50 Lux ASPH quality in other lenses?

[250swb]

OK, playing the game, the lens that comes most to my mind for the same biting clarity and crisp delicate micro contrast of the 50mm Summilux Asph, is.....28mm Summicron, and coincidentally an ideal companion in the camera bag for a 'next lens'.

Steve

 

[ramosa]

For the character, the Summiluxes 21 and 24 match the Summilux 50 asph. An expensive hobby...🙄

Jaap,

Hey, how does the new Lux 35 fit with this statement? Similar character or no?

Thanks for any input. (I ask because I know you know your lenses.)

 

[jaapv]

I don't know. I haven't used it. It should be similar.

 

[Moriturii]

Firstly I must disagree with you. A lousy picture with amazing contrast, color and rendering is just high quality 'lousy picture'.

Secondly, there is no magic in a lens which is often associated with Leica lenses.

Lastly, the closest thing to a Lux ASPH in 50mm is the Zeiss Planar 50/2, but even that won't turn a lousy picture into anything more, even with 'real magic' ;-)

You don't need to use such language to validate your purchases. Just be happy with what you have and use your 'skills' to improve your pictures, without relying on the 'magic' somehow built into your lenses. There is a big difference between a great 'picture' and a lousy 'image' created with a modern sharp lens.

I suggest you concentrate on creating brilliant pictures with your lenses. Your lucky to own the best, most technically advanced 50mm ever made, so concentrate your pictures and don't contribute to all the lousy test shots floating the internet already....then post them here so we can ll appreciate 'your work' - and not the magic of 'your lens'.

This should have it's on thead and be sticky so everyone can see it.

 

[faris]

The 50 Lux is stunning . . . . .

. . . . . I am consistently surprised the quality output of the 75 Cron!

Agree with Dan.

There are always those that are unfortunately unable to share in the excitement of folk like the OP who is rightfully joyous in acquiring the
lux 50mm asph. It is a brilliant lens.

I, for one, wish the OP many years of pleasure with his acquisition in good health and good fortune.

As to a photo being ' lousy ' or ' a masterpiece ' I shall leave that decision
for the viewers.

Enjoy your lens my friend.

Regards.

 

[leicashot]

This should have it's on thead and be sticky so everyone can see it.

I did come across pretty harsh, cause this is what I tell the photographers i train, so pls excuse the use of very direct language...but I still stand by my point 🙂

 

[Richard G]

I looked at over 2000 portraits on the Leica M post your portraits thread - twice. There are some wonderful shots, wonderful photographers. But I did notice two stand-out pieces of equipment: the M9 and the 50 Summilux ASPH.

 

[w1234ale]

Well all, I really appreciate the helpful thoughts and input and the lively conversation. It's is a great conversation on what makes a great photograph, the equipment or the photographer. Clearly it is both.

One thing I am hearing is that it is the fast lenses that can bring that extra level of depth to a shot. One thing I do find remarkable about the 50 lux is how it renders out of focus areas and focuses the eye on the subject.

I am at times have been frustrated with my 28 elmarit, and my sold 21 Elmarit in their bokeh or lack there of. I am also on the fence with my 90 Elmarit. When I shoot with the 28, 50, and 90 I am without fail am drawn to the shots of the 50.

So does the 28 cron or 24 lux bring that extra something?

I deeply appreciate the thoughts about focusing on shooting, not equipment. I am apart of a national project where a group shoots every day, 365 days a year. There is nothing like having a camera in hand every day to see the great shots.

Thanks again for all your helpful thoughts.

 

[Turtle]

That depends on what 'something' you are looking for! I like the 24 lux for reasons that might not have any value to you at all, just as you are very excited about a lens I have no particular desire to own (again): the 50 lux asph. If you are after bokeh in a fairly wide lens, you will get more with a 24 lux than a 24 elmarit, naturally, but that sounds a little like putting rather too much emphasis on one facet of an image. Now that you have the 50 of your dreams, what do you want out of wide or long lenses?

To get what I wanted out of a long lens (portraits) I went for a 85 1.2 L II on my canon film bodies, but if just needing a short tele to take with my M, I will take the 75 summarit. Is it magical? No. Is it a great lens that will leave the ball in my court when it comes to good photos? Yes.

I think it might help you to examine what you are trying to achieve and then figure out what kit will allow you to do this.

 

[jaapv]

Well all, I really appreciate the helpful thoughts and input and the lively conversation. It's is a great conversation on what makes a great photograph, the equipment or the photographer. Clearly it is both.

