Image thread for the Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH

[geetee1972]

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Before judging this lens (any lens) in the terms that you did you might find it more helpful either to do your own shots or to find images by a photographer you already respect.

 

You're right and yes, I do still have an open mind and will happily have it changed if I find something that gives me goose bumps.

 

 

Your own images look fine to me, but they give me no goosebumps (I'm not sure if you expected them to

 

No this does not surprise me. I am searching for something that will but I so far haven't taken a picture that I think would ellicit the same emotional response in others as I have had myself in response to the work of say Sally Mann, Laura Pannack (my favourite photographer whose work I absolutely adore) Richard Avedon, Mary Elln Mark, William Eggleston, Joel Sternfeld etc. I am happy with my work but it's a long way from where I want it to be.

 

 

Edit: despite my remarks in disagreement to yours, I very much appreciate you taking time to express them as clearly as you did.

 

Likewise, I appreciate you taking the time to engage. I sincerely believe this (since I am a 'searcher') that it is the process of engagement that is most important. That is why I photograph people (and in particular strangers). The images are less important than the encounter and the engagement that resulted from that. This is what really mattes - the truth, beauty and love I keep talking about - it is the human connection where we find that.

[LocalHero1953]

I suspect you may find difficulty in giving goosebumps to others (sorry for the shorthand) by posting single shots out if context (or just in the context of a polemic). It is easier to respond to them (perhaps your type of photographs in particular) when presented as a series/group or as part of an essay. That's what I prefer to do anyway: most of my single shots look to me like casual snaps or postcards, whatever my original intent.

[geetee1972]

I suspect you may find difficulty in giving goosebumps to others (sorry for the shorthand) by posting single shots out if context (or just in the context of a polemic). It is easier to respond to them (perhaps your type of photographs in particular) when presented as a series/group or as part of an essay. That's what I prefer to do anyway: most of my single shots look to me like casual snaps or postcards, whatever my original intent.

 

Again, I agree (don't you love how when we engage our points of agreement outweigh our points of disagerement), and this is why I present my work in exactly this kind of way on my website (which is always linked in my signature).

[thighslapper]

mmmmm..... having perused your website ..... which I rarely do as I prefer to keep some mystery about the forum members ..... I can see why the 50/1.4 SL would do little for you.

 

people, mood, expression and an air of mystery seem the order of the day .....  and a technically perfect 'sterile' lens would certainly work against the atmosphere you are looking for. 

 

I'm a photographic magpie ..... and my 'portfolio' ..... if you could call it that, consists of such a diverse mix it could be from many people ...... with 'idiosyncratic' being the only binding factor.

 

As such I have a bundle of gear I dip into depending on which side of bed I get out of .... or the weather ..... with the 50 SL getting an outing when the fancy takes me. 

 

The last big outing was landscape ..... which is testing in both composition, gear and technique .... with a lot of standing around in the cold and wet at unsocial hours with not a lot to show for it. 

 

The interesting point in this discussion is how much our attitudes and likes in photography colour our views of equipment and it's technical merits.... and something that clearly needs taking into account when pondering on the views of 'reviewers' ..... even those that claim to be objective and unbiased. 

[Chaemono]

“When you discover that you’re riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.”  Old Dakota tribal wisdom. 

[rpittal]

Three with that sterile Sony clone piece of crap.

 

Full resolution here:

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-wC8ndd/

 

Lower res here (for people with slow connections):

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Cxrh2S/

 

I really like the 3rd one Chaemono! Very nicely done with lots of character and expressions. Feels like I was there.

[dancook]

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I think the first point to make is that talking about a lenses performance is pointless especially if all you're going to do with it is shoot snaps of flowers, horses and buildings. It's even more pointless, perverse even, when you're spending $5000+ on a lens. If you're spending that much money on your kit I'd really hope you were genuinely searching for something meaningful rather than dealing in superfice and artifice. I've not yet seen any images made with the SL50mm that go beyond these principles so perhaps that is why I am being so negative about the lens. 

 

It's a lens, it has a focal length and it has an aperture.

 

50mm and 1.4

 

If you need 50mm and 1.4 particularly with autofocus, and you have a Leica SL - then the 50SL is your ONLY choice of lens.

