Brand new close focus Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH

[ZHNL]

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Don’t remember I ever rely on ribbed ring with M lens with tab. (Maybe both together occasionally, but never only ring) So I guess for people like me, it is not an issue. 35lux II has almost perfect resistance. I hope it is the same case with 50. 
 

the wide body make focus tab easier to use. Less force needed with longer radius. 

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[aesop]

On 4/15/2023 at 7:49 AM, Fedro said:

totally agree, feels a lot more stable and less nose heavy - reson why i much like the 21 lux in terms of balance

 

     ...I think I'll just hold on to my Mandler (11114) and my clinical Karbe (11891). Size does matter to some of us, and I struggle to make a case for the new, full-fat, 50mm ASPH (11728). It leaves me cold, which is just as well as I shoot film only. Oh, and all that "0.7m to 0.45m" blather just goes right over my head and lands elsewhere. EVF indeed. Imagine.

Of course, YMMV.🙄

[Jeff S]

9 hours ago, Somchai said:

I still like the previous version better. 

+1

Jeff

[Jeff S]

7 hours ago, Marckyokay said:

With the old version I always feel slight "irregularities" in resistance when focussing with the tab. More or less on all 50LUX ASPH I tried

DAG made focusing with my copy buttery smooth… for 10 years now…using new, old Leitz, grease.  Ninety bucks, including shipping.

Jeff

[darylgo]

Leica has a close focusing 50 Asph for many years, the extension tube and close up lens will do this for all 50's and other lenses.  I haven't seen the new 50 Asph FAT so I'll reserve like/dislike, often images of Leica products don't do justice to how they look and feel in hand. 

[Marckyokay]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

DAG made focusing with my copy buttery smooth… for 10 years now…using new, old Leitz, grease.  Ninety bucks, including shipping.

Jeff

That’s awesome to know and certainly I would try that in a heartbeat if I were in the US. But shipping it from Europe to the US just for greasing… too many bad experiences with international shipping.

[Jeff S]

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1 hour ago, Marckyokay said:

That’s awesome to know and certainly I would try that in a heartbeat if I were in the US. But shipping it from Europe to the US just for greasing… too many bad experiences with international shipping.

I used DAG after Leica US tried, but failed, to fix.  It’s certainly possible that Wetzlar, or a third party dealer in Europe, could remedy. 
 

Jeff

[Lelmer]

On 4/15/2023 at 2:20 PM, Photoworks said:

It is a bummer it is not xMas anymore, I will keep it in mind.

I don't think there will be much difference, just like it didn't have it on the 35 Lux

Thank you.

...The Ninja stars can show up any time 🙂

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M + Summilux 50mm Asph

[wdahab]

Got my email from Leica Miami that my copy is on its way. Looking forward to getting in hand. Surprised at how few/no pre-reviews there are/were for this lens, compared to the M11 Monochrom.

[kinetic]

26 minutes ago, wdahab said:

Got my email from Leica Miami that my copy is on its way. Looking forward to getting in hand. Surprised at how few/no pre-reviews there are/were for this lens, compared to the M11 Monochrom.

I keep searching everyday for a good review, or some sample images, but there's so few. Post your results!

[James Lu]

My alternatives for close focus capabilities:

1, 50 Cron DR

2, Nikkor 5cm f1.4 LTM 

Both are solid character lenses and  can focus to 0.46m and smaller in size.  

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[Photoworks]

7 minutes ago, James Lu said:

Both are solid character lenses and  can focus to 0.46m and smaller in size.  

not sure about that.

the DR is a classic old lens with soft sharpness at low contrast, it is made out of brass and is heavy.

If you use the DR for focusing portrait you are at the distance that you will be switching back and forward from 1m to closer.  Plus the glasses won't work on modern cameras, the last model was the M6 non-TTL. Correct me if I am wrong.

I replaced the Lux v1 with V2 because it is lighter. Performance is good in both.

 

[James Lu]

12 hours ago, Photoworks said:

not sure about that.

the DR is a classic old lens with soft sharpness at low contrast, it is made out of brass and is heavy.

If you use the DR for focusing portrait you are at the distance that you will be switching back and forward from 1m to closer.  Plus the glasses won't work on modern cameras, the last model was the M6 non-TTL. Correct me if I am wrong.

