Summilux 35/1.4 pre-asph compared with Nikon 35/1.8

[raid]

The Nikkor will be hard to replace if I lose it. I will have the 35 Lux on the M9. They pair up very well.

 

[Taipei-metro]

Nikon all the way...and back

 

[raid]

It is good to know that both lenses have staunch support.

 

[jonmanjiro]

A couple of observations after recently shooting both of these lenses (LTM W-Nikkor and late s/n Wetzlar Summilux) on film:

* the W-Nikkor has field curvature with the plane of sharpness curving backward from the center of the image toward the corners whereas the Summilux seems to have a very flat plane of focus. I guess this field curvature is what causes the W-Nikkor's swirly bokeh (which I quite like).
* the W-Nikkor has minor barrel distortion whereas the Summilux has none. Incredible that the Summilux is so well corrected for plane of focus and distortion in such a small package.
* both lenses I tested have very good corner sharpness, the W-Nikkor by f5.6 and the Summilux by f4.
* both have "glow" from wide open down to a bit past f/2. The Summilux clears up about 1/3 to 1/2 a stop ahead of the W-Nikkor which is to be expected because it's at least that much faster.

Which one to take on a trip? They're both great performers... so take the one you want to take. I took my LTM W-Nikkor on a 10 day trip to China recently and used it almost exclusively.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I have never done a side by side comparison

You have both lenses AND an M9! You could do a quick comparison in 20 -30 minutes... what are you waiting for, Raid! 🙂

and a single M mount copy that I know of), there is the 35/1.8 Millenium, with different glass and coatings.

I got two reissue W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 lenses from the Nikon SP Limited Edition kit (released in 2005 - the S3 and 50mm 50/1.4 was released in 2000) converted after a friend got his converted, so there's at least three converted lenses out there!

 

[Highway 61]

The Nikkor will be hard to replace if I lose it. I will have the 35 Lux on the M9. They pair up very well.

This is strange to think of having a lens stolen of lost during a nice trip you're preparing. If you push it a little bit forward, you'll end up with travelling with a disposable film camera and a smartphone.
Use your nice lenses. You have no idea where they will go once you're gone yourself (with a single ticket).

 

[raid]

Thank you for this information. Both lenses are excellent, or I would not have bought them both.

I am glad to learn about the Lux being so well corrected.

Raid

A couple of observations after recently shooting both of these lenses (LTM W-Nikkor and late s/n Wetzlar Summilux) on film:

* the W-Nikkor has field curvature with the plane of sharpness curving backward from the center of the image toward the corners whereas the Summilux seems to have a very flat plane of focus. I guess this field curvature is what causes the W-Nikkor's swirly bokeh (which I quite like).
* the W-Nikkor has minor barrel distortion whereas the Summilux has none. Incredible that the Summilux is so well corrected for plane of focus and distortion in such a small package.
* both lenses I tested have very good corner sharpness, the W-Nikkor by f5.6 and the Summilux by f4.
* both have "glow" from wide open down to a bit past f/2. The Summilux clears up about 1/3 to 1/2 a stop ahead of the W-Nikkor which is to be expected because it's at least that much faster.

Which one to take on a trip? They're both great performers... so take the one you want to take. I took my LTM W-Nikkor on a 10 day trip to China recently and used it almost exclusively.

 

[raid]

This is strange to think of having a lens stolen of lost during a nice trip you're preparing. If you push it a little bit forward, you'll end up with travelling with a disposable film camera and a smartphone.
Use your nice lenses. You have no idea where they will go once you're gone yourself (with a single ticket).

I get your point. 😀

Will do ...

 

[AlejandroI]

Many images - 35mm pre asph

Many images - 35mm pre asph

Sure. Post some images that you believe show the character of the lens. Thanks.

Some images with the 35mm pre asph summilux. Most of these wide between 1.4 and 2.0. Bokeh can get a bit distracting but usually is quite nice. Also lens at 1.4 is not that sharp, but close down to 1.6, it improvs and at 2.0 i found it to be really sharp. I also have ladnscapes, but thought that portraits might be better to show the quality of the lens. Only thing that kills it for me is the close up focusing distance, 1m 🙁


L1008370 by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

Untitled by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

Untitled by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

L1006447 by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

L1000009 by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

Untitled by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

Untitled by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

Untitled by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

L1000609 by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

L1000423 by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

L1000096 by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

L1000088 by Alejandro Ilukewitsch, on Flickr

 

[raid]

Thanks! Your examples look very nice. I wonder if all pre-asph has same or similar OOF rendering or not. My lens gives me nice looking OOF.

 

[AlejandroI]

Thanks! Your examples look very nice. I wonder if all pre-asph has same or similar OOF rendering or not. My lens gives me nice looking OOF.

Yep from what i seen, yes, it can get a bit nervous, but of course depends a lot on the background. Honestly if i could find a way a to get the close up distance to 0,7m i wouldnt be looking for other lenses.

 

[lawrence]

* the W-Nikkor has field curvature with the plane of sharpness curving backward from the center of the image toward the corners whereas the Summilux seems to have a very flat plane of focus. I guess this field curvature is what causes the W-Nikkor's swirly bokeh (which I quite like).
* the W-Nikkor has minor barrel distortion whereas the Summilux has none. Incredible that the Summilux is so well corrected for plane of focus and distortion in such a small package.

In my experience the Summilux has field curvature but low distortion.

 

[raid]

The Lux is a great little lens overall.

 

[Erik van Straten]

No field curvature and no distortion with the Summilux 35mm steel rim. Great for architecture.The corners are a bit darker, but that is inevitable (cos4 vignetting).

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[raid]

The steel rim Lux mysterious special characteristics are intriguing, Erik. Is this Version 1?
I recall Tom saying that the second version is a better lens.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The steel rim Lux mysterious special characteristics are intriguing, Erik. Is this Version 1?

Yes, this is the first version, serial 206XXXX. I also have a 1777XXX. No difference between the two, exept the color of the coating. The optical quality is the same, very high. I also have a 222XXXX (no steel rim; black aluminium) wich is an inferior lens. I guess the aluminium mount lens is a cheapened version.

I just found out that the Leica Summilux 1.4/35mm "steel rim" is designed in Midland (Ontario) by Mandler. 41mm filter. US Patent 2975673 filed 26 Aug. 1959.
The lens has 7 elements, 5 of wich are made from high-refractive glass (refractive indices 1.7440-1.7899, same as Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v1). See this: http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Canon_...les_Speed.html

Erik.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I guess the aluminium mount lens is a cheapened version.

Due to sample variation? Or cheapened barrel? I thought all pre-asph 35mm Summiluxes were optically the same 😕

 

[albertospa]

Some images with the 35mm pre asph summilux. Most of these wide between 1.4 and 2.0. Bokeh can get a bit distracting but usually is quite nice. Also lens at 1.4 is not that sharp, but close down to 1.6, it improvs and at 2.0 i found it to be really sharp. I also have ladnscapes, but thought that portraits might be better to show the quality of the lens. Only thing that kills it for me is the close up focusing distance, 1m 🙁

Fantastic photos! Congratulations Alejandro.

 

[ernstk]

Due to sample variation? Or cheapened barrel? I thought all pre-asph 35mm Summiluxes were optically the same 😕

The lens was reformulated at around the 220xxxx serial number. The reformulated versions are generally viewed as being better. The claims that
you often hear that the steel rim version is superior are just myths.

If anything, the reverse is true.

Ernst

 

[Erik van Straten]

The claims that
you often hear that the steel rim version is superior are just myths.

If anything, the reverse is true.

Is this your opinion or is this statement based on facts?

Erik.