Leica SL501.4

[tom0511]

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Sohail, in which regard do you mean the Summicron doesn't do this? (environmental portraits)

[Sohail]

1 hour ago, tom0511 said:

Sohail, in which regard do you mean the Summicron doesn't do this? (environmental portraits)

It does, i.e. the separation, the 3D pop if you like, but not to the extent of the Summilux. It does and can if the subject is much closer:

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Summicron 50/2 SL on the SL2

Edited January 29, 2023 by Sohail

[Chaemono]

If the subject is farther away, one has to move to the 90 Summicron-SL and even then, the 50 Summilux-SL can make the object look even more three dimensional here.

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Summicron 90/2 SL on the SL

[Sohail]

 

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Yes, the 90/2 Summicron SL doesn't separate in quite the same way but the bokeh is gorgeous!

[cj3209]

On 1/27/2023 at 7:37 AM, Sohail said:

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the 50/1.4 is the best SL lens for portraiture. It trounces the 50/2 (which I previously owned). 

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The Summicron doesn't have this atmospheric rendering 

 

That shallow DoF is insane!

[Elliot Saulten]

I have decided that owning both lenses. Is going to be fine. After seeing your samples, I will start to try to learn portrait photography. it seems a waste to own it and not use it because I limit my photo experience. thanks to all for replying. Elliot

[trickness]

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Just for comparison, this is with the M version of the 50 1.4 Lux ASPH

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[tom0511]

evrytime I use the 50/1.4 SL and accept the size I feel to get rewarded.

I once had a Nocti .95, great lens, but I felt too often my focus was slightly off, for non still subjects. Face detection or spot af with the 50/1.4SL kind of gets me a little bit close. yes, its just f1.4, but I feel to see some similarities in regards of color and overall rendering (sharp+smooth). IMO it is certainly better than the M50/1.4.

This thread also motivated me to use the 50SL1.4 more often again.

 

[robb]

I was using the voigtlander 50 1.0 today.  Lighter weight.  Easy to focus manually with the zoomed in viewfinder.  I also use focus peaking in red with a monochrom overall scene.  Very smooth ring.  I found the SL 50 1.4 a bit slow and harder to manual focus when I tried it out in a Leica store.  In fairness, I didn’t have my focus throw adjusted to my preferred setting at the time but we might have hit it off.  I always like the images I’ve seen created with it.  Especially a series of sheep herders in LFI.

I’ve owned three copies of the m 50 1.4 asph.  I liked all of them but rangefinder focussing on my M9 and Mp 240’s wasn’t always as sharp as I wanted.  I hated it’s evf…  Tried the lux M on the SL2 and still felt the sharpness wide open even when precisely focused was still not my perfect look.

I actually like the voigt better.  I feel like it’s extremely sharp wide open for my portraits.  So try some other options.  I’d be interested in shooting more with the SL 50 1,4.  Waiting on a 50 apo SL I ordered.  Not sure I’d need the apo AND the 1.4 given that I like everything about the Voigt.  But we do love to refine our lens sets…

Robb

 

[Sohail]

Hi Robb,  I'm curious to see that image of the sheep herders. Do you have a link to it?

Also curious to see your results with the Voigt. Care to share a couple of images?

[Ivar B]

I have owned the Summilux SL 1.4/50, and I think it is fair to argue that technically, this is not a perfect lens. However, myselv and many others praise the way it draws, and accept that you need to stop down a bit if you need perfect corner sharpness. I compared it to the Panasonic-S 1.4/50mm, and reached the conclusion that optically this is a better lens, and autofocus is much better. So I sold the Summilux and bought the APO-Summicron-SL 50mm. No doubt, this is techically a perfect lens. Both the Summilux-SL 50mm and the Panasonic need heavy optimization in the camera body, but the APO SL none. But on the same f stop, you need to check very very carefully to find any difference to the Panasonic. But the Panasonic is 300 g heavier and much more bulky, and this may be important for many. But I must admit I don`t need the pair, and have put the APO-Summicron-SL 50mm up for sale. But again - the Summilux SL 1.4/50 draws beautifully, and I can easily understand why many like it for portraiture.  

Edited February 1, 2023 by Ivar B

[MediaFotografie]

I would also like to say something...

I've been using the SL-50/1.4 since it became available (End of 2016) - it was the first SL-Prime with AF. Then I used more APO Summicrons (35/90), but now I use the Summilux more often again because it renders so nicely and is not so clinically clear.

Weight and size and slow AF are clear disadvantages. You just have to like it...

[Photoworks]

13 hours ago, robb said:

I’ve owned three copies of the m 50 1.4 asph.  I liked all of them but rangefinder focussing on my M9 and Mp 240’s wasn’t always as sharp as I wanted.  I hated it’s evf…  Tried the lux M on the SL2 and still felt the sharpness wide open even when precisely focused was still not my perfect look.

Yes the Summilux-M 50 ash is not as sharp wide open, you could say the Noctilux 0.95 at f1.4 is sharper and more micro contrast, but it still shown more Nocty artifacts till f4.

