cron or lux for the M9

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kcnm

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I know there's a similar thread about which lens people prefer on the M9, but I'm wondering if anyone could elaborate for me what kind of differences there are between the 35 cron and the 35 lux -- either technically or, more importantly for me, the differences you can see visually? I'm leaning towards the 35mm, but perhaps I'd like to get either a 50 or a 90 in the near future, so if you have any opinions about those lenses... basically, any input regarding different lenses you've tried on the M9 would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance for the help!
 
The cron will has less distortion than the lux and is way more lighter.
Same for the 50s.

I always prefer the crons to the luxes. It's just more bang for the buck.
 
The Lux Asph is really two lens in one. From F2, it will behave more or less like a Cron. At F1.4, the rendering is completely different and gorgeous and is worth the extra investment. As for size, slightly bigger but if used without a hood, it is still a pretty small lens.
 
I've had both the 35mm Summicron-ASPH and the Summilux-ASPH. The Summicron is a fabulous lens, no doubt about it. That being said, I prefer the Summilux. My Summilux has very minimal shift issues and it's just a solid performer.

I guess the only question is, is it worth the huge price difference? Only you can decide that:)

My only word of advice from experience; if you really want the Summilux, get it. It will save you the problem of selling your Summicron in the future for what you really wanted in the first place.

Now….if only there was a new 50mm Summilux-ASPH on the planet I could find…all would be well.
 
thanks everyone for your inputs so far! I think I'll try out the 35 cron for a year, save up some money, and then get a 50 lux... that way maybe I can taste a little bit of everything (35, 50, lux, and cron). and I think I'd like to save the lux and the bucks for my dream 50mm :)
 
If you want to keep it lighter and smaller, look at the35 Cron preasph version 4. Much lighter than the 35 cron ASPH which weighs almost as much as the lux (smaller size though).
 
cron vs lux. my same predicament. one consideration is that 50 luxs are darn hard to find these days, but that's the one i want.
 
ramosa - agreed, hard to locate a 50 lux. I found a new one in a shop in Hong Kong and had it shipped over. Love it.

The OP was asking about 35's, of which I have no experience wrt Leica. I do have some shots w/ a 35mm Biogon ZM. Here is a gallery of my first day in Budapest, just some shots walking around (you'll have to humor me with the image captions!) - all shot with an M9. The first dozen images are with the 50mm Lux, same with the last 10. The rest in between are with the 35 Biogon - look at the "i" to get picture info (coded my lenses with a black marker using Tim's Coder Kit):

http://bit.ly/9hZa1w
 
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I got both 50mm Cron and Lux (pre-asph).
  • Cron is generally sharper if you pixel peep.
  • Lux has got "crazy" bokeh at f1.4.
From f2.0 onwards, they are very similar lenses. To me, you are paying a premium on lux for the f1.4 stop.

Another view is that the Cron is generally more predictable lens. Its easier to guess what a picture will look like. Lux continues to surprise me.

As for supply in the market:
  • Lux ASPH is hard to find brand new. Impossible to find in used market.
  • Lux pre-asph E43 versions (min focus 1m) are easy to find in used market.
  • Lux pre-asph E46 versions (min focus 0.7m) very hard to find in used market. The exception is the titanium collectors edition version costs alot more and hence you can find people willing to sell it due to the premium.
  • Cron is quite easy to find in its various different versions. I would suggest you get the detachable hood because the in-built hood is known to get loose easily over use. The detachable hood is alot more secure and avoids bulk since you can completely detach it. The inbuilt hood gives no such flexibility - for better or worse.
 
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ederek:

man, that must have been a slow day for me, talking about a 50, when everyone else is talking about 35s :( ...

anyway, sharper today. very cool that you found a 50 lux. not easy. please enjoy until i find one.
 
I'd go in this order:

1. Pre-asph v2 35 lux (less distortion than the asph versions)

2. asph 35/2 cron if size is OK with you, otherwise v3 or v4 35 cron

3. 35 lux (brand new one one)

4. 35 lux older one
 
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