Summilux 50/1.4 type 1 - opinions

[blacklight]

Hallo,

I have an opportunity to get this lens and I would like to hear your opinions on its performance and on what would be a fair price for it.

I cannot spend a fortune for lenses, so it would have been one of my few 50s..so if the price would be right should I get it or should I better wait and save for something else?

Thanx

 

[waileong]

Both are available through googling. Bottom line is, if you're not after ultimate sharpness, it's pretty good.

 

[Meleica]

My Leica Lens price guide has that lens at $ 750.

http://antiquecameras.net/leicamlenses.html

Dan

 

[Ronald M]

I wanted a mint pristine one with the vented shade brand new in the box oh so bad. Fortunately I had some fast film and my Summarit along.

I sware the edges were better on the Summarit, center the same. I did not go back to get it and saved $1100.

So expect to pay 750/1000.

I never found a 1963 /200x one I liked. Distortion is high and image soft to 6.3.

So I still have the Summarit, the ugliest one of the bunch but it performs well.
The new 50 1.4 ASPH is a gem. Maybe you could rent your wife out to get one.
Nobody complains about it focus shifting either like the Sonnar. Maybe a CV 1.5?

 

[rich815]

Both are available through googling. Bottom line is, if you're not after ultimate sharpness, it's pretty good.

Hand-held and shot at under 1/125th it PLENTY sharp enough...

 

[Harