3-D imaging characterisics of pre-asph. 50 mm Summilux (E43) vs. Summicron (11817)

[awilder]

One big advantage of the classic 50 mm Summilux-M over Summicrons of similar or even current vintage is that it's inherent curvature of field extends the plane of sharpness well into the foreground for off axis objects. Conversely, it works to the detriment for flat field infinity landscape photography unless stopped down several stops to approach the performance of the Summicron or ASPH Summilux, both of which have flatter fields. The enhanced 3-D sharpness is probably one reason among many why the lens still has a loyal following. The picture on the left is with the 50 Summilux (E43) at f/2.8 and the one on the right from a Summicron (11817) also at f/2.8. Note the foreground sharpness difference of the flower pot and the greenery extending all the way to the bottom of the frame. Focused on the hanging flowers on the right side of the baker's rack against the brick wall.

 

[awilder]

Here are some crops in the same order. Note, the Summicron shot is a tad sharper but very difficult to appreciate unless I get a much tighter crop than this one. For all intents and purposes, sharpness is about equal.

 

[awilder]

Lastly, the foreground shot, same order. The sharpness difference is much more obvious.

 

[dreamsandart]

Very interesting; I have both these lenses and didn't realize it was so much. The 11817 always thought of as my flat field lens, and compact for travel with 39mm filters, and the Summilux I've always liked the look of not just that its a stop faster.

The Summilux has also been know to handle highlight (flare) very well. My Summilux is the newer 46 with the up to date lens coatings, never done a side by side with the older 43 lens and wonder how that changes things.

 

[awilder]

The redesigned E43 version from the early 60's when through a minor optical tweaking in the late 60's around the time the black anodized version appeared. This consisted of making a slightly flatter field improving infinity edge performance from f/4 and smaller. However, despite this, at infinity, the Summicrons and currrent ASPH Summilux still perform a little better in the outer field and edge even when the pre-asph version is stopped down to f/8 or f/11. I'm not sure if the E46 version went through further refinements in curvature of field but I doubt it.

 

[35mmdelux]

sounds technical to me but I've noticed a dimensional effect produced by my late 50 Summilux pre-asph (1999). In portraiture this works fabulous.

Landscapes. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm starting to believe that in landscape shooting one must consider stopping down the lens significantly, any lens.

I shot some scapes in Costa Rica several months back possibly in the f/8.0+/- range with 28mm Elmarit-M. On review I noticed that the far background was OOF in most of my fotos. Middle ground was okay as was close foreground. Sometimess one cannot help it because of lighting conditions but otherwise I think I'd like a little more sharpness to the distant background.

 

[awilder]

One must stop this lens down to at least f/4 or f/5.6 to start to bring the edge into critically sharp focus at infinity. If the landscape is just inside infinity, for example ~ 200 feet away, you could alternatively focus "past" the landscape by setting the lens' focus to infinity. This would sharpen the edge and throw the center off a little but not enough to be an issue as center sharpness tends to hold nicely even if focus is not spot on. This works great if you need better edge focus at the larger apertures.