Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/04/16

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Subject: [Leica] Wow, the last word on Bokeh, from Zeiss now 75mm Summarit
From: benedenia at gmail.com (Marty Deveney)
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:06:06 +0930
References: <149154731978312752334976821763000514463-Webmail@me.com> <162966731575485035816048575106874570466-Webmail@me.com> <s2u36172e5a1004151722m79422551g8764da3fb6a486a3@mail.gmail.com> <43BF321A-7034-4058-AC2E-63ACC42ADBE0@frozenlight.eu>

Ahhh, the paradox.

I was sitting next to Geoff when he took this one:
http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/101824440 and that was where I
realised that the 75/2, which I had reviewed a year or so earlier when
it came out, really was amazing.  Making a lens that compact with a
floating element is a real design coup.  Poor Zeiss had to completely
redesign their 85/2 because Leica thought their design infringed their
patents and being good corporate citizens, Zeiss redesigned the lens.
The Zeiss 85 is larger, a bit too large.  The Leica 75/2 is very nice.

But the focus feel bugs me.  I can feel the tension in the focus ring
change when the floating element starts to move and that annoys me.
This doesn't happen with my Nikkors, but they are also larger.  The
Summarit is very nice, but I really wanted a lens that focused to 0.7
metre.  I have the same problem with the 50/1.4 asph.  For some reason
it is less apparent with the 21 and 24 Summiluxes and the 0.95 Nocti.
Their floating elements do work differently, but I haven't seen one
taken apart to see if the mechanism is different.  I assume it is.

So I still have a 75 Summilux, which visibly shifts focus,
particularly on the M8 or M9, which also annoys me.  It looks amazing
when you nail the focus, but it is a bit hit and miss for me, even
with a 0.85x finder and a magnifier.

So I've worked myself into a corner.  I don't like to wait and like
everyone, I like nice lenses.  I'd better make a decision soon.

Marty


On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 2:27 PM, Nathan Wajsman <photo at frozenlight.eu> 
wrote:
> Everything Geoff writes is correct. I bought his Elmarit 90 and it is a 
> fine lens, but on the M8 I simply prefer the 75mm focal length.
>
> As for relative sharpness, it seems to me that the 75 is just a bit 
> sharper, but then again I do not do lens tests and the 90 is plenty sharp 
> too.
>
> Nathan
>
> Nathan Wajsman
> Alicante, Spain
> http://www.frozenlight.eu
> http://www.greatpix.eu
> http://www.nathanfoto.com
>
> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 16, 2010, at 2:22 AM, Geoff Hopkinson wrote:
>
>> Scott, I don't know which Emarit you have but the last model discontinued
>> when the Summarit was introduced is extremely good (Nathan's got my first
>> one and I got another one afterwards). For some reason they never seemd to
>> attract the same attention as other models, yet the performance is right 
>> up
>> there and the used prices seem modest to me.
>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/90958365 (M7)
>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/91237793 (M7)
>>
>> I bet that you wouldn't see any practical difference in 'sharpness' 
>> between
>> the two lenses. The Summarit is very well reported too. Keep in mind when
>> you do your sums that the Summarit does not come standard with its 
>> screw-on
>> hood and hood cap. The Summarit will focus down slightly closer than the
>> Elmarit M but that one has the slightly higher magnification of course.
>>
>> If you budget allows, my recommendation is to get the superb APO Summicron
>> 75 ASPH. A WONDERFUL lens that has it all and does especially well in 
>> close.
>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/101180894 (M8)
>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/119520958 (M9)
>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/101824440 (M9)
>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/118188935 (M9)
>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/119381979 (M9)
>> Cheers
>> Geoff
>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
>>
>>
>> On 16 April 2010 07:47, Scott Gregory <s_gregory1 at mac.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Nathan, I have been considering selling a chrome 90 elmarit I've had 
>>> since
>>> new and replacing it with the 75 Summarit. I use it on the M8 and perhaps
>>> down the road aways, might buy a M9. In your opinion is the 75 Summarit
>>> sharper than the 90? I like the idea of a 75 on a full frame sensor for
>>> portraits.
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Scott
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>


Replies: Reply from robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier) ([Leica] Wow, the last word on Bokeh, from Zeiss now 75mm Summarit)
In reply to: Message from s_gregory1 at mac.com (Scott Gregory) ([Leica] Wow, the last word on Bokeh, from Zeiss now 75mm Summarit)
Message from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Wow, the last word on Bokeh, from Zeiss now 75mm Summarit)
Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Wow, the last word on Bokeh, from Zeiss now 75mm Summarit)