28mm summicron asph v2 or 35mm summilux fle

[Jeff S]

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13 hours ago, gotium said:

I’ve heard this from other users, and don’t know what to think. For the samples I tried it was not subtle. 

 

This old thread covers a lot of varying viewpoints, regarding both versions.

I think the important thing is for each person to make judgments on samples available, depending on one’s particular preferences and use case.  I’m sure mine is not perfect, and likely is not as technically superb in some ways as the second version (edge details, contrast, etc).  But mine suits my shooting and print style very well.  Surveys can be misleading...and rarely lead to better photography IMO.

Jeff

[CosmoM3]

3 hours ago, gotium said:

How so? The focus knob? I would agree if you don’t like the lens cap - I replace those with leica caps. 

pretty sure you have the older ASPH I. The revised version came out in 2016 I believe with the metal screw on hood. 

[jplomley]

My first copy of the v2 28mm Cron had back-focus issues and significant field curvature. Traded it in for a second copy and paid a $1,000 premium to do so, as I had used the first lens for 6 months on a trip to Romania. The second copy also back focused and so was sent to Leica USA. It came back completely fouled where nothing was in focus at any distance. So back it went to Leica USA for another adjustment. Optically, the lens came back perfect, but now the Leica inscription at the front of the lens is upside down. My dealer says to send it back for a third time, but I refuse because I know they will just bugger something else up again.

[Jeff S]

20 minutes ago, jplomley said:

My first copy of the v2 28mm Cron had back-focus issues and significant field curvature. Traded it in for a second copy and paid a $1,000 premium to do so, as I had used the first lens for 6 months on a trip to Romania. The second copy also back focused and so was sent to Leica USA. It came back completely fouled where nothing was in focus at any distance. So back it went to Leica USA for another adjustment. Optically, the lens came back perfect, but now the Leica inscription at the front of the lens is upside down. My dealer says to send it back for a third time, but I refuse because I know they will just bugger something else up again.

Here in the US, I have much better success using DAG for lens service rather than Leica; for quality, efficiency and cost. Maybe you have an equivalent on your side of the pond.  I know that Jaap thinks highly of Will van Manen.

Jeff

[FrozenInTime]

56 minutes ago, jplomley said:

, but now the Leica inscription at the front of the lens is upside down. My dealer says to send it back for a third time, but I refuse because I know they will just bugger something else up again.

?  I always assumed the dress ring,  with the Leica logo,  filter size, serial number and lens type , was threaded on  - i.e. there is no absolute right way up.

[JimmyCheng]

6 hours ago, gotium said:

How so? The focus knob? I would agree if you don’t like the lens cap - I replace those with leica caps. 

yeah I found the nob pretty much useless and overall the lens feels cheap and plasticky for some reason (I got the silver one). I used to own a voigtlander color skopa and I feel that lens was built like a leica lens, but not the zeiss. I feel voigtlander lenses are built better in general. 

Edited August 31, 2020 by JimmyCheng

[rivi1969]

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I thought you were the other Jimmy Cheng... 🤔

[JimmyCheng]

1 minute ago, rivi1969 said:

I thought you were the other Jimmy Cheng... 🤔

I know who you are talking about haha

[gotium]

4 hours ago, jplomley said:

My first copy of the v2 28mm Cron had back-focus issues and significant field curvature. Traded it in for a second copy and paid a $1,000 premium to do so, as I had used the first lens for 6 months on a trip to Romania. The second copy also back focused and so was sent to Leica USA. It came back completely fouled where nothing was in focus at any distance. So back it went to Leica USA for another adjustment. Optically, the lens came back perfect, but now the Leica inscription at the front of the lens is upside down. My dealer says to send it back for a third time, but I refuse because I know they will just bugger something else up again.

Well that’s intersting. Maybe I should have persevered with mine too. It was enough that I thought the lens was defective, but the second copy was the same. 

[Ccoppola82]

Strange to hear of focus shift on the 28 Cron. My v1 doesn’t seem to have it at all that I have seen. Handling wise, it’s actually one of my favorites.  I think it does handle better than the FLE so far.  The FLE focus is a bit stiffer but maybe it will loosen up over time with use.  I haven’t shot it enough to see the focus plane shift.  I doubt for most things I would notice tbh. Curious what you end up deciding.  

