35mm: Summilux pre-asph (11301) or Summicron asph (11673)

[Giacomo Cicalini]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I recently bought a Leica MP and would like your advice on which 35mm lens to buy: I am very undecided between the Summilux f1.4 pre-asph (cod.11301) and the Summicron f2 asph (cod.11673).

The two lenses are very similar in terms of weight, size and price; what I am wondering is:

is the Summilux better for its extra stop of brightness and better bokeh or the Summicron for its aspherical component?

Personally, I am more inclined towards the Summilux, but I wonder how much the aspherical component of the Summicron might affect the image quality when shooting on film.

A bit of context:

Favourite photography genres: street, set portraits, reportage.

B/W Film

I excluded the Summilux f1.4 asph because of its size and weight.

 

Thank you and good day to all.

 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Smudgerer]

the Summilux.........

[kraxel69]

Yes, the Summilux pre.V2 or as another suggestion the current SteelRim.

[costa43]

The steel rim reissue seems plenty sharp from f2 onward so personally would not worry about using it on film. If you are ok with the longer minimum focus of the summilux then imo it is the more interesting lens. 

[Jean-Michel]

Either lens will serve you well enough, just pick the one — I gather that both are used — that is in better condition. For the type of photography you indicate, and on film, you will most likely photograph at f/8 or so most of the time. The extra one stop of the Summilux is nice to have but if you can only open to f/2 with the Summicron, so what? Over decades of film photography I did just fine with the Summicron. With practice, you can hand-hold your M for as long as ⅛ or even ¼ second with a 35 mm lens and still get a decent print. With film and a 35 mm format camera I rarely printed over 8 by 12 inches print size. 

[dpitt]

The one stop difference is relative. Both lenses render/behave very differently. The Summilux 35 pre-ASPH is very soft wide open and then improves very much between 1.4 and 2.8, then peaks at F4 or F5.6.

If you want maximum sharpness and contrast in low light then go for the Summicron 35 ASPH. It is very good wide open, technically better than the Summilux until at least F2.8. And it is ASPH which makes them hard to compare IMO.

If you want 2 lenses in one, then the Summilux is probably the better choice.

You can see the 35 lux pre-ASPH performance from 1.4 to F5.6 here:

 

Edited May 29, 2024 by dpitt

[Jeff S]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Both are fine and capable lenses. Aside from the obvious speed difference, you won’t really understand all the differences, or your preferences, without trying them, and that includes handling, ergonomics and controls, let alone sample variation.  Surveys can’t answer that for you. That said, picking one and getting to know it is a workable strategy.
 

Jeff

 

[rustyrus]

You are shooting on Film- I would want an f 1.4 lens just for more flexibility with shutter speeds. Lens character aside- 

 

 

Edited May 29, 2024 by rustyrus

[hansvons]

On 5/28/2024 at 12:15 PM, Giacomo Cicalini said:

is the Summilux better for its extra stop of brightness and better bokeh or the Summicron for its aspherical component?

F/1.4 lenses tend to vignette more than f/2.0 lenses at full aperture. On digital bodies, that doesn't matter; on film, it does. Film cannot cope well with underexposure; on the contrary, strong vignetting will give you grainy corners with funky colour shifts at box speed. That's why an f/1.4 lens isn't as useful as many think, as you must factor in the vignetting when choosing a viable EI for the film you are shooting. I find the Summicron ASPH a brilliant lens for film because it doesn't vignette much at full aperture and is pretty sharp from the very beginning in the corners. It also flares nicely and has tons of character.

Also, the often cited "character" of a lens is less pronounced on film for various reasons. One is the lack of filters on the "sensor" (thus less susceptible to vignetting and smeary corners), and another is the film character, veiling the lens's quirks. However, the Summilux V2 will be as good as any other great Leica glass. You cannot go wrong with either lens.