50 Summicron Rigid vs Summilux ASPH

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (summilux 50mm f1.4 v2) leica m3

Erik.

 

[DwF]

Here are a couple of color samples using M10 with the 50 Summilux Asph (BlackPaint) which I also enjoy stopped down.​

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David

 

[lukx]

I have only good things to say about the Rigid Summicron (or the DR, to be precise). It is plenty sharp on film, and if you get close to your subject, you'll get decent bokeh even. It is magical on black and white, but also works well on color film (Pro400H in this case). I love this lens.

Leica M2, Summicron DR, f2.8

 

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (summicron 50mm f2 rigid) leica m3

Erik.

 

[LKSC]

Also, close focusing with the asph seems to suffer less from chromatic aberration than older summilux and possibly summicron too

The late Erwin Puts mentioned this effect in his review of the lens when it was first released, and attributed it to the floating element. He wrote:

"What the floating element accomplishes, is a visual improvement of the quality in the outer zones and a contrast improvement from 1 meter to 3 meters, where the wider apertures will now perform at the optimum of the lens."

 

[dourbalistar]

I have only good things to say about the Rigid Summicron (or the DR, to be precise). It is plenty sharp on film, and if you get close to your subject, you'll get decent bokeh even. It is magical on black and white, but also works well on color film (Pro400H in this case). I love this lens.

Leica M2, Summicron DR, f2.8

Lovely portrait, lukx! Too bad about Pro 400H. I don't shoot much color film, but I do like its color palette compared to other color stocks.

 

[inzite]

imo the summilux asph is very well balanced. some old shots below...

m9 + 50 asph

L1000884 by Ricky Cheong Photography, on Flickr

L1000869 by Ricky Cheong Photography, on Flickr

L1001066 by Ricky Cheong Photography, on Flickr

L1001035 by Ricky Cheong Photography, on Flickr

 

[sjgslack]

I have both these lenses and use them about equally. The rigid summicron is extremely sharp stopped down. There's something about the micro-contrast that is almost harsh (in a good way). And the rendering into out of focus is especially beautiful. It has lower contrast than the lux asph, and is a bit funky wide open. Stopped down it behaves itself, even at f2.8.

The Summilux ASPH is perfect at all apertures, and whilst I'm sure it is as sharp as the rigid, the sharpness seems calmer in a way. Hard to describe! Also it focuses to 0.7m, which is a big advantage over the rigid.

The bottom line is - they are different enough that it is worth having both of them. If I had to pick one, it would be the Summilux, but I'd be very sad to have to!


Untitled by Silas Slack, on Flickr (Rigid Summicron, FP4)

Untitled by Silas Slack, on Flickr (Summilux ASPH, Fomapan 400)

 

[DwF]

I have both these lenses and use them about equally. The rigid summicron is extremely sharp stopped down. There's something about the micro-contrast that is almost harsh (in a good way). And the rendering into out of focus is especially beautiful. It has lower contrast than the lux asph, and is a bit funky wide open. Stopped down it behaves itself, even at f2.8.

The Summilux ASPH is perfect at all apertures, and whilst I'm sure it is as sharp as the rigid, the sharpness seems calmer in a way. Hard to describe! Also it focuses to 0.7m, which is a big advantage over the rigid.

The bottom line is - they are different enough that it is worth having both of them. If I had to pick one, it would be the Summilux, but I'd be very sad to have to!

Untitled by Silas Slack, on Flickr (Rigid Summicron, FP4)

Untitled by Silas Slack, on Flickr (Summilux ASPH, Fomapan 400)

Nice images, Silas.

David