Used M28 Summilux serviced from Leica OR a brand new M28 summichrom close focus va same pris

[Kim Dahl]

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(Sorry, I see there is a similar thread)

Should I buy a used Leica M 28 Summilux (nice condition but not like new) serviced from Leica factory and two years warranty for €4800 OR a brand new Leica M 28 close focus for €5200. I mean some say that the Summichrom is sharper at f2 but the Summilux has a special look? It will go on an M11 sensor eventually. Has anyone tried both?

Edited May 27 by Kim Dahl
Sorry, I see there is a similar thread.

[Vanillasludge]

If money matters you probably would make out better in the long term with the used lens.  The depreciation has already been figured into the price.   
 

 

[robb]

I like both.  I’d go summicron with that close focus and the warranty.

Robb

[Kiwimac]

Depends if you think you have a use for f1.4. 
 

If you don’t, I would say you’re better off with the Summicron. Lighter and smaller. And new. 
 

I got the Lux but only because there was a mint used  copy that was actually less than the Cron would have been new. 

[Crem]

I would start by removing money from the equation. How do you plan on using the lens? Do you really want F1.4 at the cost of size/weight and viewfinder blockage? I love the 28 Lux rendering, but it's too big for me. You couldn't convince me to part ways with the Cron to carry around the Lux. That said, I could never recommend anyone buy the 28 cron if they are concerned about money or think they might end up selling it. I highly recommend you check out the Voigtlander 28 F2 Ultron and the soon to be release 28 F2 APO. Pick your preferred rendering + size/weight/blockage constraints and you'll have your answer.

Edited May 28 by Crem

[Kim Dahl]

43 minutes ago, Crem said:

I would start by removing money from the equation. How do you plan on using the lens? Do you really want F1.4 at the cost of size/weight and viewfinder blockage? I love the 28 Lux rendering, but it's too big for me. You couldn't convince me to part ways with the Cron to carry around the Lux. That said, I could never recommend anyone buy the 28 cron if they are concerned about money or think they might end up selling it. I highly recommend you check out the Voigtlander 28 F2 Ultron and the soon to be release 28 F2 APO. Pick your preferred rendering + size/weight/blockage constraints and you'll have your answer.

Have you heard that there is a 28 Cron APO coming?

I would think that would be interesting. I have a 35 APO and I am very happy with it.

It may just be a bit too close, so that's why 28.

But how likely do you think that 28 APO will come so soon?

Edited May 28 by Kim Dahl

[anickpick]

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If you want to take a lot of environmental portrait photos, choose the Summilux.

At f1.4, it offers a 3D pop effect, and an overall image rendering, that the Cron can't even come close to.

If you primarily photograph landscapes, the Lux is overkill. 

[anickpick]

vor 35 Minuten schrieb Kim Dahl:

28 APO

Voigtländer very soon / Leica I don't think anytime soon.

 

[Alexander-HH]

vor 39 Minuten schrieb Kim Dahl:

Have you heard that there is a 28 Cron APO coming?

I think Crem was referring to the upcoming Voigtlander 28 mm Apo Ultron F 2.0, not a Leica lens. 

Edited May 28 by Alexander-HH

[Crem]

50 minutes ago, Kim Dahl said:

Have you heard that there is a 28 Cron APO coming?

I would think that would be interesting. I have a 35 APO and I am very happy with it.

It may just be a bit too close, so that's why 28.

But how likely do you think that 28 APO will come so soon?

Voigtlander announced their 28 F2 APO. I have no information on if Leica is working on one. The Voigtlander I believe will be a fantastic lens if you like APO rendering. 

[justj]

28 summicron cf got my vote, because I  just sold my summilux 28 and thinking of getting a smaller 28.

