RE: [Leica] Leica: Summilux vs. Summicron

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

I must say that while I am basically happy with my 90 Summicron, I had a
chance to play with a 75 1.4 at the Hunt Show here in Boston. Based just on
the couple of shots I took, the 75 is definitely a superior lens. But maybe
I just focused better.. :-)

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of
raimo.korhonen@pp2.inet.fi
Sent: Friday, March 05, 1999 3:02 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: [Leica] Leica: Summilux vs. Summicron


> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 13:40:06 -0500
> From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
> Subject: RE: [Leica] Re: Tele-Elmarit first and second
>
> The 90 Summicron gets a somewhat unfair bad rap. First off, when compared
to
> the later versions of the 90 2.8, it is not particularly large or heavy -
> both of which are complaints.
>
> No, it may not be the quintessential Summicron - as Erwin is quick to
point
> out - and for those who can afford it, the 75 1.4 is probably the way to
go
> to get speed and short tele...but...I don't find that when using B&W I
have
> any real image quality problems with it...Does focusing take skill and
> practice? Absolutely. And, again, if I can afford it, would I like to have
> an ASPH APO version? Sure...but I'm not going to be embarassed by any
> results because I don't have the new version...
>
The late, lamented Modern Photography tested both the 1.4/75mm
Summilux and the 2.0/90mm Summicron (March 1986) and the
results were very similar: resolution excellent at all apertures both
center and edge, contrast high at all apertures both center and
edge. So I´d expect the performance of these two lenses to be
quite similar.
BTW they tested the 2.8/28mm Elmarit and 2.0/35mm Summicron
in the same issue, too. The results? Similar to above: nothing but
excellents with high contrast.
All the best!
Raimo

Photos at: http://personal.inet.fi/private/raimo.korhonen