Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]1.5/50 Summarit: The Summarit was introduced in 1949 (M 1954), and is a coated Xenon (1936). It shows it's best performance between f 1.5 and f 4, with an optimum at f 2.8, but you may use it up to f 8 with fine results. It's sharpness is better than from the coll Summicron, if contrasts are not extremely large, and comparable to the 1-st version 2/90 M Summicron at f 2.8. It's out-of-focus rendition is soft to very soft, specially at lower f-stops (up to f 4). As in the Summar or in the rigid chrome Summicron, far out-of-focus light sources are shown as circles, whose outer borders are more bright than the center. The color rendition is a little "flat" (less saturated) in low light conditon, like from the Summitar at f 2.0, and less saturated than from the rigid chrome Summicron. Different, the color rendition is very fine, and almost as good as in the rigid chrome Summicron, when you have a little sun shine in your pictures. It's a very nice lens for 50 mm portraits, also from today's view. It's weak part are very high contrasts at low f-stops (f 1.5 to 2.8). It's a neutral lens with a very slight tendency to "warm". 1.4/50 M Summilux: The Summilux was introduced in 1959, and there are 2 versions (2-nd, 1961). There are indications, that the coating has been changed around 1980; I have experiences with a 1981 lens. It's sharpness is comparable to the 2/50 R Summicron, 1-st version, which is slightly better than the 2/90 M Summicron, 1-st version. It's out-of-focus rendition also agrees to the 2/50 R Summicron, 1-st version. Color rendition is rich and saturated with lots of shades, and agrees to the visual impression. I see the most remarkable difference to the 1.5/50 M Summarit in the color and contrast management at lower f-stops under low light conditon: While the Summarit may produce "flat" or "thin" colors between f 1.5 and f 2.0 in very low light, the Summilux still shows saturated (and remarkable sharp) pictures. It's contrast is higher than in the rigid chrome or 2/50 R Summicron (1-st version), but still pleasant (in my perception). It's a "warm" lens. 1.0/50 Noctilux: The 1.0 Noctilux was introduced in 1976 (1.2/50 in 1966); there are indications, that the coating has been changed in the early 80ies. I have (some) experiences with a 1981 lens. You may use it between f 1.0 and f 8, with astonishing results at f 8 (for a f 1.0-lens). I prefer the lens between f 2.8 and f 4.0. At f 2.8, the sharpness is lower than from the 1.5/50 Summarit, maybe comparable to the 2/90 M Summicron (1-st version) at f 2.0 or a 1981 2/90 R Summicron at f 2.0. It's out-of-focus rendition is soft to very soft and modeled, maybe as "creamy" as in the 2/90 M Summicron. Unfortunately I've never had a result like Tina's b/w "Mesquito Indian Man"; my own experiences at f 1.0 compare to well-known LUG members' pictures on various web sites. To me, it's most remarkable performance is based in the lens' management of (light) contrasts: no matter how strong, the lens can handle it. The color management, specially at f 2.8 or f 4.0, reminds more on the 2/90 M Summicron than on any 50 mm lens. It's a neutral to "warm" lens with a tendency to white-yellow. continued ... Alf - -------------------------------------------------- Alfred Breull http://members.aol.com/abreull/index.htm http://members.aol.com/mfformat/c-mf.htm