Leica APO-Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH Images

[jrp]

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The GM is, f1.4, in a reasonably compact package. The Sony 50mm f1.2 also seems to perform exceptionally, and is much more compact that the Nikkor. Seems like Sony are raising their lens game considerably.

But as Steven  implies, it’s not the mtf that distinguishes lenses at this level, but their rendering, absence of aberrations, and their size. 

Edited July 6, 2021 by jrp

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[LBJ2]

4 minutes ago, jrp said:

The GM is, f1.4, in a reasonably compact package. The Sony 50mm f1.2 also seems to perform exceptionally, and is much more compact that the Nikkor. Seems like Sony are raising their lens game considerably.

But as Steven  implies, it’s not the mtf that distinguishes lenses at this level, but their rendering, absence of aberrations, and their size. 

And that is my point. I am very interested to see a real world rendering comparison. One thing to write about or read an MTF, quite another to see direct comparison to IMO really judge.

Edited July 6, 2021 by LBJ2

[LBJ2]

3 minutes ago, Steven said:

I don't have the Sony anymore sorry. I sold that kit. 

I can assure you that you won't need a side by side, though, to understand the difference. I could see it from the back of my camera. The 35APO has a 3D pop effect for people that you will never be able to get with Sony. 

Just thought I'd take a chance and ask. I will own and keep one of these lenses for sure. I hope I don't end up with both!  Ha Ha. 

[Kim Dahl]

10 hours ago, LBJ2 said:

Just thought I'd take a chance and ask. I will own and keep one of these lenses for sure. I hope I don't end up with both!  Ha Ha. 

When you get Sl APO 35. Could you make the same picture with the two - Sony / Leica - and describe what you think

[LBJ2]

Just now, Kim Dahl said:

When you get Sl APO 35. Could you make the same picture with the two - Sony / Leica - and describe what you think

Absolutely. Not sure many are walking around with both of these top-shelf kits to compare. The GM 35 is really is an optical and haptic achievement and of course the SL 35 APO is already legendary. Seems like a natural comparison to me for those of us with photography in our blood, particularly for me since I am very happy to shoot both Sony and Leica all day every day. The SL2 however will be my first Leica mirrorless experiment as my other system is Leica M. If I get on with the SL2 ( yet to be delivered) then the SL 35 APO is next on my shopping list. 

[Levon]

Leica SL 601 + APO-Cron-SL 35mm f/2

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[Levon]

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Leica SL 601 + APO-Cron-SL 35mm f/2

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some 35mm apo asph shot on sl2

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On 7/16/2021 at 4:42 PM, Steven said:

Gorgeous shots, gorgeous lens,  but now I remember why I returned mine. It’s way too clean for me. 

De gustibus non est disputandum

[LBJ2]

16 hours ago, Steven said:

Tu loqueris ad unum atque unicum verum !

Steven, did you get a chance to compare the M 35/2 APO with the SL 35/2 APO? Any thoughts?

I now have the Sony A1 + GM 35 and the SL2 + SL 35/2 APO. I've been so busy learning the SL2 with M lenses and just recently the 35/2 as my first and only SL AF lens to date, I've not yet managed to perform a comparison between the GM and the SL. I have however, taken several shots of similar content but the natural light is so different too difficult to opine in any meaningful way. Not so cut and dry and certainly not something that can be judged from the back of any camera's LCD as you quipped. But I get the humor. 

Then of course when I do post the comparison someone will comment I did it wrong 🙃🙃 or not a true comparison. We shall see! 

P.S. Not that anyone cares, but I can say I will most certainly be keeping both of these 35s in my bag. 

Edited July 18, 2021 by LBJ2

[Herr Barnack]

22 minutes ago, Steven said:

I think the SL lens has more 3D pop effect than the M version. The SL is, to me, more hyper realistic, like the Q2. The M version is very very clean, in a different way...
 

@Steven  I have seen/heard several comments along those lines both in video reviews and on here. 

I am wondering if post processing could account for this, or if it is something Leica did during the design phase of the lens' development.  Was the APO 35 Summicron M lens designed to produce a bit more of a neutral rendering while the APO 35 Summicron was designed to produce a more sharp/contrasty rendering? 

It seems to me that all of Leica's APO lenses would be designed to produce a rendering that is standard across the board - but perhaps not.

Edited July 18, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[LBJ2]

2 hours ago, Steven said:

I think the SL lens has more 3D pop effect than the M version. The SL is, to me, more hyper realistic, like the Q2. The M version is very very clean, in a different way. 
 

i personally don’t care to see your side by side of the two lenses. What I care for is your real life impression after some time of using both. Doesn’t even need to be both lenses taking the same photo on the same day. I just care to know which combo gave you the wow effect more often. For me, the SL kit was much more impressing than the A kit. 

The request to post side by sides came from someone else earlier in this thread. I should not have included that response in what I wrote to you.

Thank you for your thoughts about M 35 APO vs SL 35 APO.

