50mm question: DR Summicron Vs Version 2 Summilux

[DoubleE]

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My all time favorite Leica 50 was the '60s era 50 Summilux I used to own.  The subtleties in B&W tones and contrast never failed to blow me away if I got the exposure and lighting right, especially indoors, shooting into or near a light source like a window or similar.   My question is, would a Dual Range Summicron offer similar (or better) performance in that area aside from losing that extra stop? 

Edited May 20, 2022 by DoubleE

[DoubleE]

Put this in the wrong sub forum, sorry.

[a.noctilux]

For me similar without beeing the same.

In your described situation, of course.

Summilux has more geometric distortion than Summicron of same period.

DR or Rigid 50mm has same optical cell, so mostly * same lens.

In your planned type of pictures, maybe you would not notice this type of "flaws".

 

* I use many Summicron DR/Rigid, if we look hard enough, subtle differences can be detected 😉

[DoubleE]

What I loved about that Summilux was how it was both sharp in detail, yet soft in contrast, with many subtle tones between pure black and pure white (in B&W of course).  What I'm wondering is, will the DR Sumicron deliver those kind of results or it it a very different look.

[a.noctilux]

I may say the obvious,

depending more than we think the film in use associated with the lens in use can do it or not.

 

For example in my use with relative slow film like Acros or Pan-X / Plus-X / FP-4, the Summilux-M (pre-asph. I use three of them) would give subtlety not reachable

by Summicron even at f/2.8 or f/5.6.

So if you like the 50mm Summilux-M pre-asph. (and use slow film) you would be searching same look with Summicron-M which have characters of their own.

By the way if using fast film ( logic choice with Summilux in dimmer lighting ) you would regret f/1.4 not available with Summicron.

[DoubleE]

I mainly shoot Tri-X and process in Rodinal, 1-50.  I guess I have to shoot with the Summicron for a while and see if I like what I get.

[Capuccino-Muffin]

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I keep on reading about how great the Rigid summicron is. A favorite and definitely a classic. But so is the Summilux.

I have not enough experience with the rigid (and dr) but I would not hesitate a second to use it. After all, those lenses built Leica’s legendary status.

Edited May 21, 2022 by Capuccino-Muffin

[shirubadanieru]

Dreamy look wide open

• Summilux wins. It’s soft at f1.4, giving it a dreamy look with glow that Summicrons usually don’t have (or at least not as much as the summiluxes) 
• Rigid is pretty great at f2 as well for portraits, more so than any other 50 cron that came after it, and only beaten in glow by the collapsible cron.

Ease of Use

• Easy victory for the rigid. Lighter, smaller, shorter focus throw. 

Looks

• Both lenses in chrome (alongside the 35 steel rim) are the most beautiful lenses Leica has ever produced. Tie.

Overall rendering

• From f2.8 onwards you’d probably not be able to distinguish them. They’re both awesome and sharp, especially in the center. Bokeh at f2.8 is also lovely.
• The summilux 50mm V2 has slight distortion, but the V1 has zero. The cron has zero distortion or close to zero.

In general, my favorite 50mm lens after having tried them all is the rigid summicron. It has a beautiful rendering wide open, with a lovely bokeh, while also being extremely easy to use for any application other than portraits (street / architecture / travel / etc). The summilux, while producing a dreamier rendering due to being a stop brighter, it is more suited for portraits where it excels, but it can also do the other applications of course (just not as well as the cron in my opinion). Although I’m more of a 35mm guy, the rigid is my only 50mm lens, and every time I shoot with it I’m remembered how much I love it : ) 

 

[Aryel]

I think @a.noctilux and @shirubadanieru have pretty much covered it. 

Let me add a cat image shot with the rigid 50 using Trix processed in rodinal 1+50. Hope it’ll give you some ideas:

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

A few more cats from the same roll posted here:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/205842-i-like-filmopen-thread/?do=findComment&comment=4312976

[DoubleE]

Of course the obvious answer would be to just get both, but for now I've gotten a DR Summicron with googles, mainly because it was about 1/3 the price of an early Summilux.  The 50 is my main lens so it's probable that I'll eventually get a few more, with a Summilux at the top of the list.  I sold all my Leica M bodies and lenses in the early 2000s when it seemed film might be going away forever.  I so regret that now as I'm painstakingly rebuilding my kit at the current prices.