shootinglulu Posted July 27, 2009 Share #1 Posted July 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have narrowed my choice down to one of these. I really like the look of Zeiss but a lot of attention is given to the softness of it wide open. I don't mind softness, does anyone have any experience of the Zeiss and find it too soft wide open so as it may get annoying. Maybe the Nokton would be a safer bet but i don't want to miss the chance of owner a beautifully unique lens either. Any thoughts would be very helpful, thanks Lucy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Hi shootinglulu, Take a look here 50mm 1.5 Nokton or Zeiss sonnar. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
cfc247 Posted July 27, 2009 Share #2 Posted July 27, 2009 Hi Lucy, I can't comment on the Zeiss, but like you I also have read much about softness as well as focusing issues on the M8. Some people swear by the lens. I have a 50 lux pre ASPH and the Nokton 1.5. I picked up the Nokton after reading Sean Reid's review, where he said that it comes very close to the performance of the 50 lux ASPH. The Nokton 1.5 is razor sharp, even wide open with moderate contrast. The drawing a very similar to my 28 cron, but with a bit more contrast. In lowlight situations, I find the sharpness of the lens a great help when shooting with the M8 at ISO 640. The images have more definition and sharpness when compared to my 50 lux pre ASPH at this ISO range. The only thing I don't like about it is the size. While it is not really a "bulky" lens (takes 52mm filters), it feels a bit fuller when compared to the feel of the 50 lux. I think for the money this lens is a no-brainer. You will not regret it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted July 27, 2009 Share #3 Posted July 27, 2009 I have a 50 'Lux Pre-Asph. These seem to be selling for reasonable prices on the used market, and it's a wonderful lens. Wide open it has more of a traditional look. It's still fairly sharp especially in the center, but with some atmosphere, not super-high contrast and great background blur. Stopped down it gets sharper. If you're looking for a softer look I'd go for the Pre-Asph 'Lux or maybe the Sonnar. I've never used the Nokton, but it sounds like it might have more of a sharp modern look. Check out Sean Reid's site if you haven't already. His reviews are more than worth the modest fee. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootinglulu Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted July 27, 2009 Thanks a lot. It's difficult to know what i like because most of the lenses talked about on this forum are amazing! Judging by how i feel about 35mm length, i think the 50 will be on my cam most of the time. Thanks for the tip about the softness of the pre asph Lux Noah. I love the pictures you take with it. cfc I was just looking at your flickr pictures, and the 50 pre asph looks very good. I like your NY shots with the cron ( I am going to sell my 35 summarit to get this lens) Thanks Lucy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted July 27, 2009 Share #5 Posted July 27, 2009 Lucy, if photography in dim light is not an issue for you and you don't need a very luminous lens, i suggest you to even consider the Elmar 50mm f2.8 colapsible (last generation) that is an unbeliavebly sharp lens but with a delicious old feeling to it. It is very small, light and compact. Of course it is not a 1.5, but I think it is worth considering it when it comes to 50mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxlim Posted July 27, 2009 Share #6 Posted July 27, 2009 I have the zeiss 50 sonnar which I use occasionally and mostly for portraits. Its image rendering is quite exquisite. Wide open it gives me the impression of softness with details. Its great for mood and rich textures lit from the side. It also hold contrast quite well and is quite flare resistant. It does not give me the details that my summicron does. I think the depth of field is extremely curved. I remember a shot taken of a distant subject. The subject at the centre was sharp if soft but a lamp post a few meters away on my right was also reasonably sharp and had good details. All in all a beautiful image maker but one I use relatively rarely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtZ Posted July 27, 2009 Share #7 Posted July 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Lucy, I kinda second Mark... I'd choose the CV Nokton 50/1.5. I'd say the Nokton 50/1.5 is sharper than the Summilux-M 50/1.4 Pre-ASPH but not as sharp as the new Summilux-M 50 ASPH however it's a wonderful lens on the M8 for portraits! (my favorite) Recently, testing the CV Nokton 50/1.5 with a friend (another LUF member), I took a picture of him (BTW, he hates people taking pictures of him) and he was sceptical about the Nokton... when I sent him the picture, this is what he said: "Many thanks for taking the picture of me and sending. It is the best picture of me taken in years. I almost don’t look ugly." To show you the qualities of this lens, I would post the portrait here but only if he gives me the permission! (are you reading, my friend?...) Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootinglulu Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted July 27, 2009 Enrico, Thankyou. Please could you tell me , by 'luminosity', do you mean the light or glow in the shot, or do you mean speed of the lens? This does sound an interesting lens and one i'll look at. Lxlim you paint a picture of the sonnar so nicely. It does sound like a 50mm i would really enjoy. I do think i'm going to be a 50mm person, so in the future it may be a good thing to have two 50's! For now praps i should find something a little less individual as my walk around lens. I'm not sure. Thankyou Lucy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scaryink Posted July 27, 2009 Share #9 Posted July 27, 2009 I have both of these lenses and have shot quite a bit of digital and film. They are quite different lenses. The Nokton is a wonderful lens sharp wide open and a good all around piece of glass that isn't to large. There is no focus shift and it has never let me down. The sonnar is a completely