version 2 or 3 - Summilux 50/1.4 pre-ASPH

[costa43]

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6 hours ago, Fred Miranda said:

Indeed, I measured its actual minimum focus distance at 0.63m, which is at the limit of rangefinder focusing. Some have mentioned that the Titanium version focuses even closer, but I haven't tested it myself.

When I first realised it focused closer than 0.7m I was worried that it would focus closer than the rangefinder's minimum operating distance, especially as I shoot film as well as digital. The fact that it works perfectly well with it is a nice bonus. The titanium focusing closer would be a hindrance for me rather than a benefit.

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[brickftl]

ok I just pulled the trigger on a version 3 on eBay, it was the only version 3 I found where the pics of the body looked like it was new and the seller's description says:

-Lens:
Beautiful condition.
There is no fog.
There is no fungus.
There is no balsam separation.
There is no scratches.
There are a few tiny dusts.
No problem in the shooting.

It wasn't cheap - I tried to get the seller down on his $2,899 price and he wouldn't budge. 

I have a 30 day period to inspect and return at seller's expense. What should I do in terms of inspection other than shining a bright light through both ends of the lens and inspecting with a magnifying glass?

Also I'll rotate the aperture dial and see what the aperture blades look like.

I'd greatly appreciate any tips on how to inspect and what to look for (especially evidence that the glue is disintegrating), thanks!

[Bart D]

3 minutes ago, brickftl said:

Beautiful condition.
There is no fog.
There is no fungus.
There is no balsam separation.
There is no scratches.
There are a few tiny dusts.
No problem in the shooting.

Strange, I've seen those lines before 😃

[lct]

25 minutes ago, brickftl said:

What should I do in terms of inspection other than shining a bright light through both ends of the lens and inspecting with a magnifying glass?

Nothing special but i would check that the aperture ring does not wobble, that clickstops are firm and positive, and that focussing is free from stiffness and looseness with no play in the focus ring’s motion.

[evikne]

Congrats on your new lens! Go out and have fun with it and take lots of pictures. Notice how it feels in use. Then go home and study the images on the screen. If you're happy with all this, you're probably fine.

[costa43]

Torch test, wiggle the barrel, aperture check and focus smoothness check. Make a coffee, go and shoot 📸

[brickftl]

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all good advice! 

Do any of you also have the cron 50/2 rigid?

I have it, love it (did these family shots with it: https://brick.smugmug.com/People/2025-3-18-Mogells), but think I'll probably be using the 50/1.4 pre-asph more often.

 

[lct]

49 minutes ago, brickftl said:

all good advice! 

Do any of you also have the cron 50/2 rigid?

I have it, love it (did these family shots with it: https://brick.smugmug.com/People/2025-3-18-Mogells), but think I'll probably be using the 50/1.4 pre-asph more often.

Nice pics 🙂 Hard to beat the Summicron 50/2 rigid. It is sharper, has less distortion and less color fringing but it flares more than the Summilux and the latter has f/1.4. If you like your shots with the rigid, i would not let it go. I have the DR version and feel hard to unstick it from the M11. Subjective matter as usual.

[brickftl]

3 minutes ago, lct said:

Nice pics 🙂 Hard to beat the Summicron 50/2 rigid. It is sharper, has less distortion and less color fringing but it flares more than the Summilux and the latter has f/1.4. If you like your shots with the rigid, i would not let it go. I have the DR version and feel hard to unstick it from the M11. Subjective matter as usual.

thanks, I'm definitely keeping the rigid - I got a great copy for little dollars. I'll probably continue using it with my M11M and use the lux pre-asph for color. But who knows I may change that up.