JeffreyTotaro Posted September 30, 2009 Share #1 Posted September 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) With my M9 order placed I'm considering adding a 75mm lens to my collection. The 50 Lux is my current longest which I really like. I tried a 75 on the M8 and thought it was too tight. I see the 75 Lux is no longer available new. Does anyone know why it was discontinued? Should I be looking for one of these used and if so are there any ones to avoid in its production history? I like the idea of smaller, but slower Summicron, and I tend to like to buy new also. I'd be curious to hear some thoughts on the differences between these lenses. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 Hi JeffreyTotaro, Take a look here Thinking about a 75mm Lens. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
UliWer Posted September 30, 2009 Share #2 Posted September 30, 2009 The 75-mm Summilux was abandoned by Leica about 2 years ago. It is a rather big and heavy lens and to focus it fully opened is not easy - to say the least. It has always been an outsider in the Leica catalogue, though there were some users who say it was in a class of its own. It is not rare on the second hand market, though also still rather expensive. The new Summicron Asph. is much smaller and fulfills all standards of the supreme category of modern Leica lenses as far as resolution, rendering of colours and character ("bokeh") are concerned. It is in a class with the aspherical 50-Summilux and the 28-Summicron. I think those three lenses fit ideally together, if you don't prefer 90-mm (which I sometimes do). It is still not easy to focus wide open - so you can find some postings in this forum of users telling about their frustration with the lens. I' think the 1.4 magnifier helps a lot. As you can focus it up to 0.7m with it's focal length it gives you the best "near macro" option of all M-lenses besides the Makro-Elmar. There is also the 75-Summarit which is said to be good as well though much cheaper than the Summicron. I think the separate hood is no ideal solution, the fixed one for the Summicron is much easier to handle. If you are really looking for a lifelong 75mm the Summicron would be the ideal - though rather expensive - option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted September 30, 2009 Share #3 Posted September 30, 2009 I have never tried the 75 Summicron but own the 75 lux and 75 SUmmarit and I really like the 75 Summilux. It is a very good lens IMO, even wide open at f2.5. Regarding the hood: I really like it-it is very stable and protects the front glass. I was really surprized how good the Summarit is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted September 30, 2009 Share #4 Posted September 30, 2009 The 75mm was an "old" design. It seems Peter Karbe is cleaning Leica's catalogue of old Mandler designs. The only remaining is the Summicron 50mm. Some people believes in a inminent Summilux 75mm ASPH replacement, but I am not sure about it. Wide open ocusing isn't easy, and floating elements and f/1.4 aperture would imply a very high cost and price. I don't know if an APO design is possible at reasonable prices for a 75mm f/1.4 lens... Moreover, the 75mm wasn't very popular focal for Leica M, and there are 2 models now. The APO-Summicron has all tricks for supreme image quality (floating elements, APO correction, exotic glasses, etc.), and the Summarit is a more traditional design with first-class performance... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolu Posted September 30, 2009 Share #5 Posted September 30, 2009 I think UliWer put it very well, the cron75 asph fits very well the lux50 asph. When I had to decide about a 75 I thought a lot about the OOF rendering for which I very much prefered the lux to the cron. I don't know which lux 50 (asph or pre) you have. If I'd buy a lux 50, it would be a non-asph. Maybe you should think about your preferences of OOF rendering at this focal length. But the lux is big (for an M, of course) and critical to focus, mine still has to be calibrated, because the focus wide open is 10-14mm in front. @tom0511 - how is the OOF rendering of the summarit? Interesting that you own both. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 30, 2009 Share #6 Posted September 30, 2009 @tom0511....how is the OOF rendering of the summarit? At f4 (M8) is like this ... fine lens, screw-on hood is its only minus. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/98612-thinking-about-a-75mm-lens/?do=findComment&comment=1056496'>More sharing options...
JeffreyTotaro Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted September 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Seems like the Summicron may be the way to go. I would get the 1.4 magnifier as well. I did try this lens on the M8 but found it very though to use, but on the M9 it hold fit in nicely as only slightly longer than the 50 Lux on the M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlancasterd Posted September 30, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 30, 2009 For anyone wanting a cheaper option, the CV 75mm f2.5 Color-Skopar got a good write-up from Sean Reid, who reviewed it in comparison with the Summarit and Summicron - it gave both of these lenses serious competition. I've just bought one second-hand from Ffordes for £239 (~$380) in almost mint condition, and my initial reaction to its handling, and the quality of its output, is very positive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolu Posted September 30, 2009 Share #9 Posted September 30, 2009 At f4 (M8) is like this ... fine lens, screw-on hood is its only minus. That is a great picture ! - and a fine lens and rendering, too! I would definetely prefer it to the cron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted October 1, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 1, 2009 I do not know anything about the other 75s; however, the 75 Cron AA is really outstanding. Very sharp, great bokeh, and it focuses to 0.7 m. It also has an easy to use short focus throw. I doubt you can go wrong with this lens which incidentally is also very compact considering what it can do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted October 1, 2009 Share #11 Posted October 1, 2009 PS. You may not need the finder. I have a 1.4 finder but rarely use it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted October 1, 2009 Share #12 Posted October 1, 2009 75 Summarit on M9 (should be at f2.5) 75 Summilux on M9 (should be at f2.4) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted October 1, 2009 Share #13 Posted October 1, 2009 At f4 (M8) is like this ... fine lens, screw-on hood is its only minus. Actually I really like the hood of the Summarit. it is allways on my lens, very good protection , comes with a cap which sits on the hood. IMO much better protection than a sliding hood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted October 1, 2009 Share #14 Posted October 1, 2009 The 75 'Lux is a magnificent lens and the screens on the M8 and M9 really help to understand how to use it for fine focus. I can nail the focus every time after a little study. Check out the stamen on this image. The 75mm Lux is a large lens by Leica M standards, but compared with a Canon 24-70 zoom, it's tiny. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/98612-thinking-about-a-75mm-lens/?do=findComment&comment=1057233'>More sharing options...
