Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/04/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>Jim Brick wrote: >> >>I have a 24/2.8 ASPH, 35/1.4 ASPH, 50/1.4 Summilux, and 75/1.4 Summilux. >> >>The 35/1.4 ASPH is probably the finest M lens I own. Perhaps one of the >>finest M lenses made. >> >>The 50/1.4 Summilux is the M lens I use most often. It and the 75/1.4 have >>a "look" that is unique. Unobtainable, I believe, by other manufacturers >>lenses or with modern Leica lenses. >> >>Jim >> At 06:25 PM 4/10/00 -0500, Henry Ambrose wrote: >Jim, > >Does this mean that your 50 Summilux is an older lens? Or the current >version? >I have 24, 35 50, 75, 90. Love 'em all > >I think I notice something different about the 75. Beside that its the >only f1.4 lens I own and that it is huge. It seems to have a " look" all >its own. Not just at 1.4 but stopped down also. > >Do you think the current 35 Summliux ASPH fits into a "family" along with >the 50 and 75? >Same kind of look? Or different? > >The 24, 35f2 ASPH, and current 50 f2 all seem to fit together in a >similar color and feel. >(for me) All very neutral - best word I can come up with to describe >them. The 90 Elmarit M also seems to fit there too. > >Does anyone else see family resemblances in any group(s) of Leica lenses? > >Henry Ambrose My 50/1.4 Summilux is the current version, but is the same hand computed formula used starting in 1961. It exhibits the same properties as the 75/1.4 . Which has always been called "Leica Glow". These are the revered "Bokeh" lenses. The 35/1.4 ASPH and the 24/2.8 ASPH are a completely "different" lenses. Sharp everywhere, always. Sharp edged Bokeh. Not the old soft edge background, glowing highlights, Leica look. Two weeks ago I used an old 50mm rigid Summicron for a week on an M3. It produced photographs that resembled my 50/1.4 and 75/1.4 . I "think" the difference is that the old lens formulas were hand computed completely and there was a limited amount of correction possible. Erwin said that the 75/1.4 is one of the last hand computer formulas which is why it too has that special look. When they started using computers to aid in lens design, more ray tracing and exacting correction could be done in less time therefore the CAD lenses simply produce a sharper, more contrasty, and more defined look. IMHO, Jim