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An additional 'paintbrush' to take its place in the jar for when its subtle nuance is required.  Another treasured 'gift'.  We Leica M users are truly are blessed with manifold choices that each offer their own character.

A cracking review @jonoslack that neatly explains how the classic look is melded and enhanced by modern materials and processes so thank you.

My beloved 50/1.4 Summilux pre-asph version III is nervously pacing backwards and forwards as it contemplates what its future might be ...

Pete

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vor 3 Minuten schrieb Al Brown:

I do wonder though why this lens was revamped... it is not nearly as "rare" as the others (Thambar, Steel Rim, 50/1.2)... It was produced in more than 60.000 copies.

Leica probably thought that there was a market for this lens.

Well, that could work out, at least I have already become weak...

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Very interesting. Leica's sites now have the full technical .pdf posted for download. Lacks DoF charts (so far), but since those, for me, have always been so much wastepaper and unnecessary dead trees, no loss there.

pm-119365-EN_Datenblatt-Summilux-M-50---Classic.pdf

Pluses: fair improvement in IQ over the predecessor non-ASPH; focusing to 0.7m and no stupid focusing tab (the main reasons I currently use a 50 Summicron v.III); a reasonable price (for Leica); factory 6-bit coding (about a $500 freebie, given the retrofitted coding (v.III only) + wait time usually costs that much, once Leica has fixed everything else they find).

Minuses: not available (yet) in black - preferably anodized aluminum (to shrink the weight to 400g or less)

If/when Leica rectifies that, I expect this may be the first new Leica lens I have purchased since - well - ever😁

Edited by adan
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Looks lovely, and as Pete says above, we’re blessed to have these choices.

I do like the classic styling - I have the black chrome 50 APO Summicron and the 28 Summaron-M and enjoy the difference from the modern design of the 50 Summilux-M ASPH.  But, having a 50 Summitar LTM (9 blade) from 1948, a silver chrome 50 Summilux ASPH, 0.95 Noctilux and the 50 APO black chrome, the last thing I need is another 50!  What I have also covers a nice range of character.

The great thing about these lenses is you either use a 50 or a 35 most of the time - adding classic designs is a nice touch by Leica.

Edited by IkarusJohn
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I love the look of this new edition (I'm jealous of that focus ring), but I'm afraid it still can't make up for the fact that it's a good deal bigger and heavier than my v3.

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39 minutes ago, evikne said:

I love the look of this new edition (I'm jealous of that focus ring), but I'm afraid it still can't make up for the fact that it's a good deal bigger and heavier than my v3.

I feel exactly the same. It looks beautiful and is a lovely release but as a heavy user, I prefer the 275g rather small v3 I own for everyday use. 

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1 hour ago, adan said:

Very interesting. Leica's sites now have the full technical .pdf posted for download. Lacks DoF charts (so far), but since those, for me, have always been so much wastepaper and unnecessary dead trees, no loss there.

pm-119365-EN_Datenblatt-Summilux-M-50---Classic.pdf 286.37 kB · 10 downloads

Pluses: fair improvement in IQ over the predecessor non-ASPH; focusing to 0.7m and no stupid focusing tab (the main reasons I currently use a 50 Summicron v.III); a reasonable price (for Leica); factory 6-bit coding (about a $500 freebie, given the retrofitted coding (v.III only) + wait time usually costs that much, once Leica has fixed everything else they find).

Minuses: not available (yet) in black - preferably anodized aluminum (to shrink the weight to 400g or less)

If/when Leica rectifies that, I expect this may be the first new Leica lens I have purchased since - well - ever😁

I agree, would love to see this in black anodized aluminum. Hopefully they will not do the same thing they with the SR reissue and only make a few for the collectors. 

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2 hours ago, evikne said:

I love the look of this new edition (I'm jealous of that focus ring), but I'm afraid it still can't make up for the fact that it's a good deal bigger and heavier than my v3.

I’m also pretty sure that the lens this is inspired on does not weight 380g as per the review; I used to have both V1 and V2 (chrome) and both were around 300g, with the v1 being about 10g heavier and slightly longer than the v2. 

I can’t quite understand why Leica would make this lens as big as a Noctilux and heavier than the f1.2. Dealbreaker for me (+ you can find the original chrome version for a cheaper price than this). 

But the review & pictures are lovely as always Jono, thank you.

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2 hours ago, shirubadanieru said:

I’m also pretty sure that the lens this is inspired on does not weight 380g as per the review

325g according to the Leitz catalog:

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Edited by lct
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vor 3 Stunden schrieb Vanillasludge:

one of  highest performing non-asph high speed 50’s

This corresponds to my experience. even if I have not made any direct comparisons, it can almost keep up with the current Summilux ASPH at a slightly closed aperture. 

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7 hours ago, Vanillasludge said:

Based on the mtf charts this has to be one of  highest performing non-asph high speed 50’s ever made.  That’s a pretty tremendous increase in performance vs the original, with much better outer zones. 

For a distant landscape at f5.6, and maybe Jono can chime in, does the new lens achieve full sharpness at the edges?  I recall Jono’s report re the reissued 50mm Noctilux 1.2 saying the corners never really got there even when stopped down, so curious if the reissue Summilux does?

Edited by Jon Warwick
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18 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Great review. This new lens might shake up the second hand market a bit, which is nice, so the question is: new or original?

I guess both will be a great fit on my m8…

Hi There Olaf

. . . . My impression is that whilst the original is interesting, unlike the lovely steel rim, it wasn't a terribly good lens. I think the only reason for not getting the new one is if you object to the weight - in which case an black aluminium version 3 might be the answer.

All the best

Jono

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