One thing I am hearing is that it is the fast lenses that can bring that extra level of depth to a shot. One thing I do find remarkable about the 50 lux is how it renders out of focus areas and focuses the eye on the subject.

I am at times have been frustrated with my 28 elmarit, and my sold 21 Elmarit in their bokeh or lack there of. I am also on the fence with my 90 Elmarit. When I shoot with the 28, 50, and 90 I am without fail am drawn to the shots of the 50.

So does the 28 cron or 24 lux bring that extra something?

I deeply appreciate the thoughts about focusing on shooting, not equipment. I am apart of a national project where a group shoots every day, 365 days a year. There is nothing like having a camera in hand every day to see the great shots.

Thanks again for all your helpful thoughts.

Yes, especially the 24 Summilux is a very special lens. The 21 is very similar, but the angle of view makes it more specialist, in my case I went for the 24 because I knew I would use it more. The lens is too expensive for occasional use.
I am a bit excited about tomorrow as the dealer will deliver the 18 Super Elmar.
Some trepidation too. I have never been much of a wideangle shooter and have set myself the goal to get better at it.

 

[Maximilian]

I just got myself a 28mm Summicron ASPH, and I have to say I am very excited about the look I am getting with this lens! It would probably also be a good focal length to mate with your 50mm Summilux ASPH?

Trying to show how a lens renders by looking at a tiny, low resolution JPG. on a computer screen is kinda bananas, but it's unfortunately the best I can do to help. Here is a boring picture (well boring for you I mean, I myself find it kinda fun to follow my wife's freaky transformation) which I took yesterday and did a print of earlier today, and the look of the print really exceeded my expectations! Shot on Ilford FP4.

Well, at least that's my recommendation for a new lens. 😀

Maximilian

 

[leicashot]

I just got myself a 28mm Summicron ASPH, and I have to say I am very excited about the look I am getting with this lens! It would probably also be a good focal length to mate with your 50mm Summilux ASPH?

Trying to show how a lens renders by looking at a tiny, low resolution JPG. on a computer screen is kinda bananas, but it's unfortunately the best I can do to help. Here is a boring picture (well boring for you I mean, I myself find it kinda fun to follow my wife's freaky transformation) which I took yesterday and did a print of earlier today, and the look of the print really exceeded my expectations! Shot on Ilford FP4.

Well, at least that's my recommendation for a new lens. 😀



Maximilian

The Summicron really is a wonderful lens than cannot be faulted. A little less contrasty than the Summilux ASPH but matching in signature with very well behaved bokeh.

 

[kzphoto]

I shot a 28 Summicron for the better part of 3 weeks (borrowed for a wedding) and the lens is phenomenal. Sharp wide open with really great contrast and bokeh.

I wish Leica made some faster 21/24 lenses in an F/2. f/1.4 lenses can be unwieldy on an M body.

 

[rodl]

I also like the Cron 28. It's surprisingly good in low light as well.

 

[jsrockit]

Some really nice people photos in here.

 

[rodl]

I shot a 28 Summicron for the better part of 3 weeks (borrowed for a wedding) and the lens is phenomenal. Sharp wide open with really great contrast and bokeh.

I wish Leica made some faster 21/24 lenses in an F/2. f/1.4 lenses can be unwieldy on an M body.

I'd like to see that too, particularly if the prices were in the Cron 28 range. I doubt that it'll happen though because my guess is that Leica's business model won't support a Cron and a Lux in lenses wider than 35mm.

 

[leicashot]

I'd like to see that too, particularly if the prices were in the Cron 28 range. I doubt that it'll happen though because my guess is that Leica's business model won't support a Cron and a Lux in lenses wider than 35mm.

Lets just hope Leica catch up making their current range of lenses to bring down prices again.....then lets ask for new toys

 

[w1234ale]

Wow, thanks for posting 28 cron shots. Looks like a great lens. My 28 Elmarit just doesnt come in at that level.

 

[Turtle]

Wow, thanks for posting 28 cron shots. Looks like a great lens. My 28 Elmarit just doesnt come in at that level.

Based on what is shown in a little jpeg, that probably means your technical skills/image processing is not as good as theirs and nothing more! Aside from less ODF due to being a stop faster, little else comes through reliably in these small files. Contrast can usually be tweaked too.

 

[JMQ]

Millenium NIkkor 50mmf1.4 with Amedeo adapter to use on M cameras. Did you see this article?

http://www.imagere.com/edsarticles/fast50shootout.htm