wda Posted October 1, 2009 Share #15 Posted October 1, 2009 Actually I really like the hood of the Summarit. it is allways on my lens, very good protection , comes with a cap which sits on the hood.IMO much better protection than a sliding hood. I agree with this point of view. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted October 1, 2009 Share #16 Posted October 1, 2009 I very much agree with Uliwer there. I would add that the Summarit does not focus as closely as the APO Summicron ASPH and lacks the floating element design too. I actually think the lens hood design is superior but it does add cost. By all accounts an excellent value for money lens and fine performer. The Summilux is often prized by its owners for its older fashioned, more gentle ouput if you like. . Some prefer that (and other older Summilux designs for example). That is really personal taste (and of course a perfectly valid reason to prefer one design over another). Notwithstanding that and price, focus travel, form factor, accuracy, correction level, close in performance and resistance to focus shift are all indisputably superior from the APO 75 vs. the Summilux. In my opinion it is one of the top handful of very best M lenses that Leica have ever produced (for reference I put the Summilux 50 ASPH. the Summicron 28 ASPH. and the APO 90 Summicron ASPH. in the same group). Careful pour photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com Fruit Loops photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com The 75-mm Summilux was abandoned by Leica about 2 years ago. It is a rather big and heavy lens and to focus it fully opened is not easy - to say the least. It has always been an outsider in the Leica catalogue, though there were some users who say it was in a class of its own. It is not rare on the second hand market, though also still rather expensive. The new Summicron Asph. is much smaller and fulfills all standards of the supreme category of modern Leica lenses as far as resolution, rendering of colours and character ("bokeh") are concerned. It is in a class with the aspherical 50-Summilux and the 28-Summicron. I think those three lenses fit ideally together, if you don't prefer 90-mm (which I sometimes do). It is still not easy to focus wide open - so you can find some postings in this forum of users telling about their frustration with the lens. I' think the 1.4 magnifier helps a lot. As you can focus it up to 0.7m with it's focal length it gives you the best "near macro" option of all M-lenses besides the Makro-Elmar. There is also the 75-Summarit which is said to be good as well though much cheaper than the Summicron. I think the separate hood is no ideal solution, the fixed one for the Summicron is much easier to handle. If you are really looking for a lifelong 75mm the Summicron would be the ideal - though rather expensive - option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptarmigan Posted October 1, 2009 Share #17 Posted October 1, 2009 The 75 'Lux is a magnificent lens and the screens on the M8 and M9 really help to understand how to use it for fine focus. I can nail the focus every time after a little study. Check out the stamen on this image. The 75mm Lux is a large lens by Leica M standards, but compared with a Canon 24-70 zoom, it's tiny. Rolo Intriguing shot. Was all of this achieved 'in camera'? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammam Posted October 1, 2009 Share #18 Posted October 1, 2009 At f4 (M8) is like this ... fine lens, screw-on hood is its only minus.[ATTACH]165031[/ATTACH] Beautiful. I bought one just yesterday, but haven't had the time to try it yet (on film.) Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted October 1, 2009 Share #19 Posted October 1, 2009 PS. You may not need the finder. I have a 1.4 finder but rarely use it.I use the Summicron 75 ASPH on a 0.85x mag MP and have never needed a VF magnifier. Nice short throw and OOF. Sharp but not clinically sharp like some modern Leica lenses. As others have said for its form factor it is a remarkable lens and I use mine paired with a 35mm. That pair covers 95% of what I shoot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLV Posted October 1, 2009 Share #20 Posted October 1, 2009 As others have said for its form factor it is a remarkable lens and I use mine paired with a 35mm. That pair covers 95% of what I shoot. I agree totally with that and it is now the pair of lenses I own (35 cron asph and 75 cron AA )waiting for my M9 to come... The 75 is new from today and never took a picture.(BTW I didn't buy an IR filter ) The 3rd one to join will probably be a 21 or the 18. All the best, Jean-Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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