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

[steve_lee]

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No further comment from me required.

[Chaemono]

Thanks for your replies. I visited Flickr and found only 16 photos in total. It is clear there are not many users of this massive lens. That suggests it's not so good or not very user friendly. I'm going to pass on it and save £4K.

What killed the enthusiasm for this lens was the first review by some guy who had gotten his hands on an early copy of it. He tore it to shreds and advised everyone here not to get one as it was about £1K too expensive in his opinion. Since then demand for this lens has dropped precipitously.

Edited May 22, 2017 by Chaemono

[tom0511]

What killed the enthusiasm for this lens was the first review by some guy who had gotten his hands on an early copy of it. He tore it to shreds and advised everyone here not to get one as it was about £1K too expensive in his opinion. Since then demand for this lens has dropped precipitously.

 

speculation

the lens is excellent, not the fastest AF, high price and only slow numbers available. I dont think just one guys comments would influence general demand.

[LocalHero1953]

Anyone who relies entirely on online reviews and images for their camera and lens purchases, and not on their own hands on experience should certainly leave their wallets in their pockets.

[Chaemono]

speculation

the lens is excellent, not the fastest AF, high price and only slow numbers available. I dont think just one guys comments would influence general demand.

He did show some purple fringing, though.

Edited May 22, 2017 by Chaemono

[steppenw0lf]

First I had no intention to buy this lens, as I already own several 50s and a macro lens would have been much more useful for my typical topics. Also I am not so fond of f 1.4 lenses, often quality of the widest aperture is not so great. And I found the Otus lenses a bit of a hassle (size) and not worth the money (for me a humbler lens is usually good enough).

So if there had been a Summicron SL 50 I would have preferred that, and even more a macro (60 or 100).

 

But when I finally got an offer for this lens (I was on a waiting list for several months) I could not resist, after all it is only my second native lens. After the first few shots it was already clear that quality is on a level with the SL 90-280 - for me the highlight of the SL.

 

So the report of jupitersnake did not keep me from buying it. And strange enough my results look completely different than his publishings. My explanation ? No idea. AFAIK he also bought this lens, despite his "negative"/critical report, simply because there is no alternative .....   

I still think a macro lens would have been wiser, but I do not regret the purchase at all. Though I sometimes regret that I am not more sporty (in the biceps). Maybe I even have to be grateful for the bad report, because this way I got the lens earlier (if others higher on the list had possibly rejected it).

 

I think only Leica knows if this lens is a success - if it sells well enough. Seeing three on ebay made me wonder, but also seeing so many complaints about not getting one seems to weigh this off. I am just glad that technically it is definitely a success - no need for corrections as in the Apo50.

 

 

In the end I am still using my older macros - AF is no must. And maybe I will try to get a decent close-up lens to turn the SL 50 into a cheap macro.  

Edited May 22, 2017 by steppenw0lf

[Ingo]

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I own this lens and I'm 100% happy with it. 

[thighslapper]

.

 

 

In the end I am still using my older macros - AF is no must. And maybe I will try to get a decent close-up lens to turn the SL 50 into a cheap macro.  

 

Get a Marumi or similar achromat........ I think you will be surprised at the image quality ..... and you can use it on the 24-90 as well where it works exceptionally well. 

 

You can carry it around in a pocket and you have a macro option you can use in seconds. No aperture penalty and AF works fine. 

[scott kirkpatrick]

There was much about jupitersnake's article and the trolling with which he led up to it that made pay very little attention to his results. Later owners are happier and show nicer results.  But I don't need that lens.  And I suspect that I won't be terribly tempted by the longer SL Summiluxes, as I have nice manual lenses already.  But the 16-35.......  Will it have OIS?  That would make it also great for video, which has a magnifying factor and needs stability.

 

scott

Edited May 23, 2017 by scott kirkpatrick

[Chaemono]

No issue with the way the suspense was built up here leading to the publishing of the Jupitersnake's review as the author somehow had a copy of a new $5K lens months before anyone else got a chance to try it. The conclusions in the article were purely subjective and the test shots were done in such a crude way that they failed to capture the qualities of this lens. No big issue with this either. What is sometimes a bit annoying, though, but also very entertaining is how some people here try to impose their view in an arrogant and pompous way on others.

Edited May 24, 2017 by Chaemono

[Guest VVJ]

Leica did create very high expectations by calling this lens THE reference lens and perhaps this is backfiring now to a certain extent.

 

Compared to the two zooms reactions have been relatively lukewarm.

 

It sounds like for a lot of people there are simply too many compromises to buy it: expensive, heavy, slower AF and relatively long focus distance.

 

Add to that the fact that few people have the lens and few pictures get out.

 

Some people have mentioned Jono and the fact that he did not test drive the lens.  I do believe that could have been an important element in getting more momentum going for this lens.  

 

The effect of Jupitersnake's review should IMHO be minimized. 

Edited May 24, 2017 by JorisV

[IkarusJohn]

I'm not sure if I agree with this.

 

If I wanted a "reference lens" for my SL, then I have no doubt I would buy it - the apparent criticisms aside (size, weight and AF).  Why? Well, if I wanted a reference lens, it would be for that vital abut expensive marginal improvement in image quality the lens has over the 24-90 zoom or my M 50s (Summitar, Summilux & Noctilux).

