cfc247 Posted July 27, 2009 Share #1 Posted July 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, I have been using a 28 cron, 50 lux pre ASPH, and a 90 cron as my primary kit for the M8. Although I love the lower contrast and yet sharp/smooth drawing of the 28, I find it a bit too wide as an all around lens for my style. So I took the plunge and recently purchased a 35 lux asph. The 50 is a focal length I use but don't really feel too comfortable with on the M8. So after reading Sean's reviews, I picked up a CV Nokton 1.5, to replace the more expensive 50 lux. The 50 lux is in middle of a sale as I write this. With pending sale of my 50 lux, which I really like in terms of drawing, I'm wondering what type of contrast level and drawing I should expect from the 35 lux asph. Does it have the best of both worlds, the modern and classic, in its rendering like the 28 cron? If yes, than I will have no problem doing without the 50 lux, since I don't use that focal too often anyway. But if the drawing of the 50 lux is unique to the older lenses (I really like the swirly oof rendering for artistic shots), is there another lens that I could pick up at low cost for occasional special applications? Older 50 crons? Or will the 35 lux be a good compromise in this regard? Sorry if I was unclear on any points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Hi cfc247, Take a look here Need comments on 35 lux asph, signature. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
mjw Posted July 28, 2009 Share #2 Posted July 28, 2009 Mark, I can't really say anything about the 35 lux (I have a 35 Summarit), but I am interested in knowing the answer to your question. I was wondering what you don't care for on the 28 cron, is it too wide? The reason I ask you this is because I have debated my next lens purchase and have no idea where I land right now. I currently have 35 Summarit and 75 Cron. I love them both, but am wondering if I should pick up a faster lens as my main one. My wife is 5 months pregnant with our first child and I would like to have a lens that handles low light well and is fast for when they are beginning to move around. I have thought about the 28 cron because of what everybody has said, but also wonder if the 50 lux ASPH may be good for my needs. Everybody seems to love both, but I am tempted to go wider than right in the middle of what I currently have. Sorry if I derailed your post, but I value your opinion because it seems like we have similar photographic styles/interests. I enjoy your photos on your site very much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicajh Posted July 29, 2009 Share #3 Posted July 29, 2009 I really appreciate this lens. It stays on the M8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc247 Posted July 29, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted July 29, 2009 MJW, I'm glad to know that we share photographic interests. are you on flickr? To be honest, I'm still not 100% sure on whether I want to sell the 28 cron, my bank account says I must my instincts tell me to hold on. Though I would love to keep the 28 cron to use with my 50 and 90, and use the 35 lux when I don't want to carry extra gear, the cost of the 28 cron and 35 lux is more than I want to invest in what is for all practical purposes, a hobby. This is also the reason why I sold my 50 summilux. Though I love the lens, the 50 FL on the M8 is not one of my favorites. I do use it, but not even to keep two 50s, the other being the very capable and cost effecient 50 Nokton 1.5. Besides money, I would like to get comfortable with one focal length as my primary. Until now it has been the 28, which I really enjoy but it is just a bit too wide for me. I find myself cropping quite often. I have seen that I tend to shoot at a distance where the framing of the 35 on the M8 would be ideal. Of course, here and there I do shoot cityscapes/landscapes, which is why I am considering picking up a less expensive 25, either the CV or Zeiss (probably Zeiss). If you find yourself needing to go wider, first determine how often this lens will be used (and based on this you can determine how much cash you want to invest on it) along with the focal length you prefer. I honestly don't like the 24 framelines on the M8, since its so close to the 35's. My favorite framelines are the 28, 35 and 90 on the M8. Since you've been shooting with the 35 and 75, I am assuming you have an idea of how you frame and at what distance from your subjects you tend to shoot. Some love the 50 fl on the M8 while others hardly touch their 50 crons/luxes. It really depends on you. If you want to stick with the 35 FL as your primary then the 35 lux is probably the best choice. If you want to add another lens to the kit, then I would go for the 24 lux (if money isn't a factor and for the speed, though the lens if pretty large) or a 28 cron, which can be had for much less when purchased used. I think the 50 will also feel very close to your 75. You also might want to try out the 50 Nokton 1.5 just to have as a low-light option! Its an amazing piece of glass for about $400, especially at ISO 640. I think if you want a faster all around lens, the 28 cron is a great choice. The 50 lux is a stop faster but IMO its too long to be an everyday lens on the M8. Then we have the 35 lux, which is the lens I almost bought last year instead of the 28 cron. I chose the latter because of the framelines. But I think