Anyone using the Leica 50 F1.4 lux?

[SteveRD1]

Anyone using the 50 1.4 summilux with an Rd1? If so what do you think of it?

Reason I ask is that my local shop got one in and tomorrow the price goes up from $2495 to $$2750 due to the Leica price increases.

Is this lens overkill on an RD1? I have read seans review but others have told me I will see no difference between this lens and a less expensive CV equivilant.

My shop is open for 3 more hours. Its now or never as I will not pay $2750 tomorrow. WOuld i be better off buying a CV? I have some extra money but if it will do no good for an RD1 I might as well skip it.

Its sure a nice looking and feeling lens though.

S

 

[peter_n]

Steve these Leica "price increases" have more to do with the offer than the sale. What Leica dealers are forbidden to do (by Leica) from tomorrow is advertise a price that is less than the "official" Leica price for the item. This is a common business practice. I think the "price" of an M7 is going up to US $3800 - somehow I don't think that too many people will be buying at that price.

So your dealer may be forced to list the lens at price x but will probably find it convenient to sell it to you at price y.

The other thing is that there are a slew of earlier 50/1.4 Summiluxes on eBay for around US $1250 or so - with a 5 year US Passport warranty. I think that's the lens I would go for...

 

[SteveRD1]

Well, silly me. I went to the shop with my RD1, snaped off a few QUICK JPEGs with the lens (summilux 50 1.4 Aspherical) and took them home to check focus accuracy, detail and color.

What I found was upon opening the JPEGS these were MUCH sharper than the shots with the CV 35 PII.

MUCH MUCH sharper. Also, the focus was DEAD ON, and it seemed VERY easy to focus as well.

The dealer told me tomorrow it would indeed be $2750 when I left.

With 10 minutes to go before closing I called to put a deposit down and will pick it up tomorrow so I locked in the old price.

I had a summicron coming but I canceled the order as it didnt ship yet and I REALLY liked the idea of having F1.4 with the Rd1. PLUS it will be a lifetime lens that I can hang onto if the Digital M becomes reality.

I posted these quick test shots here, at the bottom of the page. Also, the pic of the guy is intentionally like that. I focused on his ear to see how sharp it would be.

http://www.pbase.com/videoman/small

I would of NEVER in my lifetime imagined paying this kind of money for a LENS. When I paid $900 for my old Nikon 85 F1.4 I felt so bad for doing so. WHen I paid just $999 for my Oly 50-200 I cringed. WHat have I done???? Good news is that I told my wife. Since I sold my Digilux 2, she didnt mind so much, plus she is actually very cool.

I just hope my Rd1 lasts!

 

[SteveRD1]

I saw the old version on EBay and was all set to do that until I read a review comparing this new one with the old. Made the old one sound bad so I splurged. OUCH!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Ouch. How about the Nokton? Or the Canon 1.2? If it's only for the RD-1 and you are going to be using the "sweet spot"; just a suggestion...

 

[SteveRD1]

Well, Im getting it for $2400, tomorrow it will be selling at $2750. if I ever need to sell down the road I should be able to at a minimal loss. PLUS it just seemd so perfect on my RD1! I wont be using it only at 1.4. Its gonna have to be my main lens for a long time at that price.

$2400 is insane for a lens, but I figure this can be a lens I keep for a LONG time, and use it for future digital RF's as well, if there are any!

PLUS, I did sell all of my other gear so I may as well get what I want. You only live once, and its not gonna break me so I figured why not! SOmeone has to buy these lenses, so I cant be the only crazy one.

 

[Doug]

Steve, congratulations on the new glass! The samples are stunning... has to be worth the painful $$$. That'll give you a lot of pleasure for a long time. I probably have a good feel for what you went through, you're not the only crazy one, as I just got a new 28 Summicron ASPH... and my previously most extravagant lens (at less than half the cost) was the 75mm f/2.8 ASPH for my Pentax 67! Delightfully, results from both lenses are exquisite.

 

[peter_n]

That is certainly one sharp lens Steve! Congrats on your purchase, and don't be suffering from remorse - you will forget the $$$ in time and will have the joy of using a tremendous optic. It certainly looks awesome at f1.4! 🙂

 

[peterbilitch]

Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 apsh.

Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 apsh.

Steve,

Having looked at your images over the last days, it is interesting to read your conclusion in comparing the sharpness of the Voigtlander 35mm PII f/2.5 with the Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4 apsh.

I have the non-aspherical version of the Summilux 50mm f/1.4. and I am looking for a 35mm lens. I was just about to order the VC PII, since the fine detail in images such as this one http://www.pbase.com/videoman/image/45480950 mean that I wonder how necessary it is for me to spend something approaching 7x the price for a new Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 apsh. :bang:

Does anyone else have any experience comparing the results of these two 35mm lenses?

Peter

p.s. Steve, Now that you have the lens [which will become an object of passion :angel:] just learn not to think about the money that you no longer have anyway... 😉

 

[SteveRD1]

I really like the CV 35 PII and I dont think I will replace it with the Leica 35. Ive already spent more than I should have, and the 35 is an excellent little lens for a great price. Im sure the Leica would give a different result, plus be faster, but at 7X the price, I dont know.

I just had an insane moment when I bought the 50 so hopefully I wont regret it! I could of, no SHOULD have bought the non Asph 50 as it was $1100 less on Ebay. BUT oh well. At least I know I have a killer lens.

But I can recommend the CV35PII, at that price its a winner for sure. I have decided the only other lens I can buy this year is the CV 12 or 15mm wide.

 

[SteveRD1]

I am starting a new page with shots from the summilux 50 Asph and Rd1

http://www.pbase.com/videoman/rd1_and_50_summilux

Picked it up an hour ago. So far, so good.

 

[peter_n]

Neat! Great one of the dog! That really shows what the lens can do!! 🙂

 

[J. Borger]

Very tempting lens Steve .... thanks for sharing the samples!

Han

 

[Larry Kellogg]

Yep, I fell for that lens....

Yep, I fell for that lens....

Hey Steve,
Congratulations on getting the 35mm 1.4 ASPH. I also bought one a few weeks ago. I think it is the single most important lens for the R-D1, and, like you said, it will be terrific on a Digital M, when that camera shows up.

I haven't had time to check out all of your shots. Have you noticed any front focusing issues when shooting at f/1.4? Have you tried any ruler tests? I have a front focus problem which I am going to have to get fixed some way, either through DAG or Epson. See my other thread for more information.

I just got back from a trip to San Francisco and it was a pleasure to shoot with this lens. I used it about 90% of the time, so I think the cost is justified. I will try to post some of my best shots from this lens.

I am in the process of selling off all of my 20D equipment on the Bay, even though I love that camera. I'm happy with the whole concept of rangefinders and the R-D1 is a great travel camera, so much easier to carry than my 20D kit.

I will also be selling my CV 35mm 1.7. I will probably post it for sale here.....

Regards,

Larry

 

[SteveRD1]

Actually I bought the 50 1.4 Asph. Not the 35. I WANT the 35 but cant afford that for a while now that I splurged on the 50 (man that hurt my wallet) - BUT I am finding this to be an INCREDIBLE lens on the Rd1, MUCH better than the CV35 2.5 I was using before it. I can shoot indoors in almost any light and I love it for outdoor as well.

Im sold on Leica glass and it also seems the new Zeiss lenses are great as well.

My dream lens set would be the 35 1.4 Asph. with my 50 1.4 and a Leica 28 2.0 with a CV 15 or 12.

I dont blame you for selling off your 20D - seems so large now after using the Rd1 doesnt it? Plus, the results Im getting with my Rd1 beat any DSLR I have owned. I am thrilled. Just wish I had more $$!

Post some pics from the 35 1.4 when you get a chance! Id love to see them as this is a lens I am considering to replace my CV 2.5, even though it will be a while before I can afford it.

Thanks!

 

[SteveRD1]

Oh, and with the 50 1.4, I THOUGHT I had some front focus issues at 1st as some of my shots appeared to be focused in front of the focus point, BUT it was my fault becuase at 1.4, any movement will mess up the focus, and I think I moved a bit. When I put the cam on a tripod and focus on something at F1.4 its dead on every time. Ive had some blurred shots at 1.4 due to user error. A noctilux would probably not be good for me!