50mm Summilux f1.4 version 1

I have got a couple of offers to sell me the v1 pre-asph 50lux. Hope to hear more feedback on this lens. Is it really inferior to the v2 onwards?
 
Nick De Marco said:
Fast becoming one of my favourite lenses. It may be old, and I have read the 1st version Lux lacks sharpness wide open, but I am very impressed with the performance of this lens.
Click to expand...
I've tried all versions of the 50 ' lux and have only kept the 1st version. The ASPH is the best of them all by a mile but too expensive for my use. The 1st version lacks a little sharpness wide open but has more even contrast and (I think) a better look than the other pre-ASPH versions.
 
I bought the 50mm summilux v1 as my first Leica lens. I knew that I wanted a lens for black and white and I did a little bit of research about it before I bought it. I am happy with it but if I could, I would buy a 50mm asph, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I am pleased "enough" with its look, build quality and the overall feel of the lens and I don't think the extra money towards an asph would greatly improve my photos. That said, I know that there are faster/sharper lenses out there, but since it was my first lens for my Leica and I have used it everywhere, I can't see myself ever getting rid of it.
Here are a couple of examples from the v1....

Varanasi, India....tri-x
2232347432_889a59b1dd_b.jpg


the focus is a little "off"....for some reason I focused on the string on his arm
Calcutta, India......tri-x
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Kashmire, Pakistan......
2692353890_908856a23e_o.jpg
 
Michael, thanks once again for your feedback and photos! You just seem to have all the lenses that I want to own!! LOL!

Looks like the v1 summilux looks really suitable for b&w photos. I was quite surprised with how well the colour picture turned out! Really nice!

Are these photos shot at max aperture? Do you have any photos showing the 50 lux wide open?

Cheers!
 
Here's a few more from the '59 Summilux...

Bob By Candlelight, January, 2010


Roast Potatoes, January, 2010


Frozen Birdfeeder, December, 2009


Stream, December, 2009
 
I've got a version 1 for sale right now that I'm thinking about withdrawing from sale, partly thanks to the photos and comments on this thread.

The above remarks are correct, this lens is a mechanical beauty. The iris click stops have a mechanical precision and accuracy that I've simply never seen before in a camera lens. The lens is rather compact and light too. It exceeds both the 50mm Summicron and the 50mm Summarit in fit-and-finish which is really quite a feat.

I'll probably (regretably) sell my Nokton 50/1.1 to cover the cost of keeping the Summilux, but good Noktons are easier to find if I need one down the line again.
 
:cool::cool:

Digging Michaels shots here and hoping to add some of my own Summilux 50/1.4 V1 very soon...:cool:

Anybody else got a real early Summilux V1 like mine, with the elevated-knurlings/smooth-lows?
 
I am contemplating the purchase of a early version II Lux, it looks real good on my M4-p and did not want to come off ......... will I notice a big difference between it and my collapsible cron. I shoot black and white
(the shots here look great)
 
The V1 is free of distortion, but there is some coma. The V2 is coma-free, but you pay for that with quite a lot of barrel distortion. My choice would be the V1.

Erik.
 
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