35 Summilux F1.4 Type 2?

[A.B Watson]

Hi everyone

Well I'm new to Leica just got myself a M6 Classsic, because I want to go back to shotting film after using my Fuji X-100.

I'm currently in the market for a new Lens and I love shooting with a 35mm lens. Used to shot 50mm but now I've made the jump to 35mm and don't want to look back.

I mainly shot street photography, early in the morning and late in the evenings. Just want your opinion on this lens and I'm open to any suggestions for other lens out there.

Been looking at the
35mm Summilux F1.4 Type 2
35mm Summicron F2 Type 4

Also I mainly shot with Kodak 400TX / Tri-X 400

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The Cron will be a bit sharper up to f/4-5.6 but for the most part they are almost exactly the same lens. With the V2 Summilux you get f/1.4 and the beautiful aberrations that make the images "glow" when used wide open. When using the Summilux, if you wished you bought the Summicron, all you have to do is stop it down and you're there.
say go for the Lux but that's cause I use mine every day and love it.

Phil Forrest

 

[BobYIL]

Welcome to the forum. Both of these lenses are legendary and you will be pleased by either of them.

The Summicron 35 v.4 is regarded as "the king of bokeh" by many, delivering smooth bokeh with excellent sharpness corner to corner right after one stop down, maintaining relatively high contrast.

The Summilux 35 pre-asph. is known of having three versions; the first one is referred as "steel-rim", the second one Canadian and the third one Wetzlar made, then come the asphericals. I did not use the "steel-rim" but having the second and the third versions, I could not detect any difference between them. Both have low contrast wide open, lots of coma toward edges, relatively fuzzy outer fields still exhibiting fine details in a very unique way. This feature is called "glow" and regarded as a desired characteristic rather than optical fault. At f2 sharpness and contrast get better, at f2.8 it is similar to the Summicron v.4.

Both lenses have almost no distortion, both lenses are first class choices for film photography as they are never known as being harsh or too contrasty, both deliver long tonal gradations, both are known of having unique character admired by many of us.

As a personal note, I hold the Summilux 35 pre a little higher than the other 35mm Leica lenses, not only for the typical glow it casts over the image but it looks -to my eyes- always like a "wide 50" stretching toward the corners less than any other 35 I tried; a perfect match for the Sonnar 50 ZM.

BTW, do not overlook the Summicron v.1 too.. An amazing 35, for me it's one notch higher than the v.4.

 

[awslee]

Even with the v1 "steel rim", there are two versions, one with the goggle version "M3" can focus down to .65 meter where as the non-goggle version "M2" can only focus down to 1 meter. I personally prefer the M3 version since .65 makes a big difference. And I agree with BobYIL, I think v1 of the summicron is better lens than v4. It gives you that classic Leica look.

 

[ferider]

If 35 is your only lens, consider the minimum focus of the Summicron (0.7m) vs. the 1m of the Summilux.

Also the v4 Summicron is overhyped, in particular when it comes to build quality. Look at the version before that (6 element v3), built like a rock and a little cheaper normally too.

Roland.

 

[nobbylon]

As most of us go on about buid quality but the v4 is what it is, quite probably the best Leica has ever produced in 35mm

 

[ferider]

Sherry will disagree with you 🙂

 

[raid]

My personal choice is the V1 Summicron. I love it.
I also love the V2 Summilux.
Life is good.

 

[astro8]

I was torn between getting the 35 Summilux v2 and 35 Summicron v1 but went with the Summilux as I figured the 'cron would make a lousy 'lux when I tried opening it up to f/1.4 🙂

Funnies aside, I went with the 'lux as I seem to shoot mostly in low light or at night @1600 so I appreciate the speed...but I try to manage at f2-f2.8 if possible.

I would still like to eventually get a v1 'cron...just because.

-Greg

 

[raid]

my taste in 35mm lenses

my taste in 35mm lenses

Raid, has it been stated that you have immaculate taste in 35s? 😀

Thanks, Thomas. This is a first! 😀
I like the V1 Summicron for its great overall performance. It is sharp enough, with high resolution. Its built is (maybe) unsurpassed any other Leica lenses.

The V2 Summilux is small and it performs beutifully wide open and closed down and inbetween. I go back and forth between these two 35mm lenses.

I keep the Canon 35/1.8 and 35/1.5 for special cases. The 35/1.8 is great for travel, while the 35/1.5 gives a vintage look with a special look.