Leica Summicron-SL 35 f/2 ASPH VS NON APO for SL3

[tomasis7]

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true! I dont want APO SL because of weight but I say yes to M-lens APO though. 

[Dr. G]

1 hour ago, Luke_Miller said:

Demonstrating once again that it is how the lens performs in one's hands, rather than on test charts. 

Maybe I should get rid of all my Leica gear, then, and just get the X100vi  

[tomasis7]

one body and one lens is the best way to go 

[Dr. G]

23 minutes ago, tomasis7 said:

one body and one lens is the best way to go 

In my case that would be the SL3 and 50mm Summilux-SL.  Not exactly a small, compact solution.  

[tomasis7]

1 minute ago, Dr. G said:

In my case that would be the SL3 and 50mm Summilux-SL.  Not exactly a small, compact solution.  

it is an amazing combo. You get forearm muscles in no time  

[Planetwide]

The SL35mm APO, is a reference lens in the Leica system. Even the M version, while also exceptional,  is considered slightly inferior. After the SL APO version the M would be my next choice at F2.0 Personally, I went with a M Summilux as an addition to my SL35mm APO. this image from the SL version:

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[Chaemono]

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Reid Reviews has an excellent review of the 35 Summicron-SL ASPH.

[Photoworks]

22 hours ago, Chaemono said:

Reid Reviews has an excellent review of the 35 Summicron-SL ASPH.

why are you pimping Reid all the time? Is he the ultimate word on it?

[SrMi]

33 minutes ago, Photoworks said:

why are you pimping Reid all the time? Is he the ultimate word on it?

While not ultimate, Reid Reviews is highly recommended and well worth the subscription.

[Chaemono]

vor 43 Minuten schrieb Photoworks:

why are you pimping Reid all the time? Is he the ultimate word on it?

I like his methodical approach even if I don‘t always agree with his conclusions 100 percent.  

[Yarosuav]

While this video compares the 50s (not the 35mm OP is asking about), it's pretty relevant. In term of image quality the APOs are tough to beat, but AF is faster on the non-app summicrons. The 35mm apo-summicron is apparently even better in terms of image quality than the 50mm apo, so the difference vs the non-apo 35mm is likely to be even more pronounced...

 

 

 

[Chaemono]

One thing people overlook with the APO vs. non-APO Summicron SL lenses is that the APOs are also better “zoom lenses” because one can crop a lot more than with the Summicron ASPH wide open and probably up to f/4. Well worth the additional weight IMO. 

[Photoworks]

34 minutes ago, Chaemono said:

One thing people overlook with the APO vs. non-APO Summicron SL lenses is that the APOs are also better “zoom lenses” because one can crop a lot more than with the Summicron ASPH wide open and probably up to f/4. Well worth the additional weight IMO. 

The lens choice does not limit cropping!

[Chaemono]

vor 44 Minuten schrieb Photoworks:

The lens choice does not limit cropping!

In the video in post #31 at 18:35 one can crop the face of Alex Barrera‘s wife with the APO Summicron and still get a very sharp image, while the face with the ASPH lens is visibly less sharp. One could even crop just the eye with the APO lens and it would still be sharp. So lots more crop zooming with the APO lens. 

[Photoworks]

8 minutes ago, Chaemono said:

In the video in post #31 at 18:35 one can crop the face of Alex Barrera‘s wife with the APO Summicron and still get a very sharp image, while the face with the ASPH lens is visibly less sharp. One could even crop just the eye with the APO lens and it would still be sharp. So lots more crop zooming with the APO lens. 

I subscribe more to the notion of choosing the right lens for the job.

You pick a lens for the look and characteristics. to many photographers just want sharp, sharp, sharp, and missing the overall feeling of the image. The resolution is the same.

I stopped using the APO lenses on many shoots and picked alternatives, in many situations, the APO lenses bring out too much skin texture that would need to be retouched. Just like in the video, it is brutal. Retouching a few images can be done, but can take away to shock effect of the subject looking at all their defects, being distracted from it and not seeing the full image.
I tested diffusion filters on the APO, but ran into problems with AF and flare.

[Dr. G]

1 hour ago, Photoworks said:

The lens choice does not limit cropping!

Even on the SL2-S, the APO lenses produce images that look like they were made with much higher resolution cameras.  I'm not saying cropping should be a substitute for a longer lens, but I have done heavy crops on my SL2-S files taken with APO lenses and still have very usable images.

[Chaemono]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb Photoworks:

I subscribe more to the notion of choosing the right lens for the job.

You pick a lens for the look and characteristics. to many photographers just want sharp, sharp, sharp, and missing the overall feeling of the image. The resolution is the same.

I stopped using the APO lenses on many shoots and picked alternatives, in many situations, the APO lenses bring out too much skin texture that would need to be retouched. Just like in the video, it is brutal. Retouching a few images can be done, but can take away to shock effect of the subject looking at all their defects, being distracted from it and not seeing the full image.
I tested diffusion filters on the APO, but ran into problems with AF and flare.

I see where you are coming from. Absolutely, the Summicron ASPH is probably the better portraits lens for skins texture.

I was thinking as a walk around lens on the SL3. I‘ve noticed many users here talk about how great the zooms are (24-70, 24-90) or how light the Summicron ASPH lenses are to take on a trip/as walk around lenses. No one is thinking, the APO 35 Summicron-SL gives me a 185 mm focal length if I crop down to 12 MP. So the weight-to-reach ratio of the APO lenses is unbeatable IMO. 

Edited April 29, 2024 by Chaemono

[Chaemono]

Here is an example of why the APO 35 Summicron-SL might be the only lens one needs when walking around with the SL3. This is on 47 MP (SL2) wide open, mind you, ISO 100 @1/15 sec.

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[Simone_DF]

4 hours ago, Photoworks said:

I tested diffusion filters on the APO, but ran into problems with AF and flare.

Interesting. I have diffusion filters on my APO’s basically 80% of the time and I have never noticed any AF issue.

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[Photoworks]

5 minutes ago, Simone_DF said:

Interesting. I have diffusion filters on my APO’s basically 80% of the time and I have never noticed any AF issue.

Are you using Cinebloom?