The Leica "Glow"....any pics!

[Bad Example]

Obviously, the newer APO, Asph may be lacking in this respect......which of the M mount lenses have it? Any other brands have it? Pics wanted!

 

[Erik van Straten]

What do you mean with "Leica glow"? What is "glow"? Can you give us an example of it?

Erik.

 

[raydm6]

I think there are several old threads dedicated to this topic.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

Any other brands have it?

I'd argue just about every fast lens from the '60s-'90s has it...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The term "Leica Glow" has been the most overused and undefined optical term over the last 20 years.
If you can provide a definition in terms of optical qualities, I can probably find a lens that produces it. I have a lot of lenses.
For the "traditional use" of the term, anything made after the Summarit 5cm F1.5 and Type 1 Rigid/Dual-Range Summicron 5cm F2 have lost it.

 

[Dogman]

I had The Glow. Until I had my cataracts fixed. Now no glow.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The traditional term meant the trade-off between contrast and resolution that Leica engineers chose when designing lenses. Leica lenses favored absolute resolution over contrast, making for lower-contrast images with very high detail, This "Look" fell out of favor in the 1960s with many of the new optics from Japan, and Leica designs such as the second version Rigid Summicron 50/2 of the 1960s reflected the more popular look. The "Glow" was diminished.

 

[Saganich]

This old uncoated Summitar has some glow. Kentmere 1/60 f/2

 

[Retro-Grouch]

What do you mean with "Leica glow"? What is "glow"? Can you give us an example of it?

Erik.

The "Leica Glow" is the look you get on your face when you find a mint M2 at a yard sale for $15.00.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The "Leica Glow" is the look you get on your face when you find a mint M2 at a yard sale for $15.00.

I settled for a IIIa with Summar and Black III with Elmar for $15 each. The Nikon M with 5cm F1.4 was $30.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I settled for a IIIa with Summar and Black III with Elmar for $15 each. The Nikon M with 5cm F1.4 was $30.

Glow? You must have been positively radiant!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This old uncoated Summitar has some glow. Kentmere 1/60 f/2

It is flare. Not glow.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Obviously, the newer APO, Asph may be lacking in this respect......which of the M mount lenses have it? Any other brands have it? Pics wanted!

Have you tried to google it?
This is the closest to what I have seen with my Leitz 50 1.5 if W/O.

https://www.teknopunk.com/en/Blog/Entries/2011/8/24_Leica_glow_and_other_fascinations_-_or_not.html

 

[KoNickon]

It is flare. Not glow.

Yes -- "glow" is marketing spin. I was glowing when I found a IIIa for $10, though....

 

[boojum]

I disagree a bit. I have a Cooke Amotal 2" (50mm) f/2.0. It has the touted "Cooke Look" about it which motivates cinematographers to use the cinema lenses. Glare? I wonder. It does seem to add a bit of radiance and glow to photos. Maybe it was the KoolAid I drank but I am a believer. Here is an early morning shot of a boat in the yard here in town: https://flic.kr/p/2nJBxT1

This is a link to the album. The Rhodies just glow while still being sharp, in focus. A nice lens. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzQSJS

As in all things here, YMMV

I am also fond of the Canon 50mm f/1.8 (https://flic.kr/p/2n1kmdk) and the not quite as glowing but still good Jupiter 8, when you have a good copy. Leitz is not the only good lens grinder.

These are my opinions and worth just what you paid for them.

 

[yossi]

I see glow clearly on the second boy's fingers, also a bit on the first boy's right ear. Or I just imagine things?
(pix shot with 35mm summilux pre-asph, by Steven Tanno):

https://live.staticflickr.com/3945/33107472684_2ca762ed07_k.jpg

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yes -- "glow" is marketing spin. I was glowing when I found a IIIa for $10, though....

Flare or glow it is just a defect. But for those who can’t produce content, special d-effects is blessing.

 

[LCT]

Just halos around highlights. Easy to produce with the Summilux 35/1.4 pre-asph for instance.

 

[LCT]

Or Nokton 35/1.4 SC v2

 

[LCT]

Last one Summilux 35/1.4 v2 again