Keep or sell my 50mm summicron?

[Westerwald-Leica]

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Hi,

when I bought my 50mm lux asph I thought of it as a replacement for my 50mm cron.

But now I've begun to wonder if maybe I should keep both.

 

And here's my question: Do you think the two lenses are different enough in character to justify keeping them both? And if so, what assignments would you give to either lens?

 

Your advice is most welcome.

Bernd

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[akiralx]

Obviously there are differences other than speed, but I wouldn't keep both - I have had the Summicron but now have the Summilux-ASPH. I don't think there is enough difference to warrant having both.

 

I do however have the Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 as well, which does draw differently enough wideopen to warrant keeping it - though I shoot it more on the Zeiss Ikon.

[offshore]

I would keep both for a while until you are certain you have no further need for the Cron. The cron has some nice attributes besides sharpness, it is compact for travel and takes 39 mm filters which are less expensive then the 46 mm on your lux. I've always found that no sooner do I sell something I don't think I need I need it.

[adavis47]

I currently have both also and put the Cron up for sale. I have the latest model with built in shade, 6-bid code. Sadly, there does not seem to be much of a market for the lens, maybe because the new one does not really differentiate itself from earlier, cheaper models, don't know. But, I've come to think I might be better off with a Leica lens then cash.

[danyves]

Do keep your 50 Summicron. Each lens has it use, and as said the 50 Summicron is compact and is fast to use. A great lens.

[Guest Posto 6]

Why not trade it in for something compact but with a more pronounced difference- such as one of the older 50mm lenses, or even an elmar?

[Driver8]

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Apply the One Year Rule. If you don't use your summicron for 12 straight months, then get rid of it.

 

This is what the Feng Shui people tell me.

[bill]

With one exception - the V4 35mm Summicron - every single Leica-M lens I have ever owned and sold on I have re-acquired later, sometimes paying more for the "lesson".

 

Don't sell.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Westerwald-Leica]

Thank you all!

I think I'll go with the Feng Shui and give it 12 months to see if I actually ever chose to use it again.

Plus I agree with adavis47, it would be frustrating to sell this great lens for an inadequate price.

 

Bernd

[lars_bergquist]

The two lenses are very similar in character. The 'lux however has slightly superior definition; it is about as good at 1:1.4 as the 'cron is at 2.0 -- which is pretty sensational. The Summilux is also much more resistant to flare and internal reflections, which is very important for a RF lens. There is simply nothing that the Summicron does better than the Summilux ASPH. At any f-stop!

 

So the only advantages of the old 'cron is slightly lower bulk and weight. (And price, but you do already own it.) But the Summilux is very compact compared to SLR lenses, so even this doddering old man can accept the extra burden! I sold my Summicron soon after acquiring the Summilux, which was soon after it was launched. I have had Leica code it ex post facto; I think it deserves luxury treatgment.

 

The old man from the Age of the 3.5cm Elmar

[George Hart]

I had exactly the same conundrum about a year ago, having bought the cron first, and then the lux for use at f/1.4. I have ended up keeping the cron because it fits in my pocket when I carry my MP walking or going abroad with my default lens, which is a 35 mm. So my take would be to heed the above advice and to wait and see if and how you use it. It's an extremely worthy player.