[Leica] Not WTB: now Son of Asph

[jbcollier at shaw.ca (John Collier)]

50 Flare resistance:

Noctilux (absolutely unbelievably good)
Summilux  Asph (flares a bit if the sun just out of the frame)
Current Elmar (haven't noticed any)
Summicron

The Noctilux is a stunning performer with regards to flare  
suppression. I do not know how Leica did it with such a big chunk of  
glass. It is so good you do not ever need to use the hood. I had a  
separate hood version and the hood stayed at home. I really miss the  
lens except for its one damning fault: only focuses to 1 meter. I  
often shoot closer than 1 meter and the constant backing up after  
framing was annoying. I have almost never had a problem with the 0.7  
meter limit of most other Leica lenses. If you seldom focus closer  
than 1 meter then run, don't walk, and get a Noctilux!

The Summilux-Asph is also excellent in 99% of situations. It just  
flares when the sunlight is hitting the glass without being in the  
frame. I guess it only suffers in comparison to the Noctilux. I would  
be delighted with the Summilux-Asph if I had never owned a Noctilux.  
On sunny days I just have to remember to occasionally shade the S-A's  
front lens element with my hand.

The current Elmar is great. I have noticed no flare problems at all.  
Unfortunately it is so slow that it is simply unusable in almost any  
lowlight situation. Hardly a valid criticism I suppose but you can't  
get high marks for being a neat eater if you are comatose and tube fed.

The six element Summicron (version before current) flares in many of  
the situations I seem to shoot in. The shots are usable but low in  
contrast. It is the lens I learned to love Leica glass with but I do  
not miss it at all now. My example was a user cosmetically but the  
glass was clear and I had had it cleaned.

I did test a Summilux (version before Asph) and I was impressed with  
it but a roll or two of film is not enough to make valid comments from.

John Collier

On 7-Jan-06, at 9:14 AM, Dennis Painter wrote:

> John, if I recall correctly you have or had the following 50's
>
> Noctilux
> Summilux ASPH
> Summicron (not sure if latest)
> Elmar (latest)
>
> and you recently commented on your observations on flare.
>
> Could you rank the 50's above on flare resistance?