[250swb]

Everything is covered by considering the extremes, do you use f/1.4, or do you have perfect technique and it would show with an APO, or do you ever use close-focus with a rangefinder camera? Everything in the middle from f/2 to f/16 nobody but nobody will be able to tell the difference what lens you've used. Then consider what you'd do with a cash saving, buy another lens to increase your arsenal or plan a trip to use your new 28mm? 

But at the moment statistically I'd put money on the Voigtlander 28mm APO blowing everything else out the water.

[Biotar]

You have the 35 Apo and will therefore never use the 28 Cron, the Lux is the better complement to your Apo. Leica new is not worth the high price - unfortunately they drop too quickly and a Lux from the service might be better adjusted than a Cron from the store.

[costa43]

My choice would be a little left field. I would go with the older Summicron. It's around half the price and the same optically, it's not as fat and I prefer the hard stop at 0.7m as my muscle memory with focusing M lenses works well this way. I rarely need it to be closer than this, my food pics are with my iphone 🙃

Edited May 28 by costa43

[Tseg]

The CF 28mm Summicron was my first M lens.   It is very good.  I like the incorporated hood, close focus and smaller size.  I did a lot of review watching before buying.  My understanding is it has technical output similar to the Summarit, but one more stop, and may have a more solid aperture ring than the Summarit. The Summilux is bigger and heavier, has more CA and is softer at the edges.   I primarily use the Summicron for street shooting, with a lot of zone focusing, so shooting wide open is not my first priority with this lens.

Now I have several lenses with Close Focus, and just yesterday ordered a 35mm APO, so it will be interesting to see how much I kick to the curb my 28mm Summicron?  For me, it has been a very functional street shooter vs. a very special portrait lens.  That is the lane I have kept it in and it excels at that.

[darylgo]

There’s nothing like a lux.  Lenses are downstream from light.  Good light and f1.4 are magic.  

Edited May 28 by darylgo

[FDS]

I have the 35 APO 'cron-M and agree that the 28 'lux complements it best in terms of 'signature'.  I do, however, find the weight and size annoying but, in testing it against various versions and examples of 28 'cron and Elmarit-ASPH, I realise that the 'lux is best for me at f2/2.8 at various distances.  Plus I get the 'look' at f1.4.  Perhaps, my example of the 'lux is particularly good or the other lenses just don't better it.  The colour 'fringing', particularly in the corners is occasionally annoying, but usually sufficiently correctable.  (The 'cron isn't free of fringing, either.) 

[fil-m]

The Lux 28 has a unique signature, not just due to the shallower depth of field (at 1.4) but also its strong contrast and moderate vignette, plus the fall off. Despite all criticisms due to the weight, the CA and so on, I really like it and would often recognise the pictures taken with it within my collection. I especially love it for portraits even though it is not the easiest thing to do with a 28mm.

It is also an excellent companion to your APO 35, it adds one extra capability (faster aperture) next to the wider field of view.

[JoshuaR]

6 hours ago, costa43 said:

My choice would be a little left field. I would go with the older Summicron. It's around half the price and the same optically, it's not as fat and I prefer the hard stop at 0.7m as my muscle memory with focusing M lenses works well this way. I rarely need it to be closer than this, my food pics are with my iphone 🙃

I agree with this view. The prices for used version 1 28mm Summicrons are shockingly low at the moment—in the U.S., they're sometimes cheaper than the 28mm Elmarit ASPH. And the v1 is a fantastic lens—after trying many 28s, it's what I chose. It renders very much like the 50 Lux ASPH. The one obvious downside, which is the clunky plastic hood, has been mitigated by Squarehood, who now sell a very tidy and elegant metal model. 

I looked closely at the 28 Lux before settling on the 28 Cron. For me, the size and weight was an issue. 28mm is an everyday focal length for me—my usual setup is 28mm on the camera, 50mm in a pocket—and the 28 Lux would've been too big.

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[Eoin]

Summilux is the only choice worth making here, both from a photographic and monetary perspective in my opinion. Had the Summicron, also a great lens, but can't draw @ f1.4.