Is the 50mm Summilux 0.7m-1m range useful to you?

[bankcheck]

Hello all,
Just wonder if you find the 0.7m - 1m focus range important to you with the 50mm Summilux. Personally I like the look of the older version (2nd) but it's limited to 1 meter. Thank you for your input.
Dennis

 

[Shac]

I can live with this no problem in my V2 Summilux. I have a Dr if I wish to get closer

 

[maddoc]

I rarely used that focal range (0.7 ~ 1m) with my Summilux (latest pre-ASPH version) and don't miss it with my Noctilux. However, I really miss that focal range in 35mm with my Summilux 35mm (pre-ASPH) and like the Summicron IV for allowing focus down to 0.7m.

 

[bankcheck]

Thank you for all the responses. I haven't been using much of that range until yesterday when shooting photos of my niece. I was using my Noct as well but couldn't get this close. Attached picture was with my 50 lux pre-asph.

 

[WoolenMammoth]

Certainly I (or anyone) could live without it,

I thought this until I went on tour with a 1m 50mm lens. Up until that point I really wasnt conscious of how much I shot at .7m. I do ALOT of documentary shooting sitting next to people in bars or across from tables where you physically cant get 1m away from your subject because there is a body or a chair or a wall or something pressed against you back. I lost a lot of shots as a result of that experience and learned an interesting lesson. Its funny, because I thought about it before I left and didnt even hesitate thinking it would be a problem.

 

[rolo]

When I first bought a lens with 0.7m CFD capability it made many subjects so much more accessible. All my lenses have been updated and I use it much of the time.

Recently I tried a 75mm Summarit and only yesterday a MATE. No interest in them whatsoever as within 10 frames I was trying to get inside the 1.0m range.

It's not just distance, the bokeh changes fairly dramatically at closer quarters.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

Yes that's why i changed my V1 for the LHSA version - same shape, filter size and feel but 0.7 focus and black paint.

 

[rover]

I thought this until I went on tour with a 1m 50mm lens. Up until that point I really wasnt conscious of how much I shot at .7m. I do ALOT of documentary shooting sitting next to people in bars or across from tables where you physically cant get 1m away from your subject because there is a body or a chair or a wall or something pressed against you back. I lost a lot of shots as a result of that experience and learned an interesting lesson. Its funny, because I thought about it before I left and didnt even hesitate thinking it would be a problem.

Documentary shooting is what us humble amateurs do too sitting across tables, next to someone on a train, on the floor playing with blocks. The intimacy of your closeness comforts the subject and requires a closer focusing limit.

 

[cam]

i'm another one who much prefers the look of the 2nd version (mine 1962). i really haven't found the 1 meter limiting on the 50mm Lux -- yet. there may come a day, but i haven't reached it yet.

on the 35mm front, though - yes. i have a Lux pre-asph and it as much as i loved the look, the near focusing frustrated me to no end. so i bought a v.1 Summicron to be able to get closer.

mind you, i'm on the Epson R-D1 so i guess that puts my 35 closer to the 50 focal length.

 

[Livesteamer]

Yes. I shoot a lot of kid pictures, infants for our church and my 50mm Summilux Asph. Makes wonderful photos. The infant pics are posted outside of the rooms and are a big hit. We have a lot of kids. Only problem is when I use my much loved old M3 I have to remember to leave the lens at 1 meter. Framing at .7m with an early M6 is quite good enough and the Asph lens works well in the soft available light I am often in. I've got a DR cron but stick with the 50mm Asph. Joe

 

[JNewell]

Documentary shooting is what us humble amateurs do too sitting across tables, next to someone on a train, on the floor playing with blocks. The intimacy of your closeness comforts the subject and requires a closer focusing limit.

Exactly! The extra .3m is pretty useful, and as long as you focus carefully, the images are quite good. We are not talking about photographing the newspaper or flowers, but people, and the results for that purpose are quite good.

 

[ferider]

Quite important to use 50 as a short tele for portraits (my major application).

I agree with Gabor though, for 35mm it's even more important.

Roland.

 

[Tim Gray]

I think personally the close focussing issue is the biggest problem of rangefinders. I definitely use the .7-1m range a lot, both in 35 and 50.

 

[pfoto]

I also agree that I've noticed it more with the 35 than the 50. All my 35's are now 0.7M CFD. One way around a 1M 50 is the 75/2, that lens has a 0.7M CFD. Sweet!

 

[HenningW]

I really appreciate closer focussing lenses, especially the .7 to 1m range. For a while I didn't have a 50 that focussed closer, and I found myself using the 75 Summilux a lot more because of that. One reason the Noctilux sometimes didn't get used was precisely because of the lack of close focussing.

Henning

 

[Todd.Hanz]

The close focusing takes advantage of the faster lens for rendering a shallower focal plane, closer focusing means more bokeh 😉

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yes, it's useful. Very.

 

[bankcheck]

Thanks all for the input.
Cheers,
Dennis