fursan Posted December 17, 2008 Share #1 Posted December 17, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why do I get the impression that the lux 35 asph is not as beloved by forum members as some of the other oft recommended/mentioned lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 17, 2008 Posted December 17, 2008 Hi fursan, Take a look here is the lux-m 35 asph not loved?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Ecar Posted December 17, 2008 Share #2 Posted December 17, 2008 Because it's said to have backfocus (at least on the M8). That may well be the case, but I don't feel I ever missed a shot due to this behaviour. Either I have a good copy or bad eyesight. It's a fantastic lens IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
george + Posted December 17, 2008 Share #3 Posted December 17, 2008 Because it is not an easy lens to love - by many. I had two versions, neither focussed well. But when a subject was in focus - due to an error on my part - it created some really lovely images. My second copy is with Leica now. I hope they can get me one which is a little more predictable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted December 17, 2008 Share #4 Posted December 17, 2008 The problem is focus shift, not bad focusing or backfocusing. In other words, it focuses properly wide open, but stopped down, it is no longer properly focused. I tested this with a copy in the Leica by Meister Berlin store, and they were astounded by the results. All recent copies from Leica I have seen exhibit this to a great extent. It is otherwise an awesome lens with really nice boke, but Leica claims to be unable to fix the focus shift, so with the accuracy required by the M8, you can get quite soft results stopped down. Tim Ashley was one of the first, if not the first, to notice this, on his Venice Carnival trip, where he had to adopt a focus and guess approach to get some sharp shots. Earlier copies seem to have less focus shift, or in some cases, none, and the chrome and titanium copies are often very good, so they probably go for higher prices than other lenses' chrome editions, by now. The 35 Lux Aspherical (not ASPH) also has a reputation for having less or no focus shift. I own a chrome 35 Lux ASPH with almost no focus shift, which I bought from a member here, and it is my most used lens by some margin. I do prefer the 50 Lux ASPH, but as I use mostly normal focal length lenses, it will play second fiddle until the FF M comes out. At that point, I might sell my 35 Lux ASPH. Or I might not. Time will tell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted December 17, 2008 Share #5 Posted December 17, 2008 This is a great lens and for both my older chrome example (sold it) and my current black 6 bit version, the focus shift was identical and minor. Only noticeable when on tripod and zoomed way in on the monitor. To minimize this it is best if the focus point is adjusted so that at wide open the focus point is at the most forward point of the DOF. Then when it is stopped down the focus will move back but stay within the DOF region. Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe D. Posted December 17, 2008 Share #6 Posted December 17, 2008 I love my Summilux 35 Asph, it is about 50% of time on the M8. Do am i lucky ? No focusing shift at all from 1.4 to 16. I just made a test, because i seldom bracket down and use this lens mostly full open, or at 2.8 maximum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. de Ridder Posted December 17, 2008 Share #7 Posted December 17, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) It focusses really well on analog M#s, why would it backfocus on the M8? I must say it is my favorite lens, well it was on my analog camera's, and judging by the few shot I have taken with it sofar it seems to be OK, not done any scientific testing, nor planning to actually, but like to get the info on the subject. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted December 17, 2008 Share #8 Posted December 17, 2008 It focusses really well on analog M#s, why would it backfocus on the M8? I must say it is my favorite lens, well it was on my analog camera's, and judging by the few shot I have taken with it sofar it seems to be OK, not done any scientific testing, nor planning to actually, but like to get the info on the subject. Film has depth, digital sensors are in exactly one place. If there was a minor focus shift with film, the sharp level just moved from one depth in the film to another, and focused sharply on other grains. Only a really major focus shift would leave the film completely. With the sensor, as soon as the focused plane doesn't coincide exactly with the sensor, the photo is unsharp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robola Posted December 17, 2008 Share #9 Posted December 17, 2008 I have a pre-asph Canadian made Summulux 35 which is my primary lens on an M6. What is the general assessment of this lens-particularly for use on an m8? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted December 17, 2008 Share #10 Posted December 17, 2008 I have a pre-asph Canadian made Summulux 35 which is my primary lens on an M6. What is the general assessment of this lens-particularly for use on an m8? Excellent from f2 onwards would be my conclusion. Wide open it isn't very good on a whole lot of levels. I recently re-bought one to use on my M8. It was my very first M lens on an M2 a number of years ago, but I sold it around 2003. I've been happy with the replacement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted December 17, 2008 Share #11 Posted December 17, 2008 Soft, sometimes very nasty boke, but sometimes really gorgeous boke. A definite last-gen lens, but some people really like it for its lower contrast and traditional look. It is also tiny Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted December 17, 2008 Share #12 Posted December 17, 2008 Depends on who you ask really....I shoot film exclusively in the M format and I love that lens. Haven't missed the 35 Summicron asph one bit since I traded it for the Summilux. My 35 Summilux and the Noctilux are my mainstay lenses, and I am very happy with what i get using them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest darkstar2004 Posted December 17, 2008 Share #13 Posted December 17, 2008 It focusses really well on analog M#s, why would it backfocus on the M8? The M8 also has backfocus issues with the Noctilux, from what I have heard. I called and talked to a Leica tech about backfocus w/the Noctilux before I bought mine. He said it was an issue with the M8 but not with film based Leicas like my MP 0.72... One more reason to stick with film! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted December 17, 2008 Share #14 Posted December 17, 2008 I too am film-only with my Ms and the 35/1.4 ASPH is a wonderful lens for film. I have an older lens (now over 5 years in use) and it has been stellar. Since I got a 35/2 ASPH I'm not using it quite so much but that extra stop certainly comes in handy sometimes. My f1.4 has a slightly loose aperture ring but I can live with it. I use three 35mm lenses and if I had to keep just one I would have a hard time making the choice. Probably the f1.4 just for the extra stop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozkar Posted December 18, 2008 Share #15 Posted December 18, 2008 There's plenty of love for this fine lens! I have owned every 35mm Leica lenses starting from the fourth generation 35 CRON and the 35 LUX ASPH is by far my favourite lens. I am fortunate to own a black version that nails focus at every aperture. I have also owned highly regarded lenses like the 28 CRON ASPH and 50 LUX ASPH, but the 35 LUX ASPH is the only lens I have ever owned or used that would break my heart if ever lost or stolen!! Big O Why do I get the impression that the lux 35 asph is not as beloved by forum membersas some of the other oft recommended/mentioned lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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