Any 75 f/2.0 Summicron owners about?

[Ken Ford]

I'm trying to do some long-range planning of future lens purchases. I currently have a 35 'cron ASPH, a 40 'cron, and a 90 Elmar-C.

I've never been entirely comfortable with 90mm on a RF, but that's all that was available to me (the 75 'lux was always too rich for my blood). I'm thinking along the lines of a 28-35-75, 24-35-75 or 21-35-75 kit when I'm all done, and probably will keep the two CL lenses for a more "vintage" look when needed.

The wide end will take some time - I'm planning on going inexpensive with a non-Leica 28mm first to see if I can live with the focal length due to the built-in framelines in my M6. I've always been more of a 24 person, so i don't know what's going to happen here. Once I narrow down the field, I'll decide what WA I want for keeps.

I'm very interested in learning more about the 75 Summicron. Does anyone here have one, and if so - how do you like it? Are there any samples you can show? I'm particularly interested in wide-open performance.

I really like the newer Leica ASPH look, and am hoping the 75 'cron exhibits this. The reviews I've read seem to indicate that it does, but I'm a sucker for first-hand information!

Thanks!

 

[Ben Z]

(the 75 'lux was always too rich for my blood).

And the 75 Summicron isn't? I used a 75 Voitlander for a couple weeks some time ago, it was a very nice lens and quite inexpensive. My thought was 21-35-75-135. What I found was that there is so little difference between 50-75 and I already had 50 covered in several ways, so I passed on the 75.

 

[Way]

My lenses have been a 35 cron, 50 lux and 90 cron. I find that I use the 90
quite a bit and mostly because lots of the shots are taken from a fixed location
where I'm unable to move closer. I think a 28 would be one of my future purchases
too. The new Zeiss 21 Biogon was highly praised by Erwin Puts, FWIW.

The new 75 cron looks like it can produce stunning results and I also would be
interested in any opinions on that lens.

 

[furcafe]

There have been quite a few threads over on the photo.net Leica Photography forum, e.g.,

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00F44G

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CSSg

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Cs0B

 

[johnkuo]

The 75 Summicron is incredible. Here's some of my shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkuo/search/tags:"75+Summicron"/?page=2

 

[Kensey]

Hi All!
This is my first post on Rangefinderforum but I have thoroughly enjoyed "viewing" some superb threads. Its time to give my tuppence worth...

The 75 2.0 is the best lens I have used wide open, I appreciate that the 'lux 1.4 ASPH 35 AND 50 are a full stop wider and the Noctilux another stop again (I am fortunate enough to own all three). I did consider the 75 1.4 but it is no contest for the type of shots I take, given the weight, focus issues and handling.
My other longer length favourite the 90 2.0 Apo does come close but the 75 focuses closer and is lighter.
SIMPLY SUPERB
Kind regards to all
Ken

 

[Ken Ford]

And the 75 Summicron isn't? I used a 75 Voitlander for a couple weeks some time ago, it was a very nice lens and quite inexpensive. My thought was 21-35-75-135. What I found was that there is so little difference between 50-75 and I already had 50 covered in several ways, so I passed on the 75.

Well, in relative terms, it's a lot less! It's still hugely expensive, but I can consider saving and spinning off other toys to fund one. A few years ago, that wouldn't have been possible for me to do.

I'm not a 50 user, so the 75 is a good fit for me. My working SLR kit for years was 20-24-35-105-180, and I never felt the loss of a 50.

 

[Ken Ford]

furcafe, thank you - I'm trying to read as much about these as I can. I'm a bit obsessive that way!

Kensey, thanks for your comments. I can easily live with a f/2 max aperture so long as the lens is good wide open. The 75 f/1.4 is heavy and large enough to turn me off - I had a 90 Summicron last time around, and it was like a ball and chain.

johnkuo - beautiful work! I can only hope to do as well...

 

[harmsr]

I have one. I traded out of a 90 2.0 ASPH/APO for the new 75 cron ASPH and have never looked back.

It is very similiar to the 50 lux ASPH. These are probably two of Leica's best lenses ever.

I'm in a hurry now, so can't spend the time going through and scanning any photos. However, I do have this one scanned of my wife which I took with the new 75 cron.

The photo was taken on my M7 with the lens wide open, when I first was trying the lens. Unfortunately, it was an old roll of junk Kodak 200HD and then converted to B&W in Photoshop.

 

[StuartR]

It is truly excellent. I posted a rather long thread on it, comparing it to the 75 lux here a week or two ago.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18301

Surprisingly, the 75 lux is very close in many ways. But you might consider it as well...it is cheaper on the used market than the 75 summicron. There was one selling for 1500 on photo.net the other day.