Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On 04-06-1998 17:05 TEAShea@aol.com wrote: >Although I have >never used one, the 50 1.4 has a reputation (based upon the various published >test reports) as being soft at 1.4 and 2.0. I note, however that the reports >note that it is very good at the smaller apertures. In support of Tom Shea, I can add that, according to the Chasseur d'Images' test report, the Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 is especially soft at the corners (even very soft at the widest 3 f-stops), but an excellent performer as far as center sharpness is concerned (its sharpness is even higher than that of equivalent lenses of Canon and Nikon at the widest 3 f-stops). I have a Summilux-M 50mm and can say I am very pleased with its results & handling! If you know the weaknesses of a lens, you can at least take this into account in photographical praxis and use each lens for what it is best suited. If I want an image with "even sharpness across the entire field", I take the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. For an image of the Summilux-M 50mm at 1.4 or 2.0 (I don't recall), check out the section "Elena" on my homepage http://members.xoom.com/cyberplace (it is the only black and white picture). Of course, and this is without doubt the sentiment that explains much of the debate on the issue, I would feel somewhat unhappy if Leica now decides to bring out a new version of the Summilux-M 50mm (although I don't have a doubt that this version will be even better, that is a more even sharpness across the entire field, as is the trend with third generation lenses according to Erwin Puts' M lenses overview), because that means in effect that I would immediately have an "old" lens... for which I paid "modern" prices :-) The new Summilux-M 50mm, like the new Summilux-R 50mm, would almost surely be around the same price level as the "old" version... Pascal - -------------------------------------------------------- Check out: http://members.xoom.com/cyberplace/ - -------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh PowerBook G3 - it eats Pentium notebooks for lunch - -------------------------------------------------------- <<< PGP public key available on request >>>