Bokeh of Leica 35mm lenses compared (Summicron IV vs Summicron ASPH vs Summilux ASPH)

[AhtoT]

As I have not noticed any good bokeh comparison test I did it myself. It is not perfect either but hopefully is of interest.

http://www.rebaseonu.net/go/story/id/bokeh_of_leica_m_35mm_lenses_compared/

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

According to these pictures, the differences are much smaller than I thought.....

 

[sanmich]

Quite amazing,
Just had a quick look, comparing the three at f/2 1m.
both the ASPH look much better to me than the "bokeh king"
Look at these lines in the windows!

Thanks a lot for this test.
Really helpful!

 

[35mmdelux]

Excellent test. The 35 Summilux ASPH has bokeh consistent with the others but is far sharper in the sharp areas.

 

[srtiwari]

Hmm...The "King of Bokeh" makes me dizzy wide open at 0.7 metres. I would have expected it to be smoother. I actually prefer the Asph. Should it be the "Ace of Bokeh " ?

 

[Tim Gray]

First of all, nice test.

I've seen similar results with the IV that seem to display bokeh that's not smooth wide open. It does smooth out a lot a stop or two down.

What's going on in the upper left of the ASPH Summicron? A lot of flare. Is that from scanning, or is it in the negative as well.

You can also see the distortion in the 35/1.4 in the pool and other edges when toggling between it and the other lenses at 1m.

 

[MikeL]

It's amazing the internet gospels that are created like 'king of bokeh' and 'summilux/sonnar focus shift'. I'm not saying they don't exist, but the most vocal tend to blow things out of proportion.

Nice organization of the test by the way.

 

[ampguy]

interesting tests, thanks.

 

[PICHA]

These three lenses seems not to have the same focal lenght. This fact influes on the bokeh IMHO.

 

[Rafael]

Thanks for sharing a very nicely laid out test. I have been consistently impressed with just how well the Summilux ASPH handles light through leaves, what I believe to be one of the most challenging bokeh conditions.

 

[aizan]

bravo! this is sure to be a classic reference for rangefinder users.

 

[35mmdelux]

Um, you're actually missing an important aspect of assessing the out-of-focus areas of an image, and that is the transition from sharp to totally out-of-focus. You are highlighting only the two extremes and nothing in between. The smoothness of that transition is important and often discussed, whereas some lenses move from sharp to out-of-focus very quickly, others, such as my Summicron 35 v4, transition more gradually and smoothly.

Someone else will have to do the smoothness test.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Those comparisons are almost completely worthless because the scans are so horridly flat and lacking in tonal differentiation. Once you increase contrast to normal levels, you'll see differences.

 

[aizan]

here's a quick auto levels adjustment. it doesn't really add any new information; i think the test is fine with straight scans.

 

[kywong]

The smoothness of that transition is important and often discussed, whereas some lenses move from sharp to out-of-focus very quickly, others, such as my Summicron 35 v4, transition more gradually and smoothly.

Andy, thanks for clearing that up, I knew it couldn't have earned that reputation from the smoothness of the actual out of focus area, since well... it's not, but I wasn't sure where exactly did it earn it's reputation from. Frankly, I was even somewhat suspicious that it is unworthy of the tag, but now I know, though there is still no test to prove it...

Regardless of whether or not it is deserving of the tag, I just love the way it draws, which is precisely why I bought one over the ASPH version.

 

[thomasw_]

The asph summicron looks so fine!

 

[AhtoT]

Um, you're actually missing an important aspect of assessing the out-of-focus areas of an image, and that is the transition from sharp to totally out-of-focus. You are highlighting only the two extremes and nothing in between. The smoothness of that transition is important and often discussed, whereas some lenses move from sharp to out-of-focus very quickly, others, such as my Summicron 35 v4, transition more gradually and smoothly.

Sorry, but that is not the case because you see the image has lot of information on different levels. I did especially choose this place to shoot as there are a lot of different plants on the background and these are at different distance from the focus point, so you can compare bokeh say 2m vs 5m behind focus point. Shots that are taken from distance also show grass.

2 extremes were focus point and distant background, IMO.

 

[AhtoT]

Those comparisons are almost completely worthless because the scans are so horridly flat and lacking in tonal differentiation. Once you increase contrast to normal levels, you'll see differences.

Completely worhless! Hahahaa, I like reactions of people. 😀

I can make the images somewhat more contrasty, like set tone curve to medium contrast in Lightroom, if most people think the test will benefit of that.

 

[AhtoT]

What's going on in the upper left of the ASPH Summicron? A lot of flare. Is that from scanning, or is it in the negative as well.

I noticed that as well. The weather must be also considered as it was overcast but some moving clouds were changing light now and then, so lighting conditions were not completely uniform from shot to shot and it got darker towards 3m test. There is 50 images in this test, took more time than I imagined.

It was not totally controlled environment so that test is not very good for comparing other things besides bokeh.

 

[skibeerr]

I think this test teaches me not to confuse contrast with sharpnes.

I wonder wich lens would render the most tonality, maybe the IV???