EGD Posted December 13, 2023 Share #1 Posted December 13, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) Right off the bat before anyone reminds me, I have too many funds and not enough sense. I know this, and when I forget my wife reminds me. Anyway, I have the M11 with the Summilux 35mm f1.4 and love it, however I kept looking at the Summicron APO 35mm m f2 and my compulsion got the best of me so I ordered planing on selling/returning one. I took a bunch of photos with both lenses and I can't get the APO to be sharper than the Summilux, not even close. I have all the reviews about how great the APO is, but I am missing something as I am not getting better or even good photos in my opinion. Are there different settings used for APO? I will open myself up to ridicule from the masses if there is a solution to be had. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 13, 2023 Posted December 13, 2023 Hi EGD, Take a look here Struggling with APO M 35mm f2. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted December 13, 2023 Share #2 Posted December 13, 2023 First show us some comparison shots. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted December 13, 2023 Share #3 Posted December 13, 2023 1 hour ago, EGD said: Are there different settings used for APO? No. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 13, 2023 Share #4 Posted December 13, 2023 At this level sharpness [whatever that may be, I’ve never seen it caught in numbers or a graph] not an issue at all with either lens. The most you should see is a difference in contrast, micro contrast, bokeh, colour transitions etc. In short: rendering. If you are pixel peeping at 100% or more, don’t forget that at this MP count you are looking at a completely crazy magnification. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGD Posted December 13, 2023 Author Share #5 Posted December 13, 2023 Thanks for quick replies. I will take same shots in the morning with both lenses and post for comment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotium Posted December 13, 2023 Share #6 Posted December 13, 2023 1 hour ago, EGD said: Right off the bat before anyone reminds me, I have too many funds and not enough sense. I know this, and when I forget my wife reminds me. Anyway, I have the M11 with the Summilux 35mm f1.4 and love it, however I kept looking at the Summicron APO 35mm m f2 and my compulsion got the best of me so I ordered planing on selling/returning one. I took a bunch of photos with both lenses and I can't get the APO to be sharper than the Summilux, not even close. I have all the reviews about how great the APO is, but I am missing something as I am not getting better or even good photos in my opinion. Are there different settings used for APO? I will open myself up to ridicule from the masses if there is a solution to be had. To my untrained and unprofessional eye the f/2 APO is definitely and significantly sharper than the ‘lux. Something must be awry. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktsa5239 Posted December 13, 2023 Share #7 Posted December 13, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) To be honest, I did the same comparison and couldn’t tell the difference either. So I went with the 35lux for an extra stop of light and some savings for a nice dinner. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGD Posted December 13, 2023 Author Share #8 Posted December 13, 2023 Image 146 is with Summilux Leica M 35mm F1.4 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! Image 152 is with Leica APO Summicron f2.0 If you zoom in on the clock, the clarity of the words and also edges of the wood show the biggest difference Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Image 152 is with Leica APO Summicron f2.0 If you zoom in on the clock, the clarity of the words and also edges of the wood show the biggest difference ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/385825-struggling-with-apo-m-35mm-f2/?do=findComment&comment=4940528'>More sharing options...
EGD Posted December 13, 2023 Author Share #9 Posted December 13, 2023 Summilux 35mm M f1.4 is top picture APO Summicron 35mm M f2.0 is bottom picture Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFW2-SCUSA Posted December 13, 2023 Share #10 Posted December 13, 2023 It looks to me like the APO is sharper on the coasters and straws but not on the clock. Would that suggest its focus is a bit off? The coasters and straws on the Lux do not look as sharp but the clock it sharp. Is your APO front focusing a little? Or in the ten minutes between the shots you had a few shots and your focus was a but off? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGD Posted December 13, 2023 Author Share #11 Posted December 13, 2023 I can see why you mean on the coasters and will take more pics from outside in morning. No shots yet tonight, though that would explain a lot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted December 13, 2023 Share #12 Posted December 13, 2023 in case you didn't, use a tripod for this comparison test, and live-view or EVF for focus check 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotium Posted December 13, 2023 Share #13 Posted December 13, 2023 something definitely not right there, agree with the coaster sharpness issue, possible focus calibration problem Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaticB Posted December 13, 2023 Share #14 Posted December 13, 2023 It could really be the focus calibration problem, or, focus calibration of your eye! 35 APO is very, very sharp in the focus and even slight move from thack sharp focus could be identifiable. I wear glasses and sometimes have problem with sharpening with viewfinder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Black Posted December 13, 2023 Share #15 Posted December 13, 2023 These look they were shot handheld. If testing for sharpness, take "you" out of the question. Set up the M on a tripod. Make sure it's square with the test subject. Decide on item to focus - something specific, something easy to focus on. Put the camera in electronic shutter mode (taking any vibrations out from the mechanical shutter out of the equation). Set the timer to seconds. Focus lens A via the EVF. Snap the shot. Swap lenses, focus lens B via EVF, and so on. Best to compare like for like apertures. It's all pain to do, but if wanting to put sharpness concerns to rest, details matter. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGD Posted December 13, 2023 Author Share #16 Posted December 13, 2023 2 minutes ago, John Black said: These look they were shot handheld. If testing for sharpness, take "you" out of the question. Set up the M on a tripod. Make sure it's square with the test subject. Decide on item to focus - something specific, something easy to focus on. Put the camera in electronic shutter mode (taking any vibrations out from the mechanical shutter out of the equation). Set the timer to seconds. Focus lens A via the EVF. Snap the shot. Swap lenses, focus lens B via EVF, and so on. Best to compare like for like apertures. It's all pain to do, but if wanting to put sharpness concerns to rest, details matter. Thanks for advice, I will do all above and compare Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Blanko Posted December 13, 2023 Share #17 Posted December 13, 2023 None of the photos looks sharp and perfectly focused. The sharpness achieved with my 35 APO is significantly better. As others said: try using live view to exclude rangefinder misalignment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpitt Posted December 13, 2023 Share #18 Posted December 13, 2023 +1 for the focus issue. Look at the bottles in top right. They are definitely out of focus on the APO shot. Use tripod and LV + magnification to verify focus to be sure. Do not rely on focus peaking. That is too inaccurate for this purpose. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskyvibes Posted December 13, 2023 Share #19 Posted December 13, 2023 One is focused on the clock and the other one isn’t. Also there’s a difference in depth of field. Are they both wide open? At f1.4 the clock is in focus but the coasters aren’t. At f2 (I guess it’s f2) the clock isn’t in focus but the coasters are more in focus. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakontil Posted December 13, 2023 Share #20 Posted December 13, 2023 The bricks dont seem to focus on apo, i used to have both, they should at least have the same sharpness cant think of any to be sharper anymore 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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