Summilux 50 ASPH

[arthury]

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I don't know about you but I am beginning to see things ... good things, of course.

On the M8 and in dim locations, the images from this lens seems to remind me of how my Noctilux can pick up subtle color nuances. In addition, it is a lot sharper than the Noct at f/1.4. Well done, Leica!

 

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[Guest WPalank]

Without a doubt my favorite lens in my M arsenal.

[Eoin]

I'd venture to say it's far better (FOR ME) than the Noctilux ever was. Nice tones, better bokeh aperture for aperture and no focus shift as you stop it down. Absolutely my favorite lens (at the moment).

[Ecar]

Love this lens too.

I was wondering how it compares to the Lux 35, wich I don't own, in terms of rendering, sharpness, bokeh, etc.

[wlaidlaw]

Love this lens too.

I was wondering how it compares to the Lux 35, wich I don't own, in terms of rendering, sharpness, bokeh, etc.

 

I have both 35 and 50 ASPH chrome Luxes. I find the 50 is a bit crisper wide open than the 35 but I prefer the colour rendition of the 35. The colours of the 50 seem slightly on the cool side to me. You can of course warm the image up in PS. They are both fabulous lenses. I think the 35 Lux is much improved by using the sturdier 28 Summicron shade.

 

Wilson

[fotografr]

There are a slew of fabulous Leica M lenses, but I'd have to agree with you that this is one of the best.

[xjr]

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Arguably, this and the 75mm f2 ,the finest optics ever designed and built. I am the proud of both.

[Hacker]

Love this lens too.

I was wondering how it compares to the Lux 35, wich I don't own, in terms of rendering, sharpness, bokeh, etc.

 

While the 35 Lux ASPH is a good lens, the 50 Lux ASPH is the zenith of lens design. I trust my 50mm more than any other lens: focuses spot on, not too big, contrasty, smooth rendering of OOF, sharp, etc.

[Tony C.]

I certainly don't dispute that the 50mm 'lux is a superb lens, and I agree that as an all-around lens, it is clearly superior to the Noctilux. However, I don't believe that any lens can reproduce the bokeh of a wide-open Noctilux. In fact, I'd say that Aurthur's example provides a clear contrast to the Noctilux. The three closest light sources above the lovely girl's head are sharper than those produced by the Noctilux under similar conditions, and, in that respect, are much more reminiscent of the bokeh produced by the LE 50mm M-Hexanon 1.2.

 

These comments are not meant in any way to disparage the 50mm 'lux, but the soft, impressionist-like bokeh produced by the Noctlux is, in my view, indisputably unique.

[Daniel Ortego]

Well, I don't have a lot of experience with Leica glass, although the silver 50-lux is my favorite so far.

Regards,

[Shootist]

I bought the 50 Lux on a whim, having a few extra dollars, as I already had a 50 Cron.

To date the 50 Lux lives on one of my M8 bodies. It is the lens I can ALWAYS count on. The only reason I use any other lens is if I can't move in or back enough to get the shot I want. It continues to amaze me.

The Cron sits on a self, not even seeing the bag or either M8.

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[carstenw]

IMO (please re-read that carefully), the 50 Lux Asph is the best lens ever made, at least of those I have tried. There are other truly great lenses out there, especially in the M line, but this lens is beyond great. I only wish the digital M will soon be full-frame, as I find it too tight on the M8.

[Ozkar]

I borrowed one recently and couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, it becomes a short portrait lens on the M8 and is just too tight for general duty. This is the one lens that seriously warrants a full frame M.

 

Ozkar

 

 

IMO (please re-read that carefully), the 50 Lux Asph is the best lens ever made, at least of those I have tried. There are other truly great lenses out there, especially in the M line, but this lens is beyond great. I only wish the digital M will soon be full-frame, as I find it too tight on the M8.

[lonersam]

I am considering a Summilux 50 ASPH but heard from some reviews that the pre-ASPH isn't any worse.

 

Any idea guys? Thanks!

[stuny]

Arthur -

 

Back to the photo: Adorable subject, lovely detail, bokeh, light and color.

[wlaidlaw]

I am considering a Summilux 50 ASPH but heard from some reviews that the pre-ASPH isn't any worse.

 

Any idea guys? Thanks!

 

UK Amateur Photographer Magazine said that the 50 ASPH Summilux was optically the best lens they had ever tested. It is ultra sharp and pretty high contrast. If that is what you like then go for it. If you like slightly softer and lower contrast and want to save a ton of money, go for the older lens. If you need it to be coded, check that the actual model you are buying can be coded, some 50 Summiluxes cannot.

 

Wilson

[lonersam]

... If you like slightly softer and lower contrast and want to save a ton of money, go for the older lens. ...

 

Thanks for your reply, Wilson. What my primary consideration is the bokeh of both lens. I tried Noctilux and I am very satisfied in that regard. I assume the 50 Lux ASPH would sharpen the bokeh to the point that might be as sharp as the 50 Cron ASPH which I don't really like, that is why I am now considering the pre-ASPH Lux.

 

But then my next question is:

There are (to my understanding) at least 3 types of Summilux prior to the ASPH version so which type should I go for? I have an offer of the 'pre-ASPH' (Black Paint) recently. Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

 

-Sam

[wlaidlaw]

Thanks for your reply, Wilson. What my primary consideration is the bokeh of both lens. I tried Noctilux and I am very satisfied in that regard. I assume the 50 Lux ASPH would sharpen the bokeh to the point that might be as sharp as the 50 Cron ASPH which I don't really like, that is why I am now considering the pre-ASPH Lux.

 

But then my next question is:

There are (to my understanding) at least 3 types of Summilux prior to the ASPH version so which type should I go for? I have an offer of the 'pre-ASPH' (Black Paint) recently. Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

 

-Sam

 

Sam,

 

Bokeh on the ASPH 50 Lux is OK and does not have the "oversharpened in Photoshop" appearance of for example the 35 f2 Zeiss Planar G (not the current ZM 35 Biogon,which is just fine). It is IMHO better than the bokeh of the 50 Summicron ASPH - softer and rounder but nothing beats the bokeh of the Noctilux.

 

I am afraid earlier Summiluxes are out of my field of expertise, except as I mentioned in a post above, check with Leica before you buy, if you want it coded. as some cannot be due to the shape of their bayonet.

 

I am not sure about painted lenses. They have the downside of chrome lenses, that they are heavier due to a brass body but without the longevity of the finish. In the earlier lenses, you generally don't have the back focus + aperture focus shift (on the 35) issues that have plagued the 35 ASPH Summilux and to a lesser extent, the 50 ASPH Summilux. I went for Chrome on brass body versions of both these lenses, in spite of the extra weight over the black anodised aluminium alloy body ones, as the incidence of the two problems seems much lower on the chrome lenses. My decision was correct and I have ended up with two lenses that focus spot on and to my pleasure and surprise, a 35 Summilux ASPH, that has virtually no aperture shift. I posted test chart images to prove this. It makes a total nonsense of the self-justifying article that Leica printed in the LFI magazine explaining why aperture shift is inevitable in the 35 ASPH Lux. If they can make the occasional one without aperture shift and there is at least one other forum member who has a chrome one that also does not shift, then they can in theory, make them all like that.

 

Wilson