Request help in choosing the right Summilux-M 35/1.4 model

[Shepherdphotographer]

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Hi everyone, I need to buy a Summilux-M 35/1.4. I love the performance of the Summilux-R, which is the older Leica lenses, older in date and, consequently, also in color rendition. Since I have many Leica R lenses in my kit, including the Summilux-R 50/1.4 and Summilux-R 80/1.4, which I love very much for their performance, I'm very much in love with them. It would be reasonable for me to think about and look for a Summilux-R 35/1.4, but I opted for a Summilux-M (and not R) 35/1.4, because it costs on average half (at least the older models) and is much lighter (I would shoot mainly in low-light conditions, environmental portraits). At this point, I'd be leaning toward the older model, the 11870, since, if I'm not mistaken (correct me if I'm not!!!!), I understand that they were also designed by Mandler, the same man who designed the Leica R lenses, whose performance I adore. My budget is limited: I found two examples belonging to two different models: one belongs to the first model, the 11870, as you can see from the photo, since the shop that published the photo also included the relative box alongside; I don't know which model the second belongs to: I attach four photos below: the first two are of the first model (11870), the other two of the second specimen, of which I do not know the model it belongs to and the differences compared to the first one.

 

 

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[trisberg]

The last one is a Summilux-M 35mm ASPH (11874), introduced 1994 and also called "35mm ASPH Pre-FLE" since there are newer models with FLE for better close up performance.

[Riccardo.asselta]

Il secondo modello è la seconda versione Asph e dovrebbe  essere il modello 11874 del 1994 che a differenza dei pre asph hanno una messa a fuoco minima di 0,7 mt rispetto a  1 mt delle versioni precedenti.

Edited 15 hours ago by Riccardo.asselta

[Shepherdphotographer]

Searching the forum, I understand that the 11874 version is more correct for chromatic aberration, greater sharpness from f/2, shorter focusing distance, greater saturation and contrast: all correct?

[FrozenInTime]

The 11874 aka pre-FLE has a modern sharp and high contrast rendering; it set the benchmark for the current ASPH lens that is sold to this day; as the optical formula has barely changed you will be hard pressed to tell it apart from the FLE2 CF. FLE improved focus shift which is less of a real world problem than it is made out to be. It is very useable at f/1.4.

The pre-ASPH Summiluxes show lower contrast, softness and corner coma. However they are very small and much loved. See the long running thread https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/288041-35mm-14-summilux-pre-asph/. 

Stopped down both lenses look fantastic. 

 

[lct]

6 hours ago, Shepherdphotographer said:

[...] I understand that the 11874 version is more correct for chromatic aberration, greater sharpness from f/2, shorter focusing distance, greater saturation and contrast: all correct?

All correct but CA, as i can hardly see significant differences re color fringing. Overall, the 11874 has more contrast, less glow and less coma but more distortion than the 11870. IQ wise, the 11874 is sharper than the 11870 but it is less clinical than later FLE lenses, at least my FLE v1 (11663). It is a subjective matter though so you may feel differently.