the 35 lux will serve 80-90% of my shooting needs, especially with the speed benefit. I hope my rambling was of some benefit to you. If you have any specific questions please feel free to PM me or send me a flickr mail. Good luck! BTW--my 35 lux will arrive tomorrow. Should be posting some photos by the end of the week. Mark, I can't really say anything about the 35 lux (I have a 35 Summarit), but I am interested in knowing the answer to your question. I was wondering what you don't care for on the 28 cron, is it too wide? The reason I ask you this is because I have debated my next lens purchase and have no idea where I land right now. I currently have 35 Summarit and 75 Cron. I love them both, but am wondering if I should pick up a faster lens as my main one. My wife is 5 months pregnant with our first child and I would like to have a lens that handles low light well and is fast for when they are beginning to move around. I have thought about the 28 cron because of what everybody has said, but also wonder if the 50 lux ASPH may be good for my needs. Everybody seems to love both, but I am tempted to go wider than right in the middle of what I currently have. Sorry if I derailed your post, but I value your opinion because it seems like we have similar photographic styles/interests. I enjoy your photos on your site very much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted July 29, 2009 Share #5 Posted July 29, 2009 To be honest, I'm still not 100% sure on whether I want to sell the 28 cron, my bank account says I must my instincts tell me to hold on. Though I would love to keep the 28 cron to use with my 50 and 90, and use the 35 lux when I don't want to carry extra gear, the cost of the 28 cron and 35 lux is more than I want to invest in what is for all practical purposes, a hobby. I'm sure you will like the 35 as a 47mm on the M8, but the 28 Summicron is what I would use most when I still had an M8. The 35 lux is legendary for having back focus or focus shift problems meaning what is sharp at 1.4 becomes very much out of focus from F/2-F-4 when used with the M8. And by the way, there is no such thing as being a hobbyist for "All practical purposes". You are either an amateur that gets some cash here and there for a head shot, wedding or that big fat $14 check from iStock or you are a professional with backup gear, triplicate archiving, liability insurance, a CPA and a full time client base.... Either way, I love the 35 1.4 asph on my film rigs, I am sure you will love it on your M8 if you are free of the focus issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem7 Posted July 29, 2009 Share #6 Posted July 29, 2009 Not sure if you have seen it but I have a 35 Lux review on my website (in my signature) - It is my favorite M lens, with my 2nd being the 24 elmarit, then the 50 Lux PRE ASPH. Great lens and the focus issues, while real, are very overblown as in real world shooting I have yet to notice it, or have it affect a shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted July 29, 2009 Share #7 Posted July 29, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I second Steve. I have owned the 'lux since 1999, using it on both a M4-P, a M6TTL and my M8. The lens draws in a very pleasant way, and the focus shift is obvious only to a paranoical pixel peeper. It has never troubled me in the least; we are talking about differences that are close to the limit of the accuracy of the rangefinder, and beyond my own focusing accuracy too! Remember that focus shift can be detected with lenses as slow as 2.8. It is just that nobody has created a furore over those lenses. This is the curse of the net: The bad, the mad and the plain credulous are all out there, lusting for blood. One must keep one's sanity: Sharpness is the fetish of boring photographers. And the Summilux is plenty sharp enough. The old man from the Age of the Sphericals Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 29, 2009 Share #8 Posted July 29, 2009 I love the 35 ASPH Lux but I was lucky enough to find a good one, with just a tiny touch of front focus wide open and wholly acceptable aperture shift. Of all the current Leica lenses, the 35 Lux seems to have the widest sample variation. Some members have had two or three mediocre ones in a row. Leica service can get these better but not usually perfect. It has been rumoured for some time that a redesign is due, probably with internal and external focusing like the 50 ASPHLux to improve lens consistency and reduce aperture shift. A good 35 Lux provides all the sharpness and contrast you could wish for and is both flare and CA resistant. The only downside of mine, being a chrome one, is that it is quite heavy. I did not like the original hood and after losing a couple of lens caps, which just fell off, changed to the more robust 28 Summicron hood with its positive lock cap but this does obstruct more of the VF. I could easily live with just the 35 Lux and a MATE Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted July 29, 2009 Share #9 Posted July 29, 2009 ...So I took the plunge and recently purchased a 35 lux asph... If you bought one you should be able to tell us, no? If you're looking for advice on something as subjective as the signature of the lens, your best bet is to just use it and get to know for yourself. Personally I think it's a wonderful lens. I don't use mine much on the M8, instead I tend to go towards the 24 'Lux/50 'Lux