, 2022 by rtai

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[egrossman]

My journey started with the 35mm Summilux FLE which I sold a few years later (I never loved the rendering). I now own the 35mm Summilux pre-FLE, 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH v2 (late German model) and a 35mm Summicron v4 (German). They all have different renderings which I enjoy very much on both my M10D and M10M.

As I've gotten older, I find myself enjoying 35mm more, whereas in the past I was much preferred the 50mm focal length.

Erik

[grahamc]

7 hours ago, rtai said:

I bought an M10M last year and prior to that shot exclusively b/w film mostly TMax 400. Because of my job required regular international travel I was able to align my photography with work so I got to use my gear often. Lenses with high contrast that look good with color aren’t ideal with b/w. The exotic lenses like 8 elements and steel rim and AA are end game lenses but I didn’t think they were worth their asking price as users and I am not a collector. Regrettably I sold them and they are now 5 to 20 times more expensive especially the AA. Anyway the two Pre-A and Pre-FLE Asph perform the best in my eyes with the M10M. Another 35mm I haven’t tried is the APO. I am on a waiting list for one. 

Thanks. Sounds like an interesting and enjoyable journey.  Did you keep the 2 x preA copies because they differ in some ways, or was it because you like a duplicate  ?   I have 2 - both German though (titanium and a lighter black aluminium)

 

[rtai]

16 minutes ago, grahamc said:

Thanks. Sounds like an interesting and enjoyable journey.  Did you keep the 2 x preA copies because they differ in some ways, or was it because you like a duplicate  ?   I have 2 - both German though (titanium and a lighter black aluminium)

 

The Canadian version has that mythical Leica glow and the German version is much sharper at f1.4 but still has a lot character I think a better “king or bokeh” Summicron. 

[grahamc]

16 minutes ago, rtai said:

The Canadian version has that mythical Leica glow and the German version is much sharper at f1.4 but still has a lot character I think a better “king or bokeh” Summicron. 

Thanks. This does come up frequently that the Canadian versions have that tendency so it’s interesting to hear !  Spot on about the German version I think but still not lacking character at all 

[rsh]

On 10/1/2020 at 7:30 PM, Knut said:

Hi there,

interesting fact is that the Lux design is already dated when Leica came up with the V4 Chron.

They had strong financial problems at that time, and to me it seems entirely possible that they just throttled maximum aperture

of the Lux to save development expenses and having a new f2 fish in the pond timely,

obviously knowing about the good quality of that Mandler design once stopped down...

Or is it mere coincidence that all white/red boxes of that era that I'm aware of show a picture of the lens' cross section,

while the Summicron V4 is visible just as a silhouette...

 

Best,

 

Knut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the eighties, I had the Version 4 and it was my opinion then that it was a the same design as the Summilux with an f2.0 max aperture.  The leis was fine, but I prefer the Summicron Asph Ver 1 I have had since 2005.  It is a better built lens and sharper to my eye.  That said, my eye is not another’s eye.  Enjoy the lens you have.  My opinion is my own and I do not expect anyone to agree.

[Stein K S]

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14 hours ago, egrossman said:

My journey started with the 35mm Summilux FLE which I sold a few years later (I never loved the rendering). I now own the 35mm Summilux pre-FLE, 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH v2 (late German model) and a 35mm Summicron v4 (German). They all have different renderings which I enjoy very much on both my M10D and M10M.

As I've gotten older, I find myself enjoying 35mm more, whereas in the past I was much preferred the 50mm focal length.

Erik

I really enjoy using both the lux pre-fle and the cron v4. However, this entire thread suggest the lux pre-asph to be the true main «denominator» for most… aaaagh, thought I was finished looking for 35s… 😉

[grahamc]

1 minute ago, Stein K S said:

I really enjoy using both the lux pre-fle and the cron v4. However, this entire thread suggest the lux pre-asph to be the true main «denominator» for most… aaaagh, thought I was finished looking for 35s… 😉

Ooooops     

 

[egrossman]

On 8/26/2022 at 5:28 PM, rtai said:

The Canadian version has that mythical Leica glow and the German version is much sharper at f1.4 but still has a lot character I think a better “king or bokeh” Summicron. 

Better is obviously subjective but only one of the two will focus down to 0.7m 😄

Erik

[egrossman]

Here is a comparison of the bokeh for the same subject matter at 1 meter for the 35mm Summilux v2 Pre-ASPH (1991 copy, made in Germany) and a 35mm Summicron v4 (also made in Germany). Both were shot at f2. Both images straight out of camera.

Image 1: Summilux

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Image 2: Summicron

[rtai]

1 hour ago, egrossman said:

Better is obviously subjective but only one of the two will focus down to 0.7m 😄

Erik

I wish I had kept that silver chrome version! And I miss being able to screw a filter on it. 