But if you think as the Summilux-M as a dual purpose lens, one wide open with some glow and magic with the smoothest bokeh, two very good sharpness stoped down. I never had the SL version but I would imagine it to be better then the M since it is a newer design.

I have a summicron-SL 50 but it does not see much use.

[robb]

Here is the LFI article showing the 50 SL Lux with the Sheepherders (might actually or also be goatherders...).  Beautiful images.  Hats off to Emily Garthwaite.  I think most of the images are shot wide open.

Robb

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Edited February 1, 2023 by robb

[Sohail]

Gorgeous images! Thanks for sharing!

[John Smith]

On 1/31/2023 at 9:23 PM, robb said:

I was using the voigtlander 50 1.0 today.  Lighter weight.  Easy to focus manually with the zoomed in viewfinder.  I also use focus peaking in red with a monochrom overall scene.  Very smooth ring.  I found the SL 50 1.4 a bit slow and harder to manual focus when I tried it out in a Leica store.  In fairness, I didn’t have my focus throw adjusted to my preferred setting at the time but we might have hit it off.  I always like the images I’ve seen created with it.  Especially a series of sheep herders in LFI.

I’ve owned three copies of the m 50 1.4 asph.  I liked all of them but rangefinder focussing on my M9 and Mp 240’s wasn’t always as sharp as I wanted.  I hated it’s evf…  Tried the lux M on the SL2 and still felt the sharpness wide open even when precisely focused was still not my perfect look.

I actually like the voigt better.  I feel like it’s extremely sharp wide open for my portraits.  So try some other options.  I’d be interested in shooting more with the SL 50 1,4.  Waiting on a 50 apo SL I ordered.  Not sure I’d need the apo AND the 1.4 given that I like everything about the Voigt.  But we do love to refine our lens sets…

Robb

 

I had planned on keeping my 50LuxM, but came to the same conclusion. Its sharpness wide open is not as sharp as I want. I have the 50LuxSL and haven't used it that much, mostly because of the SL Crons. But I've picked back up again. Technically, it is sharper at 1.4 than the 50APOM is at 2.0.

I recently bought a photobook of Leica photographer who I know used the 35LuxM for most of his photographs. Funny, the photos looked soft to me. So it's time to list my 50LuxM and 75CronM for sale again. I just need to stick with the SL line. 

[Photoworks]

2 hours ago, John Smith said:

I had planned on keeping my 50LuxM, but came to the same conclusion. Its sharpness wide open is not as sharp as I want. I have the 50LuxSL and haven't used it that much, mostly because of the SL Crons. But I've picked back up again. Technically, it is sharper at 1.4 than the 50APOM is at 2.0.

I recently bought a photobook of Leica photographer who I know used the 35LuxM for most of his photographs. Funny, the photos looked soft to me. So it's time to list my 50LuxM and 75CronM for sale again. I just need to stick with the SL line. 

only if sharpness is what matters in an image

[John Smith]

20 minutes ago, Photoworks said:

only if sharpness is what matters in an image

It's not just about sharpness. The degree of sharpness and its fall off makes quite a difference in an image. Leica's new (?) approach to contrast with its SL line of primes is distinctive. That is not to say the 50LuxM isn't a good lens. It is great. But the 50LuxSL and SLCrons bring something to the table that wasn't offered before. Anyway, my 50LuxM and 75CronM are still for sale. 

Edited February 2, 2023 by John Smith

[tom0511]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb John Smith:

I had planned on keeping my 50LuxM, but came to the same conclusion. Its sharpness wide open is not as sharp as I want. I have the 50LuxSL and haven't used it that much, mostly because of the SL Crons. But I've picked back up again. Technically, it is sharper at 1.4 than the 50APOM is at 2.0.

I recently bought a photobook of Leica photographer who I know used the 35LuxM for most of his photographs. Funny, the photos looked soft to me. So it's time to list my 50LuxM and 75CronM for sale again. I just need to stick with the SL line. 

I find the 35 and 50 APO M lenses have a (slightly) higher level of sharpness and clarity. I never regretted to switch from the M50/1.4 to the 50 APO.

I believe the difference between the 35/1.4FLE and the 35 APO is not as clear, but also there.

sorry - off topic.

 

Edited February 2, 2023 by tom0511

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[John Smith]

On 2/2/2023 at 3:25 PM, tom0511 said:

I find the 35 and 50 APO M lenses have a (slightly) higher level of sharpness and clarity. I never regretted to switch from the M50/1.4 to the 50 APO.

I believe the difference between the 35/1.4FLE and the 35 APO is not as clear, but also there.

sorry - off topic.

 

I was perfectly happy with my M lenses until I saw the difference between them and the SL primes in an LFI. The difference in sharpness and clarity was noticeable. I guess I hadn't compared them side-by-side before. This was between the 50LuxSL and 35LuxM. 

Back on topic. The Lux might not be the sharpest arrow in the quiver, but it might have the most gorgeous rendering out of all the SL lenses.

Edited February 4, 2023 by John Smith