Pre-Asph combo, which I like very much. But I must have a good copy, it works great on film and on the M8. While there may be a touch of focus shift inherent in the lens, it's not noticeable in use and the results from the lens on the M8 are very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted July 29, 2009 Share #10 Posted July 29, 2009 Don't you think it is a bit silly to just assume everyone who has used a 35 Lux with the M8 with focus issues is overblowing it or is a pixel peeper? Kind of disrespectful I think. When I focused my lens on my subject at 7 feet away at F/4 and the focus was a whole 6 inches in front of the subject. Believe me, the affect on my "professional" photos then was that it was simply out of spec, not usable. I understand my lens might have been worse than others, that is why the user probably sold it instead of dealing with the stupid game of having to send lens and camera to Solms to get "mated". If you spend this much on equipment, it should work, otherwise you could easily put a Zeiss 35 ZF on a D700 with a Katzeye screen and blow the Leica combo out of the water for much less money. Having said that, the lens is simply stunning on the cameras that matter most to me, my film M's, so I use it a lot. I just think it is good to warn fellow users of this equipment about these things as they contemplate spending thousands of dollars on equipment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc247 Posted July 29, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted July 29, 2009 thank you all for your comments...my lens should arrive today. insights from your experiences have been very helpful. having sold my 50 lux pre asph, i am just sad to lose a lens in my stable that had the most "old school" character. i'm just hoping the 35 lux draws with enough modern and classic characteristics to alleviate the pain of losing my 50. i'll try and post some photos sometime in the week. thanks again everyone! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted July 29, 2009 Share #12 Posted July 29, 2009 Don't you think it is a bit silly to just assume everyone who has used a 35 Lux with the M8 with focus issues is overblowing it or is a pixel peeper? Kind of disrespectful I think. When I focused my lens on my subject at 7 feet away at F/4 and the focus was a whole 6 inches in front of the subject. Believe me, the affect on my "professional" photos then was that it was simply out of spec, not usable. If a focus shift that large is real, then of course something is amiss with that individual lens. I would remind you however that the focus shift as a phenomenon is NOT a matter of faulty assembly or quality control. It is a matter of (a) the laws of optics, and ( the lens design. And neither (a) nor ( do jump around from lens specimen to specimen. Believing that some specimens exhibit a focus shift of half a foot, and others have none, does really tax my credulity quite a bit. The old man from the Age of Natural Laws Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 29, 2009 Share #13 Posted July 29, 2009 If a focus shift that large is real, then of course something is amiss with that individual lens. I would remind you however that the focus shift as a phenomenon is NOT a matter of faulty assembly or quality control. It is a matter of (a) the laws of optics, and ( the lens design. And neither (a) nor ( do jump around from lens specimen to specimen. Believing that some specimens exhibit a focus shift of half a foot, and others have none, does really tax my credulity quite a bit. The old man from the Age of Natural Laws Lars, I am sorry to totally disagree with you. I was very wary of getting a 35 Lux after all the fuss there was after the M8 came out. I therefore bought a 35/2 Biogon. It was very good but I wanted another stop or so. I bought a 35/1.2 Nokton and was desperately disappointed. I then tried three 35 ASPH Luxes,on which I had a sale or return agreement. The first one had horrible back focus so it went back. The second one was spot on focus wide open but aperture shifted right outside the DOF by f5.6. The third one, the only chrome one of the three, had just detectable front focus wide open at 2m but had minimal focus shift with the shift changing the focus zone to around 55% in front and 45% behind by f5.6. I discussed this during a visit to Solms, soon after the article had appeared in LFI and more or less said 'OK - explain this lens then". The answer I got is that they don't really know why but the aperture shift does vary from lens to lens and it could be because the 100% optimal lens configuration tolerances are smaller than they can either machine the body to or adjust to. If you don't believe me, search the forum for 35 Lux focus problems and you should find the test chart images I posted to prove what I am saying. I know at least two other members who have 35 Luxes that have acceptable focus shift. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashwinrao1 Posted July 29, 2009 Share #14 Posted July 29, 2009 Agreed with most of what's been said. The 35 'lux asph is one of Leica's best, despite the focus shift issue (which doesn't seem like an issue to me, DESPITE my initial pixel peeping). In real world use, it's IQ is pure Leica magic. I'd say it's the best overall lens on the M8, followed by the 50 lux asph. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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