Leica D Summilux 25mm f/1.4 (Original one for Olympus 4/3 not the one for MICRO 4/3)

[peterm1]

Has anyone had experience of this lens? http://www.photozone.de/olympus--four-thirds-lens-tests/509-leica25f14

Please note its not the smaller, newer version http://www.photozone.de/olympus--four-thirds-lens-tests/740-pana25 . But the older, bigger, heavier version developed for the original (non micro) 4/3 system cameras made by Panasonic and Olympus.

I have a chance to buy one (having lusted after one when they first came out some years ago) at a reasonable price with a Panasonic 4/3 to micro 4/3 electronic adapter (which preserved auto focus on the newer system cameras). Given I still have a Panasonic L1 as well as a micro 4/3 camera it is usable on both.

I will consider it but wonder if any here have experience of it. A concern of course is that this series of cameras was a dead end so its not a high demand item should I come to sell it, but that menas the price is better now.

 

[dotur]

I have one, it is an excellent lens. However, I seldom use it because it is huge. It is big on my old Digilux 3, and definitely too big on my e-m5 with adapter.

 

[peterm1]

It is physically big, I grant you that. But to be honest I do not mind that. I am all for small women and big lenses. :^). Even when I tried it on an Olympus Ep 1 I found it big but not too unwieldy. Maybe because I come from an SLR background.

 

[dotur]

Agree, small women are less evil (Archiprêtre de Hita, Juan Ruiz).
Maybe I am getting old, but believe me: that lens does not live on the street, it tends to stay at home. 🙂

 

[maitani]

imo the best 4/3 lens bar none, pair it with an E-1 (ccd) and you're in colour heaven, also it adapts favorably on the micro bodys. if the price is right go for it. also the signature with the special L-1 sensor is fantastic.

btw on pananic body's like GH-2/3/4 the aperture ring works when used with the pananonic 4/3 to m4/3 adapter, also the lens supports both af types (pd/af and contrast/af after the firmware update).