New edition of the Leica Summilux-M 1.4/35mm ASPH.

[Jeremy Bunting]

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3 hours ago, Antonio Russell said:

Nice, how is the finder blockage?

Much improved! Not significant.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[MarkP]

On 9/21/2022 at 6:25 AM, Jeremy Bunting said:It's nice how much you can fit in the frame of a 35mm lens at 0.4m.

 

Apart from the APO-35M, the close focus is what made the old 2.0/35 Summicron-R such a versatile lens.

[phototrope]

For comparison:

On the right,  35mm Summilux FLE V2 on Leica M11
On the left, APO 50mm Summicron on Leica MP film

Both lenses have UVa filters on, which I never remove.

(serial numbers removed in photoshop)

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[elmars]

Nice set!

[ZHNL]

Got this lens. Love it. Now it makes more sense to use it on SLx as a fast 35mm lens with 0.4M MFD. At 70cm, the new lens show less CA than v1 on SL2S with my copies and it is also a little sharper. Not sure it is copy difference or formula tweak for sensor stack. I also used them both on m11 but haven’t exam them carefully side by side yet.  V1 I prefer use it at f2 but new one at f1.4 has more definition to my eye. 

if old lens I give 80/100, now I give 90/100 in term of usefulness for my personal usage. 

[S Maclean]

25 minutes ago, ZHNL said:

Got this lens. Love it. Now it makes more sense to use it on SLx as a fast 35mm lens with 0.4M MFD. At 70cm, the new lens show less CA than v1 on SL2S with my copies and it is also a little sharper. Not sure it is copy difference or formula tweak for sensor stack. I also used them both on m11 but haven’t exam them carefully side by side yet.  V1 I prefer use it at f2 but new one at f1.4 has more definition to my eye. 

if old lens I give 80/100, now I give 90/100 in term of usefulness for my personal usage. 

Thank You .  As you have both do you have any images that can be compared?  

[ZHNL]

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1 hour ago, S Maclean said:

Thank You .  As you have both do you have any images that can be compared?  

I do have both. Not plan to do any side by side comparison here other than quick Lightroom checking as I feel there are too many variables ( such as copy variation. ) I don’t want this to be a false claim as my  personal experience with my copy. You have to take my word for it for what they worth.
 

For me, the biggest incentive to get this lens are MFD of 40mm and integrated hood. Anything more than that is cherry on top. 
 

I also love it’s ergo slightly better. (Feel fatter and shorter in hand) it (shape and hood) reminds me of Leica 35mm summicron R which I always feel having perfect ergo. 

BTW, it has very respectful MFD performance at f1.4 IMO. Almost surprised me.  

Edited September 24, 2022 by ZHNL

[S Maclean]

1 hour ago, ZHNL said:

I do have both. Not plan to do any side by side comparison here other than quick Lightroom checking as I feel there are too many variables ( such as copy variation. ) I don’t want this to be a false claim as my  personal experience with my copy. You have to take my word for it for what they worth.
 

For me, the biggest incentive to get this lens are MFD of 40mm and integrated hood. Anything more than that is cherry on top. 
 

I also love it’s ergo slightly better. (Feel fatter and shorter in hand) it (shape and hood) reminds me of Leica 35mm summicron R which I always feel having perfect ergo. 

BTW, it has very respectful MFD performance at f1.4 IMO. Almost surprised me.  

Fair enough. Good news all around anyway.

Thank you.

[phototrope]

7 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Which one do you prefer?

 

Between the APO 50 cron and the 35 lux v2?  I'd say they two are very different lenses, like two different calligraphy pens.  I love them both equally, and more than any other lenses I have ever owned. 

I have previously owned the 35mm summilux pre-asph for many years, and the 35mm FLE v1 for a short while.  The FLE v2 gives me more value than both of these lenses - with a commercially usable f/1.4 and closer focus.  (I also see more sharpness and more subtle bokeh than the I did in the V1 - but this is subjective and I won't push the point).

Edited September 24, 2022 by phototrope

[IkarusJohn]

In the images so far, the bokeh does look better wide open, but I’d need side by side comparison.  Sticking with the 35 Summilux pre-asph and the Distagon - turning out to be a good combination. APO 35 Summicron still tempting, though …

[RexGig0]

15 hours ago, phototrope said:

Between the APO 50 cron and the 35 lux v2?  I'd say they two are very different lenses, like two different calligraphy pens.  I love them both equally, and more than any other lenses I have ever owned. 

I have previously owned the 35mm summilux pre-asph for many years, and the 35mm FLE v1 for a short while.  The FLE v2 gives me more value than both of these lenses - with a commercially usable f/1.4 and closer focus.  (I also see more sharpness and more subtle bokeh than the I did in the V1 - but this is subjective and I won't push the point).

This is very well-stated. Some of us find value in this new closer-focusing Summilux FLE. I love the example of “two different calligraphy pens.” 🙂

I do, also, believe that it is possible to love two lenses equally. My first Leica M lens, the lens that lured me into adding the Leica M camera system, will always be “The Favorite,” but, there can be a true need for other focal lengths, or a different type of performance, within the same focal length, which can lead to loving more than one lens equally.

[Dob3rman]

When will this be available in US? IS it already shipping? Best place to get it quick?

[S Maclean]

19 minutes ago, Dob3rman said:

When will this be available in US? IS it already shipping? Best place to get it quick?

It’s already here for pre order but not sure if anyone has it yet.  I’m on the list at Adorama NYC and got early enough that they say I should be getting it on first batch, but they don’t have an eta. Both Adorama and BH have really long lists at this point.  I am assuming Leica will ship to Leica stores first but I’m hoping Adorama and BH are big enough to get some attention soon ( ish)

[Jeremy Bunting]

Well, I've already lost the terrible plastic E46 lens cap that comes with the 35mm Summilux FLE v2. I brushed up against a subway door and that was all she wrote.

But it turns out that the metal cap that came with my 50mm Noctilux f1.2 reissue is a perfect fit over the lens hood of the FLE v2, as opposed to over the lens only, as is the case with the plastic E46 cap. Paradoxically, the Noctilux f1.2 cap doesn't actually fit over that lens if you use it with a UV filter, which I do, so I can't use it with the lens it's intended for. 

I have to wonder if Leica just assumes people don't use lens caps.

Anyway, if you pick up a 35mm FLE v2 and you're annoyed by the absolutely garbage cap that comes with it, I highly recommend this:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1684256-REG/leica_12480_lens_cap_for_noctilux_m.html

...which is a snug, secure fit over the entire retractable lens hood, and also just feels much more premium and befitting of a lens of this caliber.

The E46 plastic cap makes absolutely no sense for 35mm FLE v2. If you accidentally pull the hood out while the cap is on, the cap is gone. If you brush up against anything even slightly, the cap is gone. 

Needless to say, I expect much better at this price point. The details matter.

 

 

Edited September 25, 2022 by Jeremy Bunting

[S Maclean]

22 minutes ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

Well, I've already lost the terrible plastic E46 lens cap that comes with the 35mm Summilux FLE v2. I brushed up against a subway door and that was all she wrote.

But it turns out that the metal cap that came with my 50mm Noctilux f1.2 reissue is a perfect fit over the lens hood of the FLE v2, as opposed to over the lens only, as is the case with the plastic E46 cap. Paradoxically, the Noctilux f1.2 cap doesn't actually fit over that lens if you use it with a UV filter, which I do, so I can't use it with the lens it's intended for. 

I have to wonder if Leica just assumes people don't use lens caps.

Anyway, if you pick up a 35mm FLE v2 and you're annoyed by the absolutely garbage cap that comes with it, I highly recommend this:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1684256-REG/leica_12480_lens_cap_for_noctilux_m.html

...which is a snug, secure fit over the entire retractable lens hood, and also just feels much more premium and befitting of a lens of this caliber.

The E46 plastic cap makes absolutely no sense for 35mm FLE v2. If you accidentally pull the hood out while the cap is on, the cap is gone. If you brush up against anything even slightly, the cap is gone. 

Needless to say, I expect much better at this price point. The details matter.

 

 

I do agree with you, but the cap you are suggesting can also fall in a subway no?

[Jeremy Bunting]

1 hour ago, S Maclean said:

I do agree with you, but the cap you are suggesting can also fall in a subway no?

