Best 50mm for M7 : Need your advise

[Alex Krasotkin]

Guys,

I am considering 50mm lens for my future M7 (0.85). I have read many reviews, but still can not decide between:

Summicron 50/2

and

Summilux 50/1.4 pre-ASPH (there are 2 versions 43mm and 46mm, with different min focusing distance. Is there any difference in signature by the way?)

My main consideration is classic Leica signature (not clinical sharpness!!!) and beautiful bokeh.

Appreciate your thoughts and suggestions!

P.S. Initially I was considering to buy 35/1.4asph + 75/1.4 (I really apppreciated all your advises), but for the time being decided to stay with my Konica Hexar AF with really nice 35/2 Hexanon (some people say, thay its signature is very similar to Cron 35 pre-asph) and complement it with M7 + 50mm.

regards,
Alex

 

[pfrench4]

I made the same choice recently, and went with the Pre-ASPH Summilux (46) - I am completely amazed with it, and highly recommend it.

YMMV - I'm not big on Photodo Scores, etc...it is plenty sharp, great signature, and the images just seem to come alive...

good luck!

 

[xabi]

Get a 50 f1.4 pre-asph lux. It's a really good lens and might have the signature that you're looking for.

I've used both 46mm and 43mm version of the lux, and I can say that they're identical. The 43mm is smaller, and has a longer focus throw. I actually like the longer focus throw on the older lens but the newer one can focus closer (0.7m) and has a built-in hood.

Here're a few pics taken with the 43mm lux.

 

[xabi]

I haven't sharpen any of my picture using unsharped mask but I can tell you that this lens is quite sharp.

All taken with 43mm lux, using HP5+, developed in D76.

 

[xabi]

There are taken with the 46mm lux, HP5, D76 1:1

 

[xabi]

A few more with the 46mm lux

 

[xabi]

Just a few more that shows the bokeh.

 

[francoisjonquet]

konica hexanon 50 f2

konica hexanon 50 f2

I know, some again will talk about the presume incompatibility of the km mount to the leica m mount but i use one hexanon 50 f2 KM mount on my M7 0.85 since few month and have no problem.
and the best in all is i get it new with garanty for 199€ in germany, so......
see some examples

 

[KM-25]

I just caved and ordered a 50 Lux Aspheric. I am shooting a project in which sharpness comes before bokeh or signature. From what I have read or heard, the 50 aspheric does it better than any other lens out there.

 

[Alex Krasotkin]

Thanks, guys! What sort of price level I should be looking at considering mint/excellent:

Lux 43mm

Lux 46 mm

???

 

[xabi]

Price for
Lux 43 - $600-900 (typically $800)
Lux 46 - $900-1200 (typically $1000)

 

[SteveRD1]

Well...

Well...

I have had a 50 ASPH, 50 cron, and the Noctilux. I currently own the Noctilux and Cron.

The best 50 I have ever used was the 50 ASPH, but I wanted that F1 so I decided to stick with a cron for its size and sharpness and the Nocti for its beautiful rendering at F1. If I had to pick ONE it would be the ASPH 1.4.

1st pic 50 cron, 2nd Nocti, 3rd ASPH

 

[nikon_junkie]

Paid something like $800 for my 50 Lux. It is actually the original '59-'61 (?) version and I'm completely content with it.... though I still suffer from occasional bouts of Noctilust.

 

[clintock]

m-hexanon 50/2

 

[xabi]

Alex, let me say that while I like the 50 lux, almost all leica 50mm lens are good (as you can see from steve and franco's pictures).

I've used the latest 50 cron and it's a fine lens too. But I need the extra stop so I chose the lux.

 

[peter_n]

My main consideration is classic Leica signature (not clinical sharpness!!!) and beautiful bokeh.

Only one answer to this; the pre-ASPH Summilux, preferably the 43mm if you can find one. I've had two current Summicrons and both were painfully sharp, but the old Summilux is a gem. I think I paid $900 for mine.

 

[Alex Krasotkin]

Peter, did you pay $900 for 43mm version?

 

[Andrew3511]

I've got both the chrome 1960 rigid Summicron and the 2nd version of the chrome Summilux. There's not a lot to choose between them but the Summicron gives more fine detail at wide apertures and vignettes less wide open, it's also a bit lighter and smaller. Flare is more problematic though. Stopped down unless I have remembered to note which pictures I took with which lens there is absolutely nothing to separate them. The Summicron is common and so cheaper (usually MUCH cheaper) - I was lucky at Christie's auction in July and picked up the Summilux for £230 with a sticky focus that was cured by an easy dismantling of the mount and regreasing. Both lenses give a different image quality to the Olympus SLR lenses I was using before with higher resolution, lower contrast & great 3-D rendering.

 

[AusDLK]

I bought the CV Nokton 50mm F/1.5.

It's smooth to use and seems to be a fine performer.

No regrets.

 

[peter_n]

Peter, did you pay $900 for 43mm version?

Yes I think so Alex. It was pretty close to $900. Lens had a filter on the front its whole life and looks like new. I love it! 🙂