Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/03/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Mar 25, 2005, at 2:54 AM, Scott McLoughlin wrote: > > The Summicron is the summicron. I read that close-up performance is > excellent. Is this a "do no wrong" 50mm legendary lens. The current Summicron (v4) really can't be beat, especially for the price. One of the sharpest lens I know of, without being harsh. Very smooth bokeh. Supposedly it's only competitor is the new Lux-ASPH at close ranges, due to the floating element. But the Lux costs $2500, if you can find one, and a Cron can be had for as little as $800 new. > And then the Lux. Don't know much about this one. Most discussions > talk about it's low-light performance, but I do hear mention of a > beloved "look." I'd like to learn more about this one. The pre-ASPH Lux is not as sharp at the current Cron (v4) across the entire frame, until it hits f8-f11. Below that it lags behind a little in the field and corners. You probably won't see this unless you make some very big enlargements. Erwin Puts describes the Lux as a 3rd generation Cron, opened up a stop. Based on my shooting experience I agree with him. This lens is not a dog. As a matter of fact it has become my standard lens. The fingerprint is gorgeous in black and white, very smooth, and it's a real bokeh machine. Think if it as a slightly more compact Nokton, without the harshness. By all accounts the new Lux-ASPH is a stunning lens, maybe the best 50 ever, but it's about $2500. Not sure about the bokeh of the ASPH Lux, I don't have enough data, but people who have one seemed to be very pleased. > For background, I shoot B&W pretty much exclusively. Family, friends > and hobbyist documentary and artsy pics. I rarely shoot landscape > stuff (just vacations). I scan film and print with an MIS ink set > outfitted Epson printer. If you don't need the extra stop I would get a current generation Summicron 2/50. It really is a stunning lens. The pre-ASPH Lux has come down a lot in price, since the introduction of the ASPH model, but even used it's still more expensive than the Cron is new. But of course at the end of the day, what really counts is taking a great picture. ;-) Feli ________________________________________________________ feli2@earthlink.net 2 + 2 = 4 www.elanphotos.com