How Does the Canon L Compare with the Summilux-R?

[rick123]

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Hi everyone,

 

As I await the "verdict" on the M8 from Leica, I have begun to explore the Canon 5D. How does the Canon L series compare with the Leica M & R lenses? Specifically, I was wondering how the Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 would compare with the Canon L 50mm f/1.2; and how both compare with the Summilux-M 50mm on the M8. Thank you!

 

Rick

[Jamie Roberts]

Hi everyone,

 

As I await the "verdict" on the M8 from Leica, I have begun to explore the Canon 5D. How does the Canon L series compare with the Leica M & R lenses? Specifically, I was wondering how the Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 would compare with the Canon L 50mm f/1.2; and how both compare with the Summilux-M 50mm on the M8. Thank you!

 

Rick

 

Rick,

 

No-one I know has even seen a 50 1.2L; they're not due to be shipped until December.

 

Having said that, if the Canon 85 1.2L is anything to go on, it will be very good indeed. Might be hard to manually focus.

 

On image quality, though, it'll be interesting to see how the 50 compares. For my money and eyes, and I've got both, the 85 1.2L Canon isn't really as good as lens as the 80 1.4 Summilux R. They look different, though only the Canon is that fast.

 

The 50 1.4 Summilux R is one of the best lenses Leica makes, which is saying something, and one of my all-time favourite lenses to use, especially ona full-frame camera.

 

On the 1ds2 or on the DMR that thing is just a marvel--it's look is very nearly unrivalled in portable photography to my eyes. In fact, the only rival it's got, I think, is the 50 Summilux M, though both the M and R are very similar. I think most users of both would agree that the M version might be a wee bit (only a very wee bit) sharper wide open. Nothing you'd see in prints, I don't think.

 

We'll see if the new Canon AF can compete very soon!