Another look at the the Leica APO M-Summicron 35/2 ASPH

[Herr Barnack]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I happened to unearth this review today and thought it worth passing on to others.  There are some nice images to be seen and some intelligent commentary.  Our own @jonoslack weighs in down in the comments section.

Review of the Leica APO M-Summicron 35/2 ASPH.

https://www.harisubramanyam.com/reviews/LeicaM-APO35/2

 

 

[Jeff S]

Thanks, @TheGodParticle/Hari, for the work.  I don’t think that you’ll be selling any of your 35 AA lenses as a result... horses for courses. 😊

While the following was published before the 35 APO, it might add some perspective regarding some earlier generation 35mm M lenses, including the AA and the FLE, using different subject matter.

https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2017/3/30/leica-35mm-lenses-5-summicron-versions

Jeff

Edited April 16, 2021 by Jeff S

[TheGodParticle/Hari]

14 hours ago, Herr Barnack said:

I happened to unearth this review today and thought it worth passing on to others.  There are some nice images to be seen and some intelligent commentary.  Our own @jonoslack weighs in down in the comments section.

Review of the Leica APO M-Summicron 35/2 ASPH.

https://www.harisubramanyam.com/reviews/LeicaM-APO35/2

 

 

Thank you for sharing the link here Herr Barnack, I’m not very good at self promotion 

Edited April 17, 2021 by TheGodParticle/Hari

[TheGodParticle/Hari]

13 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Thanks, @TheGodParticle/Hari, for the work.  I don’t think that you’ll be selling any of your 35 AA lenses as a result... horses for courses. 😊

While the following was published before the 35 APO, it might add some perspective regarding some earlier generation 35mm M lenses, including the AA and the FLE, using different subject matter.

https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2017/3/30/leica-35mm-lenses-5-summicron-versions

Jeff

You’re welcome Jeff! 

Indeed. While the APO35 has its place in my bag, the 35AAs are unchallenged. 

To my eyes: 

APO 35AAA FLE = absolute perfection in every shot 

35AA = legend .. lore .. lascivious .. and it makes great photographs too 😄

The next part of the review will be the APO35 on the SL2S, stay tuned 🤩

[Herr Barnack]

@Steven It still beggars the imagination that you returned your copy of the APO 35!  I would sooner raffle off my first born (or in my case, Oskar - my Australian Cattle Dog). 

Of all the M lenses ever made, it seems this one would be a keeper.  JMHO, though.  To each his/her own...

[Jeff S]

I would have liked the lens better with longer MFD, simpler design and lower cost, as I only use RF with an M, and MFD closer than .7m is currently unuseable.  Plus it sucks at f1.4. The first Summilux with .3m MFD will be the next sought after thing, especially if compact.

Jeff

[Jeff S]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

36 minutes ago, Steven said:

The MFD of thirty centimetres is what made me buy the lens in the first place. After trying it for two weeks, and supposing that placing the MFD at 70cm would reduce the size by almost half, this is indeed, Jeff, what could have changed things. With this form factor, I prefer F1.4 over an clumsy 30cm MFD. 

 

If I wanted better close focus, I’d buy the SL 35, which focuses to 27cm and benefits from IBIS, built-in EVF with focus aids, weather sealing, etc.  The 35 APO M may be smaller (at $3k more), but I don’t use EVF on an M, and the SL35 is still optically superior on an SL2/SL2S, and has weather sealing.  And it’s still fairly compact without hood or adapter and is well balanced on SL bodies.  But I rarely need to focus that closely. Different strokes.

Jeff

Edited April 19, 2021 by Jeff S

[Jeff S]

41 minutes ago, Steven said:

You forgot to mention it also had AF 😅

That’s what ‘etc.’ means.

Jeff