50mm Lens comparison - Which one do you like?

[harmsr]

I took two quick photos the other day as a comparison when finishing out a roll on new film that I was also trying.

I have two 50mm Leica lenses. One is the 50 1.4 Lux ASPH and the other is a 50 2.0 Cron DR in the 2116xxx serial number range.

Both of these shots were taken within a minute of each other with each lens wide open.

The film is Kodak 100 UC. Scanned with my Nikon 5000 with the same settings ( no sharpness or other mods.) No Photoshop except for conversion to 8bit, sRGB, image size reduction for the web, and both saved at 90% JPEG quality to get file size for the forum.




Ignoring the slightly different compostion as my dog moved on me and I had to move, which one do you like best? (Relative to sharpness, OOF bokeh, vignetting, tones, definition, etc...)



After comments, I'll post which lens is which.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Hard to pick. But I believe the first one is the 'cron, the second is the 'lux.

 

[der-felix]

The second one has to be the summilux as the image has much less sharpness in the backgrond and it opens twice as much as the cron, right?
Anyway, I like the second picture a little more, maybe its the bokeh, this I like in particular. In terms of color I think no one is really superior over the other, vignetting I think is not visible for me. Both are of excellent quality.
Very beautiful dog, by the way....🙂

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I don't know which is which, but I prefer the first one.

 

[rover]

I pick number 2

 

[trittium]

I agree, number 2

 

[Nick R.]

The out-of-focus ring of gravel(?) at the edge of the grass looks much softer in the shot on the right.

 

[back alley]

i prefer # 2

 

[doubs43]

While I like #2 best, I'm not so certain that it's a "fair" test. The greater DOF of the Summicron at f/2 as opposed to f/1.4 has a direct effect upon the OOF image. Take them both at f/2 and then I'd say the comparison is valid.

Walker

 

[Nick R.]

But if the one shoots at f1.4 and the other doesn't, that's part of the test!

 

[johnkuo]

I certainly hope #2 is the 50/1.4 asph. I've been thinking about getting one to replace my 50 cron, but if the bokeh looks like #1, I'm not so sure if I want it. There are a lot of discussion on the relatively harsh bokeh of the new asph lens.

 

[macnorfin]

I think the one on the right is the 'Cron and the one on the left is the 'Lux. The DOF on the left seems a shade narrower and with less highlight detail while the OOF area in the right-hand photo seems a little smoother. Both are obviously from high quality lenses. I like the right one a little better.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I vote for the one on the left as the Lux and the one on the right as the Cron. Nicer bokeh on the cron . . . Hey, and a great looking dog in both pics! BTW, my DR Cron also vignetted a little like the pic on the right when I got it. I would think about a CLA, because once I had mine cleaned by Sherry Krauter, the vignetting went away. Of course if I'm wrong about which is which, I'll be eating some crow.

Ben

 

[JoeFriday]

I would easily choose the shot on the right.. the bokeh is softer, less distracting.. but both are clearly nice lenses

 

[matt fury]

I like the one on the right, too. It was pretty close, but the pebbles put it over. Don't know which is which though.

 

[vizioneer]

I like the 1st one, and I bet that is the lux asph.

 

[vizioneer]

I like the bokeh on the 1st- has a nice texturey feel. Different.

 

[Honus]

OK, after looking at these photos about 5 different times, I am convinced that the left is the ASPH and the right is the DR. I prefer the DR.

If I am wrong, then forget I was ever here 😀

Robert

 

[telenous]

I think the Lux is to the left, the DR on the right. I prefer the photo to the right, the bokeh appears creamier and it seems to me the contrast is lower. Or not.

 

[Stu W]

I like the second best. I say that's the lux and the first is the dr.