I replaced the Lux v1 with V2 because it is lighter. Performance is good in both.

 

Perhaps you should try first at least. M11 is different than m10

[kinetic]

Where is everyone buying these from? Every few days I see someone say they pulled the trigger and theirs will be arriving soon. I'm on every waiting list I could find, yet I haven't been able to get one yet.

[wdahab]

31 minutes ago, kinetic said:

Where is everyone buying these from? Every few days I see someone say they pulled the trigger and theirs will be arriving soon. I'm on every waiting list I could find, yet I haven't been able to get one yet.

I got mine from Leica Miami. Signed up on the list 10 minutes after launch. Also got off the list from Glazers but had already bought from Miami. For them I emailed them the day before and asked to be put on the list and clearly was the first one to check. Glazers is also where I got my APO35 after only a 3 month wait. 

[ZHNL]

2 hours ago, kinetic said:

Where is everyone buying these from? Every few days I see someone say they pulled the trigger and theirs will be arriving soon. I'm on every waiting list I could find, yet I haven't been able to get one yet.

+1. My struggle is to get one. I don’t know what is not like: 

0.45M check

higher center performance check 

11 curved blade for better bokeh check

Without increase weight check

without price increasing check

better lens hood design check

cleaner look check (personal)

Edited April 20, 2023 by ZHNL

[kinetic]

3 hours ago, ZHNL said:

+1. My struggle is to get one. I don’t know what is not like: 

0.45M check

higher center performance check 

11 curved blade for better bokeh check

Without increase weight check

without price increasing check

better lens hood design check

cleaner look check (personal)

A lot of discussion of if it’s likeable or not seems to be an internal struggle to not pull out a wallet and buy it. I’m having that myself. I have a great 50mm already, and I don’t know if I can sell any more organs to fund a new toy 😆

but I’m pretty much set. I’m going to get it. 

[sebben]

I suppose for me all these news lenses is going against the things that I find great about Leica M lenses. Which are namely, small, compact, only the essentials and good performance. 
 

Having lenses that grow larger just to be able to focus closer which also requires you to use a screen or an evf seems just ridiculous to me.

There are so many other systems that people can buy if they need all that. Why dilute the essence of the M?

At this rate it’s going to end up like that Homer Simpson car. 

Edited April 20, 2023 by sebben

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Leon Berg]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb sebben:

I suppose for me all these news lenses is going against the things that I find great about Leica M lenses. Which are namely, small, compact, only the essentials and good performance. 
 

Having lenses that grow larger just to be able to focus closer which also requires you to use a screen or an evf seems just ridiculous to me.

There are so many other systems that people can buy if they need all that. Why dilute the essence of the M?

At this rate it’s going to end up like that Homer Simpson car. 

I have similar thoughts towards the new design.

nicely put: „there are other systems for that“

what do you all think about the older one in regards of issues it might have had (reading reports of lose aperture rings or to heavy front glass elements or focus shift or whatsoever)

I just started to read about a fast 50 for my M240 shortly before the new one came out and wanted to understand if the new one is worth the not so little extra cash. I can get an new „old“ silver chrome one for the amount of 100 rolls black and white film less

no, I don’t need the extra close focus. 

[James Lu]

17 minutes ago, Leon Berg said:

I have similar thoughts towards the new design.

nicely put: „there are other systems for that“

what do you all think about the older one in regards of issues it might have had (reading reports of lose aperture rings or to heavy front glass elements or focus shift or whatsoever)

I just started to read about a fast 50 for my M240 shortly before the new one came out and wanted to understand if the new one is worth the not so little extra cash. I can get an new „old“ silver chrome one for the amount of 100 rolls black and white film less

no, I don’t need the extra close focus. 

 

2 hours ago, sebben said:

I suppose for me all these news lenses is going against the things that I find great about Leica M lenses. Which are namely, small, compact, only the essentials and good performance. 
 

Having lenses that grow larger just to be able to focus closer which also requires you to use a screen or an evf seems just ridiculous to me.

There are so many other systems that people can buy if they need all that. Why dilute the essence of the M?

At this rate it’s going to end up like that Homer Simpson car. 

Totally agree. Form factor does matter.