50mm Noctilux 1.0 vs 75mm Summilux V3? Mandler Lenses on SL2-S

[Studiopfp]

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I've had the the 50mm Nocti 1.0 for years, and rarely used it because it was so hard to focus in low light on my M240 and M246.  

But with the recent replacement of my M240 with an SL2-S, and the fantastic EVF, I find I am able to use it effectively.

I'm now debating picking up the 75mm 1.4, with the same design by Madler, as a better suited portrait lens that has a little less perspective distortion than the 50mm and more reach.  It's also considerably lighter, and the price point is a bit lower, where as using the 50mm I am reluctant to use it unless I'm in a "safe" environment.

I ordered a used version from KEH and did one shoot with it... found it to be very soft at 1.4 (but with great separation), and also that I need to learn how to use it to compose properly (distance, framing of subject) as I'm not used to the 75mm focal length. Of course, that's part of the learning curve with any lens that you haven't used before. 

Anyone have experience using both lenses? I'm wondering if there is much to be gained by having both the 50mm and 75mm Madler designed lenses, as they apparently are so similar in design? 

I do 95% of my photography as B&W, portraits, street and figurative photography.

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[dpitt]

No experience with either. But if I would want an M portrait lens, I think of the Summicron 90. The Summicron 90 R is not bad at all either. Both at a fraction of the price of the Summilux and Noctilux. And the R lenses are still a lot less bulky compared to the SL lenses.

[evikne]

I don't have either anymore, but have had both. Choosing between them is really hard. Here is a thread that might be of help:

[rtai]

I owned the 75mm Summilux 20 years ago but had so much trouble nailing focus even on a .85x body I sold it. I just bought another one because the SL2 and M10M should make focusing problems a moot point. The 75mm Summilux is like a longer Noctilux without the massive vignetting.

[egrossman]

12 hours ago, evikne said:

I don't have either anymore, but have had both. Choosing between them is really hard. Here is a thread that might be of help:

Wow that was a long time ago! I forgot that I initiated that thread! 🙂

Erik

[Harout62]

I have had both lenses, kept the 75 Lux and got rid of the Noctilux. 
My 75 is quite sharp wide open, has much better Bokhe wide open, and overall gives me a better perspective for portraits. 
also it has a much better control of the CA. 

[Stuart Richardson]

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I agree. I have had the 75mm Summilux for about twenty years. It is a great lens with a ton of character. It still has modern levels of sharpness when stopped down. I would not say it was sharp wide open, but it has a soft/sharp look. There is a lot of spherical aberration, so the detail may be adequately rendered, but the highlights and edges will glow. That can be just the thing for certain photos. Stopping it down even to f2 or 2.8 or so reduces that substantially. Recently I borrowed a Noctilux from a friend and did a shooting comparison. My feeling was the same as Harout's. The Summilux was sharper and to me it was more pleasing in character. There are certain images where the Noctilux comes out better, but that can be the case whenever there is a difference. In general, I definitely prefer the 75mm Summilux. It is also possible to get much closer with the Summilux, as it focuses to .8m or so at 75mm, while the Noctilux only focuses to 1m at 50mm.

[MarkP]

I have both lenses. A friend gave me his 1.0/50 Noctilux v3 and I subsequently bought a late production German 1.4/75 Summilux.  They are both fantastic lenses on all cameras. Very nicely balanced on the SL2 and easy to focus accurately.  Both of course render very similarly.  The 75 is a more intimate focal length and better corrected lens. 

[Musotographer]

I have the Noctilux f1 and had the Summilux 75 a couple of times - its place is now taken by its close cousin the R80 which I love (and is a lot cheaper than the 75). The 75/80 I find marginally less individual than the 50 - but sometimes that very individuality is just what you want and can produce magical results. If I had to keep only one it would be the 75/80 but that's because it's an ideal portrait length - I don't use the 50 for portraits much and I have other fast 50s anyway. They are both less than sharp wide open, the 75/80 is a touch less soft than the 50 - but they sharpen up dramatically with just half a stop; as others have said, the 75/80 has less vignetting than the 50. Colours on the 50 are extraordinary, but they are pretty magical on the 75/80 too. Wide open I use both only on either the M10M/EVF or the SL; I'd love to use the 50 at f1 on my M9 but doubt that my technique and eyes are up to it!

So yes, there's much to be said for having a longer brother for your Nocti;  I'd go for a Summilux-R 80, especially if you maybe already have an R to M adapter - unless you have cash to spare and insist on the M, the 75.

[evikne]

If I were to buy one of these lenses again now, it would definitely be the 75 Summilux. It's so versatile, both because of its close-focus and telephoto capabilities, and it's a fantastic portrait lens. It seems better corrected than the Noctilux, and together with the SL2-S, focus shift or focus accuracy would not be an issue.