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Dear all,

One of the things I have observed about the 50mm APO-Summicron was that it has a remarkable clarity of colour.  This is hard to describe in words (I've tried below) and actually hard to see in photographs, unless certain circumstances apply.  It also only makes any sense when comparing this lens to the first version of the 50mm Summilux-ASPH (which I was doing, using my lovely BC edition).  I am away from my photos, so I cannot post examples, but given the limited colour fidelity of internet browsers and the variability of screens, I don't know how much good that would have done. 

What I would like to ask is whether anyone has seen a similar difference with the new close-focusing version of the 50mm Summilux ASPH, when compared to the older version?  I believe that the  lens coatings have been updated and, of course, the glass types are updated also.  

So here's how I would describe the differences.  The Summilux 50mm has a slightly warmer tone, which is visible only (well, only to me) in shades of white and pale yellow.  The most noticeable example was of a grubby white-washed garage wall, which was noticeably yellow-grey with the Summilux and white-grey with the APO-Summicron.  In photographing white petals, often where there is an orange or yellow centre to the flower, I've noticed that the white is whiter with the APO and retains details within that part of the spectrum, whereas the Summilux adds just a touch of cream or milk, which slightly changes the amount of detail.  Last example, I have spaniels and their white hair is really hard to photograph, because the contrast with the liver or black is pretty high (I once measured it as 12 stops diff) and the fur actually includes sliver and transparent strands which reflect light.  In a few shots, I can notice a remarkable level of clarity to the colour distinction in the white on the 50mm APO shots, where the 50mm Summilux (same light, same head position of dogs etc.) just shades that area as if there is a little less clarity.  It is as if the Summilux as put a tiny drop of yellow tincture in a large vat of crystal clear water.

* * * 

Anyway, so much for trying to describe this.  Anyone seen any difference in the colour reproduction for the new Summilux-ASPH, compared with the old?

Thanks

Chazphoto

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I can't say anything more about the “ older ” Summilux as I sold it years ago. Basically, I find the image impression of the Apo50M and 50LUXCF different. 
BUT, the comparison is very difficult, if at all possible with simple means: camera, sensor, light, scene have an enormous influence on the color reproduction. 

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Hi and thanks to you both.

Agree that this is difficult and too many variables to make a truly firm diagnosis, but I'm fairly sure I've seen the difference I describe often enough.  I can't say that I have noticed it in scenes with colours other than these particular shades of white & pale yellow, by the way.  (ie. grass looks like grass!)

Al Brown: raw and usually daylight colour setting, not AWB.  The difference is visible in Windows viewer and CaptureOne Pro (haven't checked in the copy of Lightroom that I have) without any adjustment.  I guess that I could try to colour-"correct" the Summilux images, although I doubt anyone, myself included, would consider them "wrong" if there wasn't an comparison image shot with the 50mm APO-Summicron.  I'm also not keen to spend the time on that kind of adjustment - which may be well beyond my capabilities anyway!

Cheers

Chazphoto

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