different lens that excels in portraiture and is simply magical for twilight evening urban shooting. This is my lens of choice for twilight, nocturnal image capture. My sonnar never seems to "sharpen up" as you stop it down. I made the mistake of shooting a panorama of Ouray this past week using the sonnar. I shot 72 images via a gigapan epic. asa 160 f8 approx 200+ shutter speed. Pure mush. Lesson learned - the sonnar is still my favorite lens, but Im mostly a people, urban scene shooter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootinglulu Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted July 27, 2009 Thankyou, that helps a lot. And price wise the Nokton looks like a no brainer (hated typing that!) and sonnar for my collection. Thanks Lucy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootinglulu Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted July 27, 2009 Hallo. I've decided i'd like to try and find a 50mm pre asph Summilux. This seems to be the right lens for me, it looks beautiful, very exciting! Can anyone tell me about versions of this lens and any tips on how to find a used good quality lens, very appreciated. Thankyou;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted July 27, 2009 Share #12 Posted July 27, 2009 Enrico, Thankyou. Please could you tell me , by 'luminosity', do you mean the light or glow in the shot, or do you mean speed of the lens? This does sound an interesting lens and one i'll look at. Lucy, i ment the speed of the lens. In spite of not being too fast, it is a wonderful lens. I have a Lux 50 1.4 asph and a Lux 35 1.4 asph, but since I've bought the Elmar, most of the time is this last that is mounted on my M8. I would give it a try if I were you... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted July 27, 2009 Share #13 Posted July 27, 2009 There are, basically, 3 versions of the Lux pre-asph : 1) s/n from1.645.300 to 1.844.000 : indeed, it was a "rebadged" Summarit 1,5, better to avoid it... it's not the "real" Summilux (it's also rather rare...if you like old style, better to take a Summarit 1,5) 2) s/n over 1.844.000 : classic Summilux, many available at good prices (good examples around 1000 Euros or less), verify lens cleaness and coating quality; needs a separate hood and E43 filter (not so easy to find the UVIR of that size). Black or Chrome version. 3) From 1995 (do not know the starting s/n) : almost identical in optical specifications, but focuses to 0,7m, incorporated/extensible hood, and E46 filter : 3 appreciable qualities. Black or Chrome (also the "Titanium" version existed), more costly than version 2, and not so easy to find. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootinglulu Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted July 27, 2009 Thanks so much for your help, it's amazing here! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted July 27, 2009 Share #15 Posted July 27, 2009 Lucy, when you check out second hand lenses, check for smooth operation, the focus should go from end to end with no hang-ups and there should not be a gravel in the tracks feeling, though chances are that you will never see a leica lens with such mechanical problems ever. second, check the surface of the lenses, front and back, but the front normally have been exposed to more abuse than the back... bring a little pen-light (snatch one from your doctor) and shine that through the lens, it will instantly show scratches and also misting on the inside elements, the lens should be clear with no mist. Some very fine scratches will probably not affect the lens, but definitely devalues it quickly. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiralx Posted July 28, 2009 Share #16 Posted July 28, 2009 Thanks so much for your help, it's amazing here! Lucy - try this site for lens data, slightly out of date now but great for older lenses: Leica M Lens Users Guide Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_dernie Posted July 28, 2009 Share #17 Posted July 28, 2009 I can not comment on the Sonnar but I sold my 1.5 Nokton because I do not like the boke. It was slightly less sharp in the center than my pre-asph Summilux and sharper at the edges, though wide open this is rarely noticeable since on non-flat subjects it is unlikely that anything near the edge would be in the same focus plane as the main subject anyway. If you are very keen on dreamy out of focus areas there are better lenses than the Nokton. As an overall fast 50 though it is good. cheers, Frank Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootinglulu Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share #18 Posted July 28, 2009 Thankyou very much for the link and help. Bo, your tips about checking the lens are so helpful, i can nick a pen light off my doctor, no problem!! Trouble is i live in Dorset and would probably need to buy a lens from the internet and sent to me, would you buy a lens without checking it first? That does seem very risky! Lucy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bestzoom Posted July 28, 2009 Share #19 Posted July 28, 2009 Hi Lucy, Good to hear that you are now after a Lux or equivalent in aperture. I have my 50 Lux ASPH for a month and it is just wonderful. Just need to remind you 50mm on M8 is a moderate tele of 65mm. It is different from your 35mm lens. I love taking portraits of my kids and it suits me perfectly. All the best with your selection. Enjoy photography!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted July 28, 2009 Share #20 Posted July 28, 2009 Thankyou very much for the link and help.Bo, your tips about checking the lens are so helpful, i can nick a pen light off my doctor, no problem!! Trouble is i live in Dorset and would probably need to buy a lens from the internet and sent to me, would you buy a lens without checking it first? That does seem very risky! Lucy No, if you go to a reputable dealer : this is one of the top, for me (not involved nor in personal relation with them, apart being a satisfied customer) : www.leicashop.com ; very large stock, I would be surprised if they hadn't any Lux 50. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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