35mm Summilux or Summicron?

[HuubL]

It seems I got a new 35 mm lens in the mail: a Summilux v2. I already have a v4 (king of bokeh) Summicron and it seems senseless to keep both.

Considering that both have excellent glass, that the cron has a bit more signs of use on the barrel, and the current value, which one would you keep? Is that based on performance? Is one clearly better than the other?

 

[kiemchacsu]

FIRST question:
why did you buy the summilux considering you already have the summicron?

 

[raid]

I have both, and I use both. Do I really "need" to use both? No.
Why do I have both? Because I want to try them out.
Would I sell one of them? No.
Why not? Each lens has different qualities. and such lenses appreciate in value over time.

 

[HuubL]

FIRST question:
why did you buy the summilux considering you already have the summicron?

Because I had the chance to find one for a good price....
What's your SECOND question...?

 

[giulio stucchi]

My suggestion is to try out the lux v2 and see how you like the rendering and the performance wide open.
I love my lux V2 (infinity lock version) but I consider it a special lens, hence I also use a summaron 2.8 (for me a perfect 2 lens kit for a standard and a full of character 35mm lens on two M2s).

I never use a cron v4 so I can't comment on this specific lens.

Good luck with your final choice.

Giulio

 

[giulio stucchi]

...and the lux v2 infinity lock focused down to about 0.85 meter so you have now a 3rd lens to hunt 🙂 ...

 

[HuubL]

I have both, and I use both. Do I really "need" to use both? No.
Why do I have both? Because I want to try them out.
Would I sell one of them? No.
Why not? Each lens has different qualities. and such lenses appreciate in value over time.

Thanks Raid. Increasing value over time would be a legitimate reason to keep both. Especially in these days of low/negative interest rates. However, do classical cameras and lenses still increase in value? I haven't seen a recent update of the lists on antiquecameras.net.

 

[HuubL]

...and the lux v2 infinity lock focused down to about 0.85 meter so you have now a 3rd lens to hunt 🙂 ...

You don't make it easy for me...😱

 

[kiemchacsu]

Because I had the chance to find one for a good price....
What's your SECOND question...?

Yay, so I would suggest that you keep using the lux for a while and see which one you prefer.

Personally I have switched from 35/2 iv to the summaron 35/2.8 for a while (3months) and concluded that I much prefer the summicron. I have no experience with the lux anyway.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Considering that both have excellent glass, that the cron has a bit more signs of use on the barrel, and the current value, which one would you keep? Is that based on performance?

I would make a test of both at the same time. If they perform identical, I would keep the best looking one.

The "king of bokeh", the Summicron v4 lenses, are made both in in Canada and Gemany. The Germany-versions are newer and more expensive. There are also examples in chrome. These are very sought-after. The Canada-versions have often mechanical problems.

The Summilux pre asph v2 35mm lenses are also made both in Canada (early) and Germany (later). I have a very early Canadese version, 2221365 (with infinity lock), that is an awful performer, but looks like new.

Erik.

 

[Rob-F]

I have both, and I use both. Do I really "need" to use both? No.
Why do I have both? Because I want to try them out.
Would I sell one of them? No.
Why not? Each lens has different qualities. and such lenses appreciate in value over time.

My answer also. I have both and it would not occur to me to sell either.

 

[DwF]

How about 'cron vs con!

How about 'cron vs con!

You aren't alone here: I just ended up with two Summicrons, v 3 and v4. Long story but I imagine I will sell one off before too long.

Closer to your situation, one time in the 90s, I found myself with a 35 Summilux v2 and an 35 Aspheric Summicron which was relatively new on the market. I loved the Summilux in most aspects and very much for it's size and handling, but didn't personally find it very useful wide-open so I sold it. I really liked the Aspheric but not the size so much. I eventually sold it off. If I could get one back, it would probably be the 'lux.

More recently for my first M9, I picked up a Version 4 Summicron. I liked it very much and made very nice enlargements with that combination. Fast forward to the past couple of weeks, with an M9 again and these lenses, did a quick comparison of v3 6 element and v4 7 element lenses. While not extensive, I can say that I'd be really hard pressed to tell the difference between these two. The version 3 is a good deal in a 35 Summicron, and I like the physical build and design of the version 3 as well.

In your case, at least the two are different. Good luck choosing 🙂

David

 

[HuubL]

I would make a test of both at the same time. If they perform identical, I would keep the best looking one.

The "king of bokeh", the Summicron v4 lenses, are made both in in Canada and Gemany. The Germany-versions are newer and more expensive. There are also examples in chrome. These are very sought-after. The Canada-versions have often mechanical problems.

The Summilux pre asph v2 35mm lenses are also made both in Canada (early) and Germany (later). I have a very early Canadese version, 2221365 (with infinity lock), that is an awful performer, but looks like new.

Erik.

Thanks Erik,
Mine is #3254023. Would that be a Canadian or German version?
My Cron is made in Canada and I don't have complaints.

 

[Fraser]

I've got both I reckon the summilux does not catch up with the summicron until f2.8 maybe even f4, I always kept it because I liked it on my m2 and it meant I could carry m9 with the summicron and m2 with the summilux. I also would never sell the summilux because it only cost me around £250 about ten years and I can't see me finding another one so cheap!

 

[HuubL]

BTW, If I have to keep them both, I'll sell one of my Summarons shortly. And that goes with another question: LTM, dual mount or M-mount?

 

[Fraser]

quick test I did a while ago
Lux wide open
15fbpicwideopen35lux_2 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr
Lux 2.8
lux@f2.8 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr
and Cron wide open
15fbpicwideopen35croV4_2 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr crop from this
15fbpicwideopen35croV4_1 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr

 

[Pete B]

It seems I got a new 35 mm lens in the mail: a Summilux v2. I already have a v4 (king of bokeh) Summicron and it seems senseless to keep both.

Considering that both have excellent glass, that the cron has a bit more signs of use on the barrel, and the current value, which one would you keep? Is that based on performance? Is one clearly better than the other?

I had both and recently sold the Summilux. The Summicron is sharper at f2 (the aperture I would tend to use the Summilux), and the cron is smaller. I couldn't justify keeping the lux for digital; I'd only consider keeping it for that useful change in character going to F1.4.
Pete

 

[Pete B]

Thanks Raid. Increasing value over time would be a legitimate reason to keep both. Especially in these days of low/negative interest rates. However, do classical cameras and lenses still increase in value? I haven't seen a recent update of the lists on antiquecameras.net.

I've done nothing but lose on lens sales.
Pete

 

[Erik van Straten]

The Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim is the best of them all. That is my subjective opinion.

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Jerevan]

It seems I got a new 35 mm lens in the mail: a Summilux v2. I already have a v4 (king of bokeh) Summicron and it seems senseless to keep both.

I think you need to sell the Summilux to me. 😉

Well, what you lose is sharpness wide open, 30 centimeter of the close range and a few grams of matter. And you need to get a 12504 hood and a series VII filter (cheapskates use a reversed 49 mm filter).

Either lens of the above is good - what you need is to point it at something interesting and the rest will take care of itself.