 

The only issue (for me) with such a lens is image quality, and it certainly seems to have that.  Similar lenses (the manual focus Otus 55) is similarly large and heavy (compared to the 50 Summilux ASPH).

 

I don't need it, but I'm glad Leica made it.

 

John

[Chaemono]

I'd like to share my view on what I appreciate most about the SL50. 

 

First of all, both posters above are right with what they are saying. The fact is, Leica already has some excellent 50mm M lenses (and R lenses for that matter) that can be used with the SL, so why bother with the SL50 just for the bit of extra contrast and the super sharp, 3D look this creates? For many people this litte bit of better IQ is not worth the price and weight of this lens. It's a personal, subjective choice, and there is no arguing against it.

 

Me, personally, I absolutely adore the look the SL50 and also the 90-280 create. But what I like most about this lens is the AF. It allows me to acquire focus of a moving subject first, track it and recompose and then take the shot. Below are five examples of what I mean. The first two are with the SL50 and in the first one, unfortunately, the feet of the lady got cut off because I was standing too close in a crowd and 50mm were too tight in this situation. But I could get down enough to include the horse's hooves while keeping the shutter half pressed to have the head and eyes stay in focus. The last three are with the 90-280 but the principle works just the same with the SL50. These are all moving subjects. Focus was acquired first, they were tracked by keeping the shutter half pressed, and then the shots were taken. I love how this works with the SL.

 

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Edited May 25, 2017 by Chaemono

[sultanqtr]

[/url]mercedes benz by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr">http://mercedes benz by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr

 

[/url]

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

>mercedes benz by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr">http://mercedes benz by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr

Edited May 26, 2017 by sultanqtr

[ropo54]

[/url]mercedes benz by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr">http://mercedes benz by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr

 

[/url]mercedes benz by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr">http://mercedes benz by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr

 

 

Some fantastic photos in your gallery! 

Thank you for sharing.

Rob

[sultanqtr]

Some fantastic photos in your gallery! 

Thank you for sharing.

Rob

 Thanks sir,

 

[/url]chevy by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr">http://chevy by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr

[antigallican]

I'd like to share my view on what I appreciate most about the SL50. 

 

First of all, both posters above are right with what they are saying. The fact is, Leica already has some excellent 50mm M lenses (and R lenses for that matter) that can be used with the SL, so why bother with the SL50 just for the bit of extra contrast and the super sharp, 3D look this creates? For many people this litte bit of better IQ is not worth the price and weight of this lens. It's a personal, subjective choice, and there is no arguing against it.

 

Me, personally, I absolutely adore the look the SL50 and also the 90-280 create. But what I like most about this lens is the AF. It allows me to acquire focus of a moving subject first, track it and recompose and then take the shot. Below are five examples of what I mean. The first two are with the SL50 and in the first one, unfortunately, the feet of the lady got cut off because I was standing too close in a crowd and 50mm were too tight in this situation. But I could get down enough to include the horse's hooves while keeping the shutter half pressed to have the head and eyes stay in focus. The last three are with the 90-280 but the principle works just the same with the SL50. These are all moving subjects. Focus was acquired first, they were tracked by keeping the shutter half pressed, and then the shots were taken. I love how this works with the SL.

 

At the walking ring # 1.jpg

 

Cool-down # 9.jpg

 

BMW Cup Duess. May 2017 # 9.jpg

 

BMW Cup Duess. May 2017 # 11.jpg

 

BMW Cup Duess. May 2017 # 12.jpg

 

 Thanks sir,

 

[/url]chevy by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr">http://chevy by Sultan AL-Assiri, on Flickr

There is a kind of smoothness to the way the SL's sensor responds to metal - very difficult to define but it's in this chrome bumper and the Mercedes pics above. I say the sensor because I have seen the same thing in shots of mine but I don't own any SL specific lenses - just M lenses and an adapter.

[dancook]

Few photos from the pub this afternoon

 

L1510943 by dancook1982, on Flickr

 

L1510950 by dancook1982, on Flickr

 

L1510957 by dancook1982, on Flickr

[Vogelweide]

I am totally in love :-)
This lens "pops"... and the details fully open - wuahhhh. I hope the 75/90 will be equal. 

 

Leica SL⎢SUMMILUX-SL 1:1.4/50 ASPH⎢f/1.4⎢ISO 50⎢1/1000 sec.
The second Picture is a 100% crop :-)

 

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Edited May 29, 2017 by Vogelweide

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Hallo,

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[Alistairm]

I've had an SL50 for about a week now and it hasn't come off the camera yet. As I already had a 0.95 Noctilux and a 50 APO I was very much torn about getting another 50mm. I'm glad I did. All of a sudden the APO images look a bit brash and overly contrasty... the SL50 just renders so beautifully while still delivering razor sharp detail.

 

It doesn't have that dreamy look of the Noctilux wide open. It is massive compared to the APO. But in terms of overall rendering and performance, I like it the best of the three. If I could only keep one I would be hard pressed to decide as I still shoot my M bodies more than the SL, but there is no doubt that after spending some good time with the SL50 you feel like your other lenses are a step down!

 

The Noctilux is unique and remains so. I think the APO still has its place for me as the size/performance ratio with an M body is stellar and I love how it renders on the MM (more so than on the M10), but in situations where size doesn't matter the SL with the SL50 is plainly the pick of the litter.