Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/09/11

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: 35 mm summicron and summilux
From: Daniel Cardish <dcardish@spherenet.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 22:45:22 -0400

>>At 06:20 PM 9/10/96 -0700, Stephen Gandy wrote:
>>
>>>Also the latest Summicrons are marginally sharper than the earlier ones.
>>
>>Hmm.  Not certain this is true.  In any event, the first, eight-element,
>>lens is probably a happier lens for use on colour slides and is an all-round
>>fine performer.  When Leica reduced the number of elements to lower
>>production costs, the compromise was a marginal reduction in quality.
>>
>>Marc
>>
>Well, I did an exhaustive test comparing all 35mm for the M, including the
>newest aspherical, using the Leitz optical bench and of course my own
>(magazine) testwall and a series of 'normal-use' pictures (however all on
>Velvia, technical Pan and tripod). My findings are as follows:
>The 8 element Summicron (in comparison with the newest 7 element
>Summicron)has a much lower contrast from f/2 to f4 in the center and the
>corners, more flare and more astigmatism. The resolution ia also
>significantly lower. The full aperture performance is absolutely no match
>for the new lens. From f/5,6 both are in the same class, but the new
>Summicron has a slight advantage, due to the better MTF values. There is
>therefor not a marginal reduction in quality but a significant leap
>forward.
>The Summilux is very flare prone at full aperture and is generally speaking
>only really useable for critical work (more than 12 times enlargment) from
>f/2.8 on. It is one of the Leica lenses that are easily outclassed by the
>competion.
>The Summilux ASPH is absolutely topclass. Its full aperture performance
>gives you really a punch in the eye.
>The same story goes for the Summicron 50 mm (newest version) againt the 7
>element (classical) Summicron. The new one is far ahead in all optical
>disciplines.The original Summicron was and is a good lens certainly from
>f/4, but wide open it is a low contrast lens, good in the center but weak
>in the corners.
>I asked the head of the optical department a few months ago why Leica
>continues its drive for optical perfection when the optical performance of
>the older generations already is sky high (or so the story goes). Well his
>answer quite frankly is that the older generations of Leica lenses are not
>so well corrected as many people assume. There is certainly room for
>improvement (and if you can reduce costs while improving the optical
>quality there is one clear winner: the Leica customer).

How does the current ASPH 35 summilux compare with the earlier Aspherical
summilux?


Dan Cardish  
<dcardish@spherenet.com>

<http://www.spherenet.com/dcardish/photo.htm>