In theory, but it would take a much more significant bump because the hood cap is both tighter and covers more surface area (given that it fits over the hood). I haven't lost the cap on my APO 50 yet, which similarly fits over the hood, and the silver showing through on the cap indicate it's taken a bump or two.

[decurion99]

On 9/24/2022 at 7:06 PM, ZHNL said:

Got this lens. Love it. Now it makes more sense to use it on SLx as a fast 35mm lens with 0.4M MFD. At 70cm, the new lens show less CA than v1 on SL2S with my copies and it is also a little sharper. Not sure it is copy difference or formula tweak for sensor stack. I also used them both on m11 but haven’t exam them carefully side by side yet.  V1 I prefer use it at f2 but new one at f1.4 has more definition to my eye. 

if old lens I give 80/100, now I give 90/100 in term of usefulness for my personal usage. 

Same formula, but better glass types, apparently. Ie more transmissive, sharper.

[S Maclean]

7 minutes ago, decurion99 said:

Same formula, but better glass types, apparently. Ie more transmissive, sharper.

Right.  I do have the 50 APO and love the cap, The one you posted seemed shallower on the images.  I haven’t handled it so i would not know.

This said I do plan on following your suggestion once i get the Lux 35 mm.

 

Thank you

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Hallo,

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[phototrope]

14 hours ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

Well, I've already lost the terrible plastic E46 lens cap that comes with the 35mm Summilux FLE v2. I brushed up against a subway door and that was all she wrote.

But it turns out that the metal cap that came with my 50mm Noctilux f1.2 reissue is a perfect fit over the lens hood of the FLE v2, as opposed to over the lens only, as is the case with the plastic E46 cap. Paradoxically, the Noctilux f1.2 cap doesn't actually fit over that lens if you use it with a UV filter, which I do, so I can't use it with the lens it's intended for. 

I have to wonder if Leica just assumes people don't use lens caps.

Anyway, if you pick up a 35mm FLE v2 and you're annoyed by the absolutely garbage cap that comes with it, I highly recommend this:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1684256-REG/leica_12480_lens_cap_for_noctilux_m.html

...which is a snug, secure fit over the entire retractable lens hood, and also just feels much more premium and befitting of a lens of this caliber.

The E46 plastic cap makes absolutely no sense for 35mm FLE v2. If you accidentally pull the hood out while the cap is on, the cap is gone. If you brush up against anything even slightly, the cap is gone. 

Needless to say, I expect much better at this price point. The details matter.

 

 

@Jeremy Bunting That's really good to know. Thanks for reporting.

Does the  Noctilux f1.2 lens fit over the 35mm lux v2 with filter attached?

By the way, the beautiful metal cap that comes with the APO 50 cron fits perfectly over the 35mm lux V1 (which I found out when I used to own it)

Edited September 26, 2022 by phototrope

[FrozenInTime]

14 hours ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

Well, I've already lost the terrible plastic E46 lens cap that comes with the 35mm Summilux FLE v2. I brushed up against a subway door and that was all she wrote.

But it turns out that the metal cap that came with my 50mm Noctilux f1.2 reissue is a perfect fit over the lens hood of the FLE v2, as opposed to over the lens only, as is the case with the plastic E46 cap. Paradoxically, the Noctilux f1.2 cap doesn't actually fit over that lens if you use it with a UV filter, which I do, so I can't use it with the lens it's intended for. 

I have to wonder if Leica just assumes people don't use lens caps.

Anyway, if you pick up a 35mm FLE v2 and you're annoyed by the absolutely garbage cap that comes with it, I highly recommend this:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1684256-REG/leica_12480_lens_cap_for_noctilux_m.html

...which is a snug, secure fit over the entire retractable lens hood, and also just feels much more premium and befitting of a lens of this caliber.

The E46 plastic cap makes absolutely no sense for 35mm FLE v2. If you accidentally pull the hood out while the cap is on, the cap is gone. If you brush up against anything even slightly, the cap is gone. 

Needless to say, I expect much better at this price point. The details matter.

 

 

Are you using a filter ? on other lenses with similar pull out hoods that makes the plastic cap lip more prone to catching.