 

I don't see how the lens has anything to do with art, that is down to the photographer.

 

 

You make it seem such a negative thing to buy this lens, but there is no other alternative.

 

Money means nothing. ( you can either afford it, or you cannot, happiness is king )

 

 

 

I don't aim to produce art with my 50mm 1.4, it is a tool that I use to do a job. Weddings or Live music.

Edited April 29, 2017 by dancook

[jrp]

If you have a lens, such as the 50mm f1.4 SL that produces high quality, neutral images, you can always add your thumbprint in post.  This is digital, after all.  If you have a pic with characterful aberrations, they might suit the subject or they might not.  Harder to take them away.

[dancook]

If you have a lens, such as the 50mm f1.4 SL that produces high quality, neutral images, you can always add your thumbprint in post.  This is digital, after all.  If you have a pic with characterful aberrations, they might suit the subject or they might not.  Harder to take them away.

 

Indeed, if I want a certain stylized look, I can do that in post processing.

 

I can render it unrecognisable this was the 50SL - but I was just playing with post processing, nothing serious.

 

Louise by dancook1982, on Flickr

Edited April 29, 2017 by dancook

[geetee1972]

 

You make it seem such a negative thing to buy this lens, but there is no other alternative.

 

Well no there isn't, not at £4000 at any rate. For about half that the world's your oyster though and even for a quarter you can take your pick of a lot of very good 50mm lenses that will also autofocus on the SL with the right adapter.

[lesjac]

Three with that sterile Sony clone piece of crap.

 

Full resolution here:

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-wC8ndd/

 

Lower res here (for people with slow connections):

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Cxrh2S/

[lesjac]

Three with that sterile Sony clone piece of crap.

 

Full resolution here:

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-wC8ndd/

 

Lower res here (for people with slow connections):

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Cxrh2S/

Stunning shots

[dancook]

Well no there isn't, not at £4000 at any rate. For about half that the world's your oyster though and even for a quarter you can take your pick of a lot of very good 50mm lenses that will also autofocus on the SL with the right adapter.

 

Wouldn't want to lose the water sealing for anything else, it's part of why I opted for the SL

[Chaemono]

Followed geetee1972's advice and used the cheapest 50 I own for these. They are a select few from today just for color. More to follow tomorrow. The less saturated Adobe Standard Profile works so well with this lens. 

 

Full resolution here:

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-bWQMjV/

 

Lower res here (for people with slow connections):

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Zh8Lm2/

Edited April 30, 2017 by Chaemono

[ropo54]

Your photos are stunningly alive; I feel like I am there, as a spectator!  (And the same w Dan Cook's)

 

Is that "art"? I do not know, nor do I care to define it. 

 

From my perspective the photos that I have seen from the SL 50mm are superb.

Rob

Edited May 1, 2017 by ropo54

[geetee1972]

 

Followed geetee1972's advice and used the cheapest 50 I own for these.

 

So what lens is that?

[panoreserve]

@geetee 1972: I appreciate your photographic work just as well your serious thoughts on life very much (esp. "Blood & Water"). I would guess this is far more fundamental than those "doggedly" discussions regarding a certain focal length, isn't it?

[Chaemono]

Henkel Cup Mare Turf April 2017. Complete set from yesterday now including at the walking ring, Before the Race, after the race, cool-down, and some snaps from some of the races.

 

Full resolution here:

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-XFcRCd/

 

Lower res here for people with slow connections:

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-XLLrbz/

Edited May 1, 2017 by Chaemono

[mgrayson3]

Pardon the double post. I just put this in the SL Images thread, but it's with the 50 SL @ f/1.6

 

 

 

--Matt

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[geetee1972]

@geetee 1972: I appreciate your photographic work just as well your serious thoughts on life very much (esp. "Blood & Water"). I would guess this is far more fundamental than those "doggedly" discussions regarding a certain focal length, isn't it?

You are of course right. I'm sorry that I am sometimes dogmatic about things; it's true but I appreciate your appreciation of my work. I have just updated the 'Blood & Water' project in response to your comments so thankyou for the motivation.