Newest Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH – some feedback please

x-ray said:
I suspect the images came from my New York gallery, Winter Works on Paper. David Winter has really gotten my work out lately. In the past couple of months he's gotten some in some Discovery Channel promos and two feature films with the current one starring Uma Thurman. My work will appear in her bed room.
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Who's your agent?! When I grow up, I want one like yours! (err...agent, that is 😉 )
 
I guess I'm my own agent. Outside of my commercial work I spend many hours a week promoting my x-ray and documentary images. I guess I'm in 7 or 8 galleries now.
 
x-ray said:
I guess I'm my own agent. Outside of my commercial work I spend many hours a week promoting my x-ray and documentary images. I guess I'm in 7 or 8 galleries now.
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And some very fine work it is. I know. I've seen it.
 
I know life is short but I am sure I will visit France anytime soon 😀 besides I would not worry much, I am not the best person to discuss literature also I don`t think much of alchohol 😀
 
50MALux_001.jpg




50MALux2_001.jpg
 
The 50/1.4 ASPH is a very convincing lens. My first Leica lens was the 50/2 summicron, and I think they are very similar except that the Summilux ASPH has an extra stop and better resistance to flare. The summilux pre-asph is no slouch either and at normal apertures it holds its own very well. Wide open, however, it does not have nearly the contrast or "pop" of the ASPH. Whether this is a concern for you or not is up to you. I have been using my dad's old 50/1.4 pre-asph in place of my 50/1.4 asph while it is being coded, and I don't feel like it is hopelessly outclassed in normal use. It does not have the bite of the ASPH however.

Anyway, here are a few samples that I have taken with the summilux ASPH. None of them demonstrate the best of the lens, just that the lens was with me when I had the chance to take some cool photos (or at least, I like them).

reynir-church-contrasty.jpg


shojo-mic-imacon.jpg


maruyama-snowstorm2.jpg


archer.jpg


s-bench.jpg
 
Thanks guys! I have a few more of the snow shots, but I did not want to overload the thread. Here are the links:
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/maruyama-snowstorm1.jpg
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/snowy-lion-statue.jpg
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/snowstorm-gingko.jpg
They are all with the 50/1.4 ASPH, at 1/30th to get some movement in the snow...f stop was about f/4.
The shot of the church is in my avatar, but that is the black and white version with the 35/1.4 ASPH, another amazing lens.
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/vik-church-bw.jpg

Cheers
 
In answer to the question, the consensus appears to be that the ASPH has a vastly improved wide aperture performance compared to the pre-asph. The pre-asph was regarded by many as being in need of an update, not because it was badm but because of the performance of the latest ASPH lenses from Leica. I have not seen a review of teh 50 ASPH lux that has not felt that it is as good as it gets.

If I was shooting wide open (1.4-2.8) and could afford it, It might make sense. If I was shooting more stopped down I would save money and buy something else, slower and cheaper. The 50 1.5 Nokton has been seen by many reviewers as the equal or just superior of the older pre-asph 50 Lux and therefore cracking value for money and a great lens irrespective of price.

From what the MTFs say and what reviewers say, I dont think you would need to be a genius in the darkroom to see the improvement with the ASPH wide open, but stopped down I suspect most differences would be in 'subjective rendering'. I for one can see a visible difference in my 50 ZM planar from f2-2.8-4. As the APSH is supposed to have superior performance on centre at f1.4 than the pre asph a couple of stop down, I think you probably would see it. I am sure there are users here who have owned both and will be able to tell us. As for whether any of this matters to you, only you can say.
 
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