M 35mm 1.4 Performance: Can anybody show me images, or an webpage?

M

Marco Peereboom

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Hello everybody,

I'm considering to buy an Leica M7 with an 35 mm. But will it be an an 2.0 Summicron pre-ASPH, or an 1.4 Summilux ASPH (which is much more expensive....)
I've read that the ASPH-serie lenses are more sharp like razors...:( And the pre-ASPH lenses have that more beautifull softness. :) :) (A lot of lenses designed by Walter Mandler).
I've also allready read a lott about lens-incorrectness like flare, coma, ect. of the 35 mm 1.4 summilux pre-ASPH. And everywhere the conclusion was: The summilux is the best. And i believe that.

I'm totally not an technical photographer. But i'm in love with the photo's from Mike Dixon Photography

So what i want to know is: Does the 35 mm 1.4 Summilux ASPH also have that razor-sharpness? I want to see/feel the performance in especially black/white images.
Who can show me B/W-images, or an url to an webpage, which gives me an idea of the performance?

The Summilux is interesting for me, because i also take picture's at dark places; bars, or backstage at concerts. And flashing is not what i like.

Allready thanks,

Marco
 
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Marco, it sounds like you need a fast lens, and one that is sharp wide open. Aspherical Summiluxes meet this requirement superbly. Asph lenses show improvement especially at wide apertures.
 
Thanks for your answer. That's good to hear.

And how does this Summilux perform at f4, f5.6 at an sunny afternoon? I mean are those images very sharp, like what i heard about? Or do they have that (beautifull) softness, like the pics from Mike Dixon (who is using pre-ASPH lenses)?
 
Marco Peereboom said:
Thanks for your answer. That's good to hear.

And how does this Summilux perform at f4, f5.6 at an sunny afternoon? I mean are those images very sharp, like what i heard about? Or do they have that (beautifull) softness, like the pics from Mike Dixon (who is using pre-ASPH lenses)?
Click to expand...

Conventional wisdom has it that the pre-ASPH 35/2 is almost untouchable for sweet out of focus areas. This is an example from my lens
http://gallery.leica-users.org/zeni/bokeh_bug

I am delighted with the pre-ASPH lens.
 
You are refering to the seminal 35mm lens on the market. Its performance simply can not be surpassed and it is by far the most popular Leica M lens with professional photographers.

Check out some of the back issues of National Geographic. It has been the lens of choice for William Albert Allard. If you can take pictures 1/10 as good as he can you are lucky and the lens will be more than you ever dreamed.

Beautiful softness...not too sure about that. Usually that's more to do with film choices than lenses. I've owned just about every 35 made for the M and none of them are the least bit soft unless used with films like Tri-X. Hell, even my 70 year old Summar is sharp...not much contrast but SHARP.

What I can tell you is that if you need a lens for f1.4-2.8 the ASPH lenses mop the floor with the old lenses. After that it's pretty much a wash.
 
Consider the VC Nokton 50/1.5. It'll give you an idea if you should spring for the Summilux.
 
FWIW, some of my shots taken w/the Leica 35/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH (most, but by no means all, @ f/1.4 or f/2):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/tags/leica3514summiluxmasphc1997/

As far as the Cosina Voigtlander 50/1.5 Nokton being similar in look to the Leica 35 'lux ASPH, I can't really agree. They're both modern lenses w/aspherical elements, but I don't think they produce the same look. Of course, the difference in focal length makes it difficult for me to make a direct comparision, but I would say that the 35 'lux is noticeably sharper wide open than the CV Nokton (50/1.5 Nokton examples here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/tags/cosinavoigtlander5015nokton/).

Also, I'm not sure Mike Dixon uses the old 35/1.4 Summilux--I recall reading on the photo.net Leica Photography forum that he favors the pre-asph. 50/1.4 Summilux.
 
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Ralph, that Photo.net link was almost cruel... Now I want that lens more, darn it. ;)
 
Thanks people, for your answers.

Choosing doesn't get easier... :rolleyes: :confused:

Dan States said:
You are refering to the seminal 35mm lens on the market. Its performance simply can not be surpassed and it is by far the most popular Leica M lens with professional photographers.
Click to expand...

Because of what Dan says, i'm now considering to choose for the 35 Summilux pre-ASPH. At this moment i use my Nikon FM2 with an 35 mm 2.0, for avaible light situations. Light-technically, mostly f2 with 1/15 is enough for 70% - 80% of most situations, with this camera.
So let's find out how the 35 Summicron pre-ASPH performs at 2.0.

And off course, all feedback is welcome.

Bye, greetz from Holland, Kingdom of Windmills. :)

Edit: I've read StuartR's answer below. And because of that i realize i've made an spelling mistake. I meant, i'm now considering the 35 Summicron pre-ASPH.
 
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The 35 summilux pre-ASPH is not what you want. You either want the Summilux ASPH or the pre ASPH SUMMICRON. Dan was referring to the 35mm summilux ASPH. The 35 summilux pre-ASPH is not considered a particularly great lens, particularly when compared to the pre-ASPH summicron or the 35mm summilux ASPH. As for the summilux ASPH, there is really nothing wrong with it....at all. It just is blazingly sharp from 1.4 to 22. I think I posted some of these in the thread that Doug linked to, but I will post them here again in any case.
 
35 pre asph

35 pre asph

Hi Marco,

Here is a picture taken with a pre-asph 35 Summilux. It has very nice roundness to the image. Not as sharp of course as the asph but it has its own character. At wide open, you will see coma and vignetting but it is acceptable for low light pictures. One advantage of the pre-asph is the size. It is tiny compared to the asph. This lens used to be cheaper, unfortunately a good sample now goes for more than US$1000 which is bringing it near to a used asph. All the best in your search.
Cheers,
Paul
 
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Marco,

For what its worth ... if you love Mike Dixon's look, one of Mike's favorite lenses is an old 50mm/summilux (not remotely ashperical). A lot of his portraits are done with this lens.

Its fair to say, Mike certainly makes that old 50/lux shine !
 
Thanks so far,

But i've realized now, i've made an spelling mistake. I meant, i'm now considering the 35 Summicron pre-ASPH. :bang:
Feeling that the soft performance is important to me, this feels as an good, and safe choice.

Like i said: With the 35mm/f2 at my Nikon FM2 light technicaly, i get 70% - 80% of all avaible light situation at f2 with 1/8 or 1/15.

Any people here, who are (un-)satisfied with using the 35 Summicron pre-ASPH for avaible light situations.

Greetz, Marco

P.S. paulh, thanks for posting the image.
 
It's a great lens and I am sure you will be happy with it. The other lens that Mike Dixon uses to great effect and is a beautiful smooth lens is the 75mm summilux. The ultimate portrait lens for 35mm cameras in my opinion....that and the Canon 85mm f/1.2L
 
A pre-Asph 35 Summicron, Marco? They can have lovely character. I think this was wide open or close to it, with a 1st-generation lens.
 
Thanks Doug,

Yes, it's clear: This is an beautifull lens.
Nice print by the way.

And talking about the Focusing Range of the 35mm Summicron pre-ASPH: What is the minimum distance you can focus on?

Greetz, Marco
 
Marco Peereboom said:
And talking about the Focusing Range of the 35mm Summicron pre-ASPH: What is the minimum distance you can focus on?
Click to expand...
This one, new in 1967, focuses down to 0.7m. I'll bet all later ones do too...
 
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