[Leica] Summilux ASPH 50mm M question - worth the sacrifice?

[vick.ko at sympatico.ca (Vick Ko)]

Thanks Don, and to all others who have responded.

Regards,

Vick Ko




-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+vick.ko=sympatico.ca@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+vick.ko=sympatico.ca@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Don Dory
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 10:11 PM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] Summilux ASPH 50mm M question - worth the
sacrifice?


Vick,
In answer to your question, I would have to answer that it depends. 
If you own a 50 Summicron or the Zeiss equivalent and have no real need
for F1.4 then no, it would not be reasonable to buy the lens.  On the
other hand, if you use a 50mm quite a bit, and you find yourself below
F2 often, and you want a clean sharp image with none of the Noctilux
attributes then the new Summilux is your ticket.

Compared to the Noctilux it focuses closer, is very much sharper off
axis, is much lighter, and displays none of the wierd oof effect that a
Noctilux can occasionally display.  However, the new Summilux is
slightly more suceptible to vieling flare than the Noctilux.

Up against the other competitors from the past, there is no real
competition once you get off axis (assuming you are not looking for a
unique look such as the Summarit displays wide open).  I have most of
the competitors(Canon, NIkon, Leica, Zeiss) from the past with the
exception of the original Summilux.  Until you get past 2.8 the new lens
is very clearly superior in almost any context you could care about.
Against current lenses, the Konica 1.2 looks a lot like the Cosina
35mm1.2.  You get a clean image that appears sharp but does not have the
fine to really fine details that the Summilux delivers.  The new
Summilux is also clearly superior to the current SLR offerings from the
major players.

So, again, if you use a fifty frequently and around 1.4 to 2 fairly
often then the new Summilux is worth it and you should add it to your
arsenal.  However, if you mostly do not go below F2 then I would just
consume more film; carry a couple of rolls of higher speed film and when
you need to use it, rewind whatever you have in the camera and up speed
the film.  The current 50 Summicron is close enough to the Summilux that
you will have to analyse your needs.

0.02

Don
don.dory@gmail.com

On 8/10/05, Vick Ko <vick.ko@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Now that the ASPH Summilux-M 50mm has been out a while, and there have

> been some user opinions, I'd like to ask whether it is worth the major

> expense to buy one.
> 
> Is it turning out to be a legendary performer?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Vick Ko
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
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>


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