50lux v1 or bnib 50cron?

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radambe

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Just got an m9. Coming from a CL, then M6, then M8. Have a 40mm Nokton. Wanting to move into a 50mm leica optic. Have opportunities on both a 50lux type 1 and a 50 summicron brand new. Both are around the same price. Low light performance is important to me, thus the f2 limitation of the cron scares me a bit. Which way do ya'll think I should go?

PS: Sorry for the lame-o thread. Flame if you must.
 
That sounds a high price for the Lux to me. The old Lux's have their charms but they're not a patch on the asph model. If you want speed then I'd look at the Zeiss C-Sonnar for a charismatic lens (don't forget the Planar as a Summicron competitor unless you just want Leica glass).

Another thought: you have the 40/1.4 Nokton - you could try restricting yourself to no more than f2 for some low-light shots to see how much it restricts you in practice on the M9 and therefore whether the Summircron's speed really is that scary.
 
What do you mean by "type 1" Summilux? If it's the very first version from the early 60's, in silver chrome, (somewhere in a book there's a serial# range to identify that version) then I can't imagine it worth the same money as for a brand-new Summicron. If you mean a late-numbered version in e43 filter, or the final version in e46, then maybe the prices are close.

The second optical version of the Summilux is a fab lens for low-light portraiture and moody shots (vs the very clinical high-contrast rendering of the ASPH) and sharpens up to Summicron territory by f/5.6 and by f/8-11 is brilliantly sharp all across the frame. It is also very much flare-free, a plus in nightscapes or indoors with candles or overhead spotlights. The Summicron is good, but the Summilux is better. The current Summicron with built-in hood is also not terribly much smaller.
 
If you really like the look of the first Summilux then it's worth anything you're willing to spend on one. Personally I like the v.3 E46 w/short focus throw and 0.7M closest focus but the v.1 renders a really beautiful image. I found the modern Summicron was painfully sharp (I had two of them). Just from a rendering perspective I'd go for the Summilux. If it's expensive it better be in great optical & mechanical condition though.
 
'cron is meant to be one of the sharpest 50's around.

F2 isn't too slow. And if it was me, I'd rather be throwing all that money on a new lens rather than a very old and well used lens.
 
I had an E46 Summilux Pre-ASPH which I used to shoot at f/2.8 most of the time. The thing was blisteringly sharp at f/2.8 and by f/5.6 it was pretty much as good as I needed it to be.

I'd go with the Summicron only for overall quality. The early Summilux lenses (v1) are okay for most things, but pale in comparison to a modern 50 Summicron.
 
Since you seem to put high priority on speed, I'd forget the V1 50 Summilux and go for a 50/1.4 Canon LTM lens as performance will be better at a fraction of the cost. Leica being well aware of the Japanese competition's superior performance, later introduced the V2 50 Summilux in the mid 60's. The primary difference in the design is improved contrast which gives more bite to the image. Without question, either V1 or V2 Summilux equals the Summicron performance centrally at f/2, but off axis, either Summilux performance suffers in comparison primarily due to higher astigmatism especially with the V2 when shooting a flat object plane like a brick wall or skyline at infinity. The best version of course is the ASPH Summilux that gives you perfomance on par with the Summicron out to the edge but with an extra stop in low light capture.
 
The V1 Lux has a lot of glow wide open and unless that's what you want, I wouldn't get it. The V3 E43 and E46 are much better. The E46 is preferable because of the pull out hood and closer focus ability.
 
Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated. I shot no faster than F2 today to see what it would mean. It really means very little I guess except at the extremes where I'd be underexposing at 1.4 on a lux. The canon does sound interesting. Could be a cool combo - new 50 cron for the always on the body lens, and the canon when i need the speed.

thanks again!!!
 
I did lots of low-light shooting w/ my old collapsible 'cron before I got the v3 E43 summilux. F2 is definitely manageable most of the time, and you could always keep
the 40mm for when you need to have the extra stop.
The new summicron is definitely the better lens to have in my opinion. The 'lux has character, but the new 'cron is much better performing.

I feel like I just had this conversation....did I talk to you on the phone yesterday? (looking glass)

-Brian
 
I'd definitely get the Cron. I had the newest version Cron 50 and then sold it to get a newest version Lux 50. Both are great lenses. I do not regret the switch and do like having the speed of the Lux, but is that aspect worth two grand? The Cron 50 is a solid lens with small size and classic rendering.
 
The version 1 Summilux and version 2 Summilux is identically the same externally. Only optically different. This can be checked by using serial numbers, go to rockwell for the data of the end of the version 1 serial. and start of the version 2 serial.

If it is the version 2 you mentioned, I would get the summilux instead. But if it's version 1, then it is way overpriced and I would opt for the summicron.

The summilux version 2 actually exhibits a certain characteristic that I am very fond of compared to even the new Summilux ASPH.
 
I have both, and I don't find the slightly slower speed of the Summicron limiting. I have often used it for shooting indoors, or even outdoors at night. I prefer the look of the Summilux images in general shooting, but that's just me, others have the opposite opinion.
 
got the summicron. so far, wonderful.

6645593823_4cbb69f8b2_b.jpg
 
@BTMarcais

Yes you did. Aha, it is me, radambe.

Thank you so much for the convo the other day. And to everyone on this thread. Definitely helped me make up my mind. I feel like I made the right decision and am very happy with the deal I got. Looking Glass in Berkeley = awesome camera shop. Good people.

thanks again,
adam
 
How about a second hand Nokton 50/1.5 ? I really liked it on the M9. When I got a very good deal on a second hand 50/1.4 asph I sold it, but frankly speaking, apart from the lesser close focusing distance on the Nokton it was difficult to tell the difference in reality. When I acquired the summilux I also sold a 3rd version summicron that I no longer needed. If you do not want to go the VC way I would take a new summicron over an older summilux any day.
 
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