I just came back from couple hours dragging around the two kits, A1+GM 35 and SL2+SL35. Two very different systems but both lenses are currently the top of their respective systems. No worries, I'll post direct comparison images elsewhere.

Two great lenses! SL 35 Master vs the G Master Ha Ha. 

[LBJ2]

16 minutes ago, Steven said:

I know it was not directly addressed to me, and by the way I hope my tone didn't sound rude when I said "I don't care" cause I actually DO care to hear your thoughts on this a lot ! What I  meant is that side by sides, to me, aren't meaningful enough. What really matters is your real world experience. How has it been so far ? 

The SL2 has been a thrill ride for me to learn. So much I appreciate about the thought that went into the design of this camera and it's intuitive interface.

I've been waiting to own the SL 35/APO since Mister Karbe reveled his thoughts about his SL 35/APO design, during one of the first interviews with Hugh Brownstone. I couldn't be more pleased to finally have the SL2 + 35/APO kit in my own hands! The lens is not at all as large as I had expected and of course the IQ I've seen so far needs more scrutiny because I can't find anything wrong with this lens yet !  

Edited July 18, 2021 by LBJ2

[LBJ2]

On 7/6/2021 at 5:12 PM, Kim Dahl said:

When you get Sl APO 35. Could you make the same picture with the two - Sony / Leica - and describe what you think

The SL Master vs the G Master:

Hello. If you are still interested. I've had the chance to take a large amount of hand held comparison shots yesterday mainly F2 and F5.6 comparisons. Not scientific and I could have done a more detailed effort at equalizing certain settings in both cameras. But I've seen enough on a practical level and deep pixel peep level.

My opinion remains, the SL 35/2 APO is a masterful creation and balances perfectly on the SL2. I am very very happy to own this kit. The GM 35 however, is also right up there in many ways too:

1. The GM can actually appear to be sharper under heavy pixel peeping, but both lenses are very sharp anyway. 

2. Sadly I missed too many shots that I should not have missed with the SL2 + 35/APO. I believe this is due to the SL2's CDAF technology performance in low light and heavy backlite situations ( I believe this is a weakness of CDAF in general) and this is too bad because one of the scenarios I missed too many shots is what I do often with my cameras,  Street events in natural light which can be a challenging light situation anyway without flash. 

3. I was able put both the SL 35 and GM 35 through very highlighted bokeh ball comparisons and the GM appears to be slightly smoother polishing ( less patterned surface), but GM technology is known for this particular asset. 

4. Since I was out in natural light, I don't think I found the best light to truly judge "natural pop" between these two lenses. From what I saw neither really supersede the other in this regard, but again...the light captured in each was not ideal and IMO not optimal for comparison. 

5. This is my third copy of the GM. Sony still suffers from lens QA issues off the line ( like many other manufactureres). The SL 35/2 APO is perfect right out of the box as usual and as expected at the price point.

[LBJ2]

1 hour ago, Steven said:

Thank you. Very interesting. Bad af On the SL line is the reason why I only use my SL with M lenses. Videos and stills. 
 

what about the SOOC “colour science” of both kits ? Drifting a way a bit, but which has the best colors? 

LR Classic. SOOC other than I adjusted/equalized  exposure on the Sony image 1/1600 to match exposure on the SL image 1/1250 by +0.33 EV. Below is a side by side screen shot. Low quality but I think you see the SOOC colors.  A1+GM 35 on the left, SL2 +SL35/2  on the right. Both F5.6 ISO/100

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Edited July 19, 2021 by LBJ2

[lucy63]

1 hour ago, Steven said:

Thank you. Very interesting. Bad af On the SL line is the reason why I only use my SL with M lenses. Videos and stills. 
 

what about the SOOC “colour science” of both kits ? Drifting a way a bit, but which has the best colors? 

For me the SL2s/35f.2 combo is miraculous, coming from years of missed shots with the beautiful M's 6, 8, 9 +50 Lux Asph. The weight is something else but worth carrying so far. The Peak design slide strap helps a lot! (Leica should design a similar brilliant strap for the SL's and ditch the present one imo)

Steven, I love your photography, you don't post much on Instagram!

[beewee]

2 hours ago, Steven said:

Bad af On the SL line is the reason why I only use my SL with M lenses. Videos and stills.

I find it very interesting that I never have issues with AF on my Sigma L-mount lenses regardless of close or far distances on the SL2-S. However, the 28mm APO SL does seem to struggle to AF reliably at close focus distances. There’s something strange where the AF algorithm bounces back and forth and doesn’t seem to want to lock onto anything.

[JCR33]

I personally think it is a great lens

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[JCR33]

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[LBJ2]

26 minutes ago, JCR33 said:

I personally think it is a great lens

 

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Me too, so much so I couldn't resist buying the  SL 50 APO too and a third SL2 battery of course 😀 just incase I want to do some more burst photography with the SL2. I really, really like this kit. These fotos you posted are great--wish I was there!