[Mark II]

FWIW, I have and use both of these lenses.

Like others, I had problems with my 28CRON - one exchanged lens had monstrous field curvature (edges in focus at 2m, while the centre was in focus seemingly beyond infinity), and the replacement still needed service for a front focus issue. As it is now, the 28mm is one of my best lenses: minimal aberrations, smooth rendering, no front/back focus issues, no focus shift, and a very flat plane of focus. It is also very uniform across the frame, and there is no meaningful downside to using f2 vs stopped down - other than the usual vignetting. Used with an empty 46mm filter ring instead of the hood, there is minimal finder blockage and virtually no flare. The result is a well behaved lens that does not impose a strong signature on the scene.

The 35LUX that I have was bought secondhand and works flawlessly. Optically it is IMO a worse lens than the 28mm, and wide open, there is some field curvature, chromatic aberration, poor resolution at the edge of the frame, occasionally rough bokeh, and potentially invasive flare. But the faster aperture, longer focal length and excellent central sharpness/contrast mean that images will have significantly more “pop” than the 28CRON. And, despite the extra stop of speed, the 35mm is scarcely bigger than the slower 28mm and way smaller than the optically “better” Zeiss 35mm f1.4.

In an ideal world I would have a single 28mm f1.4 combined with the size/handling, micro-contrast and “pop” of the 35LUX, together with the even rendering, smooth bokeh and flare resistance of the 28CRON. But, that world does not exist, so both lenses currently get roughly equal use...

 

[JimmyCheng]

1 hour ago, Mark II said:

FWIW, I have and use both of these lenses.

Like others, I had problems with my 28CRON - one exchanged lens had monstrous field curvature (edges in focus at 2m, while the centre was in focus seemingly beyond infinity), and the replacement still needed service for a front focus issue. As it is now, the 28mm is one of my best lenses: minimal aberrations, smooth rendering, no front/back focus issues, no focus shift, and a very flat plane of focus. It is also very uniform across the frame, and there is no meaningful downside to using f2 vs stopped down - other than the usual vignetting. Used with an empty 46mm filter ring instead of the hood, there is minimal finder blockage and virtually no flare. The result is a well behaved lens that does not impose a strong signature on the scene.

The 35LUX that I have was bought secondhand and works flawlessly. Optically it is IMO a worse lens than the 28mm, and wide open, there is some field curvature, chromatic aberration, poor resolution at the edge of the frame, occasionally rough bokeh, and potentially invasive flare. But the faster aperture, longer focal length and excellent central sharpness/contrast mean that images will have significantly more “pop” than the 28CRON. And, despite the extra stop of speed, the 35mm is scarcely bigger than the slower 28mm and way smaller than the optically “better” Zeiss 35mm f1.4.

In an ideal world I would have a single 28mm f1.4 combined with the size/handling, micro-contrast and “pop” of the 35LUX, together with the even rendering, smooth bokeh and flare resistance of the 28CRON. But, that world does not exist, so both lenses currently get roughly equal use...

 

Interesting, I wonder why the 28 CRON has so many issues, which made me scary. Is it also the v2 version? I think it is totally unacceptable for a premium brand like Leica to have lenses on the market with these sort of problems. They should have tested them in the factory. 

[stephan54]

I read about the problems that is why I wanted a new one with warranty. My copy (28 v2) does not show any problems and it is a pleasure to use.

[rramesh]

34 minutes ago, JimmyCheng said:

Interesting, I wonder why the 28 CRON has so many issues, which made me scary. Is it also the v2 version? I think it is totally unacceptable for a premium brand like Leica to have lenses on the market with these sort of problems. They should have tested them in the factory. 

Each lens has its pros and cons (there are no perfect lenses). In a forum like this you get a lot of opinions, many often colored by personal tastes, past experiences, attempts to justify one's purchase decision etc. 

All Leica lenses are good, rather great lenses, and each of which will give you years of satisfaction.

Choose based on what you need for your style of photography  - focal length, need for wide apertures, type of rendering etc. The best cure for a GAS attack is to sometimes leave your wallet in secure place and take a deep breath. 

Edited August 31, 2020 by rramesh

[lct]

Glad to follow the Leica forum. This way i've learnt that a lens i've been using for many years, namely the superb Summicron 28/2 v1 was "boring", now than both v1 and/or v2 that i use too have field curvature and other issues. Want my advice folks? Stop reading reviews by people having no experience with those lenses but by shooting targets and brick walls for a couple of hours. Other advice: try to discuss about better 28/2 lenses in M mount if any. Oops too bad there are none, zero .

[Daniel C.1975]

If you like 35mm you‘ll love the FLE. For me the perfect lens, also when it comes to brightness, performance and size. 
I never got warm with the 35mm Summicron. 
 

For 28mm: I would like to have the Lux, but it‘s huge. So, as companion, I love my 28mm Summaron. It‘s a fabolous lens! Plus so different from my other lenses  

cheers

Daniel

 

 

Edited August 31, 2020 by Daniel C.1975

[JimmyCheng]

1 hour ago, Daniel C.1975 said:

If you like 35mm you‘ll love the FLE. For me the perfect lens, also when it comes to brightness, performance and size. 
I never got warm with the 35mm Summicron. 
 

For 28mm: I would like to have the Lux, but it‘s huge. So, as companion, I love my 28mm Summaron. It‘s a fabolous lens! Plus so different from my other lenses  

cheers

Daniel

 

 

do you mean the new summaron? That lens is way too expensive though, I felt the elmarit f2.8 is better value? But damn that the summaron looks fabulous. But again I intend to use it indoors so maybe an extra stop or two would help immensely.

As for 35mm fle, I did read lots of ppl complaining about field curvature, purple fringing wide open and vignetting. Some even compare to more modern mirrorless designed lenses from other brands such as the sigma art 35mm f1.2 or 1.4 and claim the leica is not sharp enough and doesn't worth the money demanded (it is damn expensive though). 

[JimmyCheng]

4 hours ago, rramesh said:

Each lens has its pros and cons (there are no perfect lenses). In a forum like this you get a lot of opinions, many often colored by personal tastes, past experiences, attempts to justify one's purchase decision etc. 

All Leica lenses are good, rather great lenses, and each of which will give you years of satisfaction.

Choose based on what you need for your style of photography  - focal length, need for wide apertures, type of rendering etc. The best cure for a GAS attack is to sometimes leave your wallet in secure place and take a deep breath. 

This is so true! Every now and then I feel the "urge" to reach out for new gears, be it a lens, or sometimes worse, a whole new system. I am gald I have hold off this far for digital medium format cameras lol. 

[Cobram]

5 hours ago, JimmyCheng said:

Interesting, I wonder why the 28 CRON has so many issues, which made me scary. Is it also the v2 version? I think it is totally unacceptable for a premium brand like Leica to have lenses on the market with these sort of problems. They should have tested them in the factory. 

I own Summicron 28 v1. Rendering is very nice, similar to Lux 50 ASPH. About sharpness, CA, etc... I think it is indeed inferior to Elmarit 28 I used to own. BUT I somehow prefer Summicron look and character. IMHO Summicron 28 is ideal lens for portraits and family events indoor as well as outdoor. For architectural and landscape shots I think there are other better alternatives (Elmarit for example).

 

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[Mark II]

3 hours ago, JimmyCheng said:

As for 35mm fle, I did read lots of ppl complaining about field curvature, purple fringing wide open and vignetting. Some even compare to more modern mirrorless designed lenses from other brands such as the sigma art 35mm f1.2 or 1.4 and claim the leica is not sharp enough and doesn't worth the money demanded (it is damn expensive though). 

Aside from actual faults, these are not "issues" with a lens but characteristics that, price not withstanding, are a result of the inevitable trade offs for size/weight, speed and image quality. Attempting to put in to production such tiny lenses with the necessary mechanical precision may be why, on occasion, there are QC issues with newly released/updated designs - and when issues do occur, Leica does resolve them (albeit sometimes slowly).

There are no bad lenses on the system. Choose the focal length, speed, size, rendering style and price that supports what you want to do.