Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/03/23

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Subject: [Leica] 75 Summilux a Big Thankyou
From: tgray at 125px.com (Tim Gray)
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:51:02 -0400
References: <A12F349C-9CEB-4629-9CAC-E150C0624AC0@gmail.com> <CALCsb0EBO9fRgWF+XhEZ=SHb-m5-qbttOuAs_-1OZSWtq-B6kw@mail.gmail.com> <20120323143843.GF69877@selenium.125px.com> <03e201cd0907$aa770400$ff650c00$@earthlink.net>

On Mar 23, 2012 at 08:14 AM -0700, Frank Filippone wrote:
>2 lenses that are special because of their max aperture... the 50 Noctilux
>and 75 Summilux have shot up in value since the onslaught of the M8/M9.
>My cut on this has always been that the new Leica buyers just want the
>"best".  What is "better" than these 2?
>
>The fact that they are special only because they open up so widely, and at
>that aperture are a real challenge to focus is lost on these
>nouveau-Leicaists.

Frankly, I was never that interested in the Noctilux, though many are.  
I got a chance to play with the new one the other week and didn't really 
like it at all.  Not the handling or the focus distance.  I don't really 
like the pictures out of them either, the new or the old.

The 75 Summilux is a cool lens which I liked a lot.  It does have 
counterparts that the SLR users have access to (which was part of my 
decision to sell it), while the Noctiluxes arguably do not.  Had it only 
focused faster, I'd still own it.  As it stands, I realized I was 
missing shots that I would have gotten with my 50/1.4, focal length 
differences not withstanding, so practicality won out.  If I were a rich 
man, I'd have kept it.  If I shot more posed portraits, I'd definitely 
have kept it.  However, neither of those facts are true and so now that 
money can be committed to another lens/camera which I'll get a lot more 
use out of.

I actually only bought it because I found one for a hair over $2k since 
it was missing it's hood.  Realizing Leica would attach a new one for 
$150 and figuring I could easily get my money back out if I decided to 
sell, I went for it.

While it does have a nice look wide open, I found that I actually 
preferred shots at f/4 to f/5.6 with the Summilux.  I assume those where 
the rough apertures My favorite shots with the lens were taken out.  
Daylight/window light with 400 speed films on a film camera that only 
goes to 1/1000...  So maybe I'll pick up a CV 75/2.5 or Summarit or a 
Konica 90/2.8 and be as happy and more financially secure :D

We'll see what the M10 brings.  I might actually be tempted to buy one 
if some nagging issues are fixed.


In reply to: Message from eazydraw at googlemail.com (Swanny) ([Leica] 75 Summilux a Big Thankyou)
Message from liangjiyang at gmail.com (Kay Yang) ([Leica] 75 Summilux a Big Thankyou)
Message from tgray at 125px.com (Tim Gray) ([Leica] 75 Summilux a Big Thankyou)
Message from red735i at earthlink.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] 75 Summilux a Big Thankyou)