[grahamc]

4 hours ago, egrossman said:

Here is a comparison of the bokeh for the same subject matter at 1 meter for the 35mm Summilux v2 Pre-ASPH (1991 copy, made in Germany) and a 35mm Summicron v4 (also made in Germany). Both were shot at f2. Both images straight out of camera.

Image 1: Summilux

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Image 2: Summicron

Thanks for posting. I subjectively prefer the pre-asph image, but as you’ve pointed out there are pros and cons of both and the cron has much going for it 😁

Elsewhere there are assumptions that the KOB is a “handbraked” (to f2) 35:1.4 v2, but the images from mine don’t indicate that .. my preA is sharper and with more contrast than my v4 cron, both factors which seem to give the subjects in my images with that lens a little more pop than I tend to get with my 35:2 v4 .  Although yours do look very similar from what I can see viewing on my iPhone  

What is clear is they are both lovely

Edited August 29, 2022 by grahamc

[egrossman]

8 minutes ago, grahamc said:

Thanks for posting.  Very consistent look the copies of these lenses I have had.  I subjectively prefer the pre-asph image, but as you’ve pointed out there are pros and cons of both and the cron has much going for it 😁

Elsewhere there are assumptions that the KOB is a “handbraked” (to f2) 35:1.4 v2, but the images from mine don’t indicate that .. my preA is sharper and with more contrast than my v4 cron.  Although unsure if yours are consistent with that as they do look very similar from what I can see viewing on my iPhone  

What is clear is they are both lovely

I do find the Summilux to be a tad sharper at f2 as you can see from the crops of the respective images below, but it's close!

Ironically, the cron is worth more than the Pre-ASPH these days (for German-made lenses). As @rtai pointed out, there are significant benefits for the slower lens in that it accepts filters, focuses down to 0.7m and can be 6-bit coded.

Erik

Image 1: Summilux

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Image 2: Summicron

 

[FilmSpiel]

Ahhh, i do have the FLE and considering in the last days buying the V4 Summicron or pre ASPH Lux . 

Now i discovered the thread and think i need both 🙂

 

[FilmSpiel]

Am 8.9.2022 um 10:20 schrieb FilmSpiel:

Ahhh, i do have the FLE and considering in the last days buying the V4 Summicron or pre ASPH Lux . 

Now i discovered the thread and think i need both 🙂

 

35mm 2.0 V4 ✔️

 

Soooo....which version of the summilux do i need? 🙂

 

[shirubadanieru]

5 minutes ago, FilmSpiel said:

35mm 2.0 V4 ✔️

 

Soooo....which version of the summilux do i need? 🙂

 

Of course, brass infinity lock V2, or titanium / late German serial numbers depending on what kind of rendering you’re searching for and your price range  

[FilmSpiel]

vor 4 Minuten schrieb shirubadanieru:

Of course, brass infinity lock V2, or titanium / late German serial numbers depending on what kind of rendering you’re searching for and your price range  

I do collect, but just finanical "smart" moves.  And i have a titanium set already 🙂 bought 3 yeara ago for a nice price, whne not everybody was looking for alternative "invests".

At this time, your suggetions looking financial seen not smart to me. 

I meant normal versions, V1 or v2 pre asph?

[shirubadanieru]

6 minutes ago, FilmSpiel said:

I do collect, but just finanical "smart" moves.  And i have a titanium set already 🙂 bought 3 yeara ago for a nice price, whne not everybody was looking for alternative "invests".

At this time, your suggetions looking financial seen not smart to me. 

I meant normal versions, V1 or v2 pre asph?

Normal version there is only V2 either made in canada or in Germany (& the two variations mentioned above). Same lens design, but Germany has better coatings. V1 is even more collectible than the ones mentioned above, and it’s the so called Steel Rim version. It’s awesome, but you don’t want to go into that hole unless you have very deep pockets lol

If you already have the titanium one though I’d just use that (unless the titanium you are referring to is the FLE and not the pre-asph)! 

Edited September 9, 2022 by shirubadanieru

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[wizard]

Am 29.8.2022 um 02:16 schrieb egrossman:

I do find the Summilux to be a tad sharper at f2 as you can see from the crops of the respective images below,

Judging by your images, that may be true for the center of the image, but the Summicron is definitely sharper towards the edges of the images. Horses for courses, I'd say.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, shirubadanieru said:

Normal version there is only V2 either made in canada or in Germany (& the two variations mentioned above). Same lens design, but Germany has better coatings. V1 is even more collectible than the ones mentioned above, and it’s the so called Steel Rim version. It’s awesome, but you don’t want to go into that hole unless you have very deep pockets lol

If you already have the titanium one though I’d just use that (unless the titanium you are referring to is the FLE and not the pre-asph)! 

Which 35mm Summilux pre-asph should one get for use, not collecting or investment, but great images? I will be using it on M10R BP and M10M. 
 

Would love to get some pointers, as the pre-asph 35Lux seems to be a jungle.