[Leica] About the Summilux 50mm

[isakuhiga at hotmail.com (Higa Isaku)]

Hi Luis,

You may have all the answers you were looking for with links from John but 
here are my two cents...

I had a Summicron 50mm which I beleive is similar to what you have.  Later 
production of one generation prior to the current production.  It was 
labels as  made in Germany with focusing tab and detachable hood. I gave 
the lens (together with an M4) to my dad as a present and he is using the 
lens now.  I now use Summilux 50mm and currently own 11114 (E43) and 11168 
(E46), 

First of all, I think Summicron 50mm is a great  lens.  I'd say it is the 
best value among all the Leica lenses.  I feel they are not only high 
performers but they also have a special something that make many of us 
gravitate towards Leicas.  If you rarely shoot photo's in a dimley lit 
situations, I would stop here.

The reason I got my  Summilux 50 was that I wanted a faster lens.  I was 
shooting a lot of photos indoors with available light then.  The Noctilux 
was too bulky, heavy and expensive so, I thought Summilux was the best 
compromise.  The reviews were pretty good too.  As I started using the 
Summilux (E43).  It appear to be from the the mid 70's  vintage, beaten 
cosmetics  but with a very clean optics in nice working condition.   I was 
very much captivated by the lens.  It was sharp enough, color had wide 
range of gradation, enough saturation for me.  I thought it presented a 
nice combination of contemporary and classica tone rendition.  Sharp but 
just a hair gentle.  
The only problems was that min. focusing distance was 1m.  Because I took 
lots of close-up shots of children.   

So, when I eventually found a great bargain on E46 version, I purchased it. 
E46 solved the min. focusing distance issue but it was a bit different in 
what it produced.  I thought the colors are more vivid and saturated.  
Perhaps it may be due to advancements in coating technology?  The lens 
computation should be the same to the best of my knowledge.  Although I 
like the character of E43, I end up taking my E46 version most of the time. 
 However, if my E43 version focused to 70cm, then I would be fully content 
with it.   

Isaku

>From: "Luis Ripoll" <luisripoll@telefonica.net>
>Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
>To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
>Subject: [Leica] About the Summilux 50mm
>Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2004 22:06:11 +0100
>
>
>
>Hello all,
>
>I've read a lot of reviews of the three versions of this lens : 11114 
(E43),
>11168 (E46), and the new ASPH.
>
>I actually own the Summicron M 50mm (11825) produced during 1978-1994, the
>mainly point I see the Summilux as a more attractive lens is just the
>contrary as the "defects" it seems it has, less contrast and sharpness,
>except on the 5,6 - 16 range as is said by E. Puts, the fingerprint of
>Summicron and Summilux is the same.
>
>Erwin Puts says that "the older Summilux paints as Rembrandt, the new as
>Vermeer...", on the other side on the Leica FAQ pages, I've visited
>http://4020.net/unposed/, I've also visited
>http://photos.oliversteiner.com/.
>
>With Summicron I've never get the subtle tones I've see on these pictures;
>for my preferences I think that I don't need the expensive ASPH.
>
>I would like know your opinions, between the E43 and E46, and if it pays 
the
>difference with the Summicron, for my personal experience a stop of F2 is
>generally enough, the only point is about the difference in tones,
>gradation...
>
>Thanks for your opinions
>Luis
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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