Duane Pandorf
Well-known
I hesitated for quite some time as I too was worried about focus shift. To be honest I haven't really paid much attention to it. I shoot mostly at f1.4 or stopped down to 5.6/8.
Maybe I have a unique copy or there's those that hang out here on the forums that spend most of their time shooting objects with a ruler and inspecting that work at 100% on their monitors.
gilgsn
Established
Mostly wide open... Same thing, I have to be very careful about the light then. I mean, I take the picture anyway, but might double-up from a different angle to increase my chances.
I am sure there is some focus shift, but I haven't missed any shots because of it, so I don't worry about it. Not something I have noticed...
Gil.
Mark C
Well-known
I bought mine because of a couple situations where I can't shoot with my 35 Summicrons, and 1.4 makes the difference. I tried a friend's Summilux there and did have ring flare in one situation, and more or less expected it because of the bright stage lights just out of the frame. Then I had my current one on trial for a month or so and it seemed to perform identically to my friend's overall (I did some repeatable test shots with all my 35's). I've never had the flare issue again, but am sure I would in the right situation.
The other thing I see, and others have mentioned, is that it performs much better at longer distances than close ones at 1.4. Better than the other way around I guess, since you generally need more detail in more distant shots.
For me, this lens seems to be an entirely adequate substitute for a vintage Summicron, but with 1.4 when it is necessary. Others utilize the quirky image quality at 1.4 very effectively and I'm learning from them to make the best of mine when I do shoot wide open. I looked into the 35 Nokton, but just couldn't see that as a substitute for a Summicron. Same with the 40 Nokton; I still carried a Summicron 35.
The other thing I see, and others have mentioned, is that it performs much better at longer distances than close ones at 1.4. Better than the other way around I guess, since you generally need more detail in more distant shots.
For me, this lens seems to be an entirely adequate substitute for a vintage Summicron, but with 1.4 when it is necessary. Others utilize the quirky image quality at 1.4 very effectively and I'm learning from them to make the best of mine when I do shoot wide open. I looked into the 35 Nokton, but just couldn't see that as a substitute for a Summicron. Same with the 40 Nokton; I still carried a Summicron 35.
gilgsn
Established
Summilux VS Nokton.
Summilux VS Nokton.
I had a hard time choosing between the Summilux and the Nokton 35. In the end, the Summilux won because I really do not like distortion, and the Leica doesn't show any. The price was hard to swallow though. I do not regret my choice, because I do not use it full open very often. My Color Skopar was awesome, but f2.5 is a bit slow. A Summicron might have been a better choice and cheaper, but it's nice to have the 1.4 option. The asphericals are out of my reach financially.. Now, the new M-mount Voightlander f1.7 is a pretty interesting lens. I probably would have gone for it had it been available back then..
Gil.
Summilux VS Nokton.
I had a hard time choosing between the Summilux and the Nokton 35. In the end, the Summilux won because I really do not like distortion, and the Leica doesn't show any. The price was hard to swallow though. I do not regret my choice, because I do not use it full open very often. My Color Skopar was awesome, but f2.5 is a bit slow. A Summicron might have been a better choice and cheaper, but it's nice to have the 1.4 option. The asphericals are out of my reach financially.. Now, the new M-mount Voightlander f1.7 is a pretty interesting lens. I probably would have gone for it had it been available back then..
Gil.
Mark C
Well-known
And the full aperture bokeh of the Summilux is much nicer to my eye than the Noktons, though they improve greatly stopped down.
It is really hard to beat a 35 Summicron, but you have to hunt pretty hard for a good price these days (as on the Summilux). I've had the 8 element for many years and had several 6 element versions pass through my life. In the past I always stuck with the 8 element since I was unwilling to sell it, or have two 35's. I've gotten over that now and mostly don't sell Leica lenses I like, and the "user" 6 element I got for cheap became my favorite 35 up until the Summilux quest. Any version Summicron is a delight to use and are very well behaved classic lenses.
jmanivelle
Well-known
gilgsn
Established
Makes me want an M8 just to put my Summilux on!
Gil.
Gil.
steve kessel
steve kessel
steve kessel
steve kessel
steve kessel
steve kessel
Srono
Established
jmanivelle
Well-known
jmanivelle
Well-known
maddoc
... likes film again.
Shinjuku, November 2014
Leica M4-P, Tri-X
Leica M4-P, Tri-X
maddoc
... likes film again.
Sapporo, December 2014 (Leica M4-2, DELTA400)
201412-14-M42-DELTA400-35LUX-08 copy by maddoc2003jp, on Flickr
201412-14-M42-DELTA400-35LUX-08 copy by maddoc2003jp, on Flickr
Jerevan
Recycled User
So many wonderful photos in this thread. 
By the way - what's the opinion on the version 2 build quality - are the early infinity lock versions better built compared to the later ones with the plastic focus handle?
By the way - what's the opinion on the version 2 build quality - are the early infinity lock versions better built compared to the later ones with the plastic focus handle?
Jerevan
Recycled User
giulio stucchi
Well-known
nice one jon and thanks for posting...i was feeling a bit alone on this thread lately