50mm Lens comparison - Which one do you like?

My preference is for #2. The bokeh on the first one looks awful (IMHO) - double lines on the fountain and swirls on the border between the grass and the wall.

Cheers,

Mark -%)
 
laverda3c said:
My preference is for #2. The bokeh on the first one looks awful (IMHO) - double lines on the fountain and swirls on the border between the grass and the wall.

Cheers,

Mark -%)

I agree 100% with you Mark. To me, the bokeh on the first one is really ugly.

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

Sorry, Nick, but I disagree.... unless it's an apples & oranges test. The difference between f/2 and f/1.4 is sufficient to invalidate a direct comparison at those apertures IMO. They can be compared to each other at f/2. Would anyone accept a comparison between lenses that were a full f-stop difference for each set of images? e.g., two 135mm lenses compared with one at f/5.6 and the other at either f/4 or f/8? In any event, that's just my take and my opinion on it. I'm not trying to start an argument.

Walker
 
I definitely find the one on the right more pleasant. OOF areas deciding factor for me, too.
It's downright uncomfortable for me to look at the palms and gravel in the one on the left.
 
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Here a few more photos to make it more interesting yet.

These are taken at the same aperature.

These first three go with the lense of the photo on the left in the original post.
 

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Here are the photos which go with the originals post's photo/lense on the right.
 

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1st three thumbs are the f/2 lens, 2nd three thumbs are the f/1.4 lens- can see the aperture coming into play at f/2 with the 2nd set.
 
Yep, without a doubt, the first one is the 'cron, the second one is the 'lux. You can tell the one at f/2 in the first one is wide open, the second one at f/2 is stopped down. Sorry; me spoil fun? 😱
 
Ray i see you posted the same question on the Leica Forum
i like the 2nd series of shots in both instances but i've no experience of the DR or the ASPH version of the Lux so it's hard for me to tell but as the OFF areas seem softer on the second series of images wide open i'd guess that the 50/1.4 ASPH is the second set Also there is a slight vignetting of the second picture of the dog and the contrast is higher on the plant images both of which also suggests the 1.4.
Simon
 
The last group is really illustrative of the differences in these lenses. The first set has the pre-1979 50 mm Summicron veiling flare quality causing reduced contrast and color saturation (especially on the candles) in contra-jour situations. This is most obvious at f/4 and f/11. On the up side, it fills in shadow detail of the potted plant in the foreground as if it had a little more light in those areas. I was surprised to see that the harsh bokeh of the dog shot background was taken with the same lens in the first group of indoor shots which I assume is the Summicron. I guess the bokeh of the new 50/1.4 Asph ain't too bad after all.
 
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Hopefully I will scan my further comparison of - among others - Rigid Cron and Quinon (Sonnar) this evening.
What I have seen so far is the increadible soft background performance of the Quinon, because I am not that thrilled with the Cron's OOF perfomance. This last test is mainly to compare sharpness.

The comparison in this test shows a similar harsh performance of the Cron.
 
OK - THE ANSWER IS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dog #1 (left) and Plant set #1 are from the DR.
Dog #2 (right) and Plant set #2 are from the ASPH.


I really did this to show why I like both lenses so much for different things and to negate the rumors of the the new ASPH being "harsh and clinical".

I love both lenses.

The DR is VERY sharp and also contrasty when fairly open. This is a great lens when not backlit. Bokeh is more defined with this lense, and can be useful depending on your ideas.

The ASPH Lux is a GREAT all around lens for any lighting situation and has very pleasing bokeh. ( "clinical or harsh" - HA - Not in the least)

Hope you guys enjoyed.

Ray
 
DOF is slightly tighter and the back wall is less defined in the 50/1.4 shot wide open than the 50/2 shot wide open in the first thumbnail. That to me are the clues.
 
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