From CV 50mm F2 APO Lanthar to Summilux?

[bherman01545]

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All;

I own a CV 50mm F2 APO Lanthar and like it very much. Pretty 'clinical' as 50mm lenses go. Quite similar to my previous 50SL APO.

Other than the extra stop, what would I gain from picking up a current 50mm F/1.4 ASPH Summilux? I read all of the MTF stuff, etc.

I wouldn't be replacing the APO Lanthar, but supplementing it with the LUX. It appears as if LUX has a bit more character. Sharp, but not clinical, and seems to be a better lens for shooting people, portraits and so on.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

-Brad

[lct]

I find both my Summicron 50/2 apo and Summilux 50/1.4 asph too sharp for people personally. Having a sharp 50/2 apo already you may wish to complement it with a more gentle lens like Summilux 50/1.4 v3 # 11868 (black), 11856 (silver), 11623 (black paint) or 11869 (titanium). Another less expensive option would be a ZM Sonnar 50/1.5 but it suffers from focus shift so it is a lens i would recommend for shooting in LV mode preferably.

[Knipsknecht]

I' am with @lct concerning "character" lenses (i.e. not perfect/ clinical rendering) and I would add the Voigtländer 50mm f1.5 Nokton Vintage Line (https://www.voigtlaender.de/lenses/vm/50-mm-11-5-nokton-vintage-line-aspharical/?lang=en) or the Voigtländer 50mm f1.5 Heliar classic (https://www.voigtlaender.de/lenses/vm/50-mm-11-5-heliar-classic/?lang=en).

There are example photos an the websites which will provide some estimation of how your pics could look with these lenses. The build quality of these lenses is as good as Leica (as you surely know from your Lanthar), and they are much more affordable (and new).

[lct]

Interesting indeed. I would have thought the Norton 50/1.5 has a modern character, being an asph lens, but i have no experience with it.

[a.noctilux]

Brad, just look at this as suggestion, nothing is "perfect", so why I DO use  many 50 (or others ) and happy to do so.

- you can try the Summilux-M asph. 50mm, then decide if it can do for you, or go ahead

( I had this lens for a while, thinking it's too 'perfect' for me so I used it less and less, ending while a young photographer wanted

to try it out, I sold it cheap and never regret it's perfection, ah yes I saw the back light 'Ninja Stars' ennoying, but not for this as I use other lenses

with Ninja Stars I can live with. )

- I returned to my first Summilux 50mm pre-asph. (having three to choose from 😇)

- other 50mm are not to be neglicted (citing what I use) as old M-Hexanon, Canon LTM ( I have 1.2, 1.4, 1.8 each different from anything else ), Summicron, Summarit 1.5,

Summarit-M, Jupiter, Nikkor, etc.

 

[trisberg]

On 4/20/2022 at 5:20 AM, lct said:

Interesting indeed. I would have thought the Norton 50/1.5 has a modern character, being an asph lens, but i have no experience with it.

IMO the Nokton 50/1.5 II has more of a "modern" look and quite a bit of falloff at the edges wide open.I think the Nokton 50mm f1.2 has a more pleasing rendering but it is a bit heavier and larger. The new Heliar might be interesting, haven't tried it. I do like the C Sonnar f1.5, and to manage the focus shift avoid f2.8 - f4 as long as it is calibrated for f1.5 or f2.

-Thomas

[KeyofG]

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On 4/20/2022 at 5:27 AM, bherman01545 said:

All;

I own a CV 50mm F2 APO Lanthar and like it very much. Pretty 'clinical' as 50mm lenses go. Quite similar to my previous 50SL APO.

Other than the extra stop, what would I gain from picking up a current 50mm F/1.4 ASPH Summilux? I read all of the MTF stuff, etc.

I wouldn't be replacing the APO Lanthar, but supplementing it with the LUX. It appears as if LUX has a bit more character. Sharp, but not clinical, and seems to be a better lens for shooting people, portraits and so on.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

-Brad

Hello

I have a different opinion. 
 

I’ve owned the VL 50f1.5II. It is a modern lens. Not as clinical as the APO. It’s softer wide open and has obvious aberrations at f1.5. So it does have a bit more character (I had the single coat)

The Heliar is too soft. It is too extreme and I don’t think you’ll like that one. 

if I were you I wouldn’t compliment. I would just change the APO for a 50 summicron. It’ll give you the Leica glow wide open but be very sharp closed down when you need it.
 

I feel with a summilux you’re going down the path of perfection again  

If you want more light gathering capabilities, or you’re already set on getting a faster lens, then I agree the best option is probably the 50f1.2 VL. That lens is very flawed if you’re shooting brick wall tests; but all that says it’s got a lot of character; a special “rendering” some say  

 

Edited April 25, 2022 by KeyofG

[RexGig0]

The Summilux-M 50mm ASPH is the lens that lured me into adding the Leica M system, for its “character.” I cannot, however, be helpful regarding the comparison of the Summilux with any of the Cosine/Voigtlander 50mm lenses. (My prior experience with extremely sharp, “clinical” lenses was in the telephoto range, with SLR lenses, mostly macro 100mm lenses.)

I did not have prior experience with any the vintage/classic Leica lenses, to influence my desire for the look provided by the Summilux-M 50mm ASPH. I wanted the wide-open character, and the stopped-down near-“perfection.” 

I realize that my reply is of limited helpfulness. I intentionally waited until other good replies had been posted, before adding my limited contribution.. 

[WvE]

My Lux (Asph BC) is a beautiful lens, optically and construction wise. Sadly, it's too heavy on the M so will probably sell it. Will probably buy the Zeiss Sonnar 1.5 (with all its quirks).

[Dennis]

You can consider also the 50 Summicron v5. It's of course f2, no APO, and is a smaller and lighter lens than you Apo Lanthar, with still great performance. A not so clinical for portraits. Maybe you don't need 1.4 or 1.5

Edited May 4, 2022 by Dennis

[roma]

My favorite 50 was Summilux Pre-ASPH until it developed haze. They are so expensive now that I can’t bring myself to spend 3+ grand on a good one (50mm is not my most used focal length). I’ve tried the 50 Summilux ASPH, but the ninja stars really bothered me because I don’t always shoot wide open and love shooting into the light. I’ve tried the latest Summicron, but the one I got had a bad focus shift at f2.8-f4.0. Now, I’m without a 50. I hope to try a CV f1.5 ASPH at some point and see if it does it. I like the size and weight of it, especially since 50 is not my go to.

[KeyofG]

On 5/5/2022 at 6:19 PM, roma said:

I hope to try a CV f1.5 ASPH at some point and see if it does it.

It’s very good if you don’t mind the softness at f1.5 and aberrations. Lovely lens. Got quite dusty inside quickly. But other than that. Great. 

[jakontil]

the 50mm M mount is hard to choose... i have various of glasses be it the lux asph, the nocitluxes 0.95 and 1.2, and 50 apo summicron, right now i cant pick any in particular unless i know what im shooting for

50 apo definitely to pick up when im shooting BW film though i dont rule out for portraits in films too, and for the rest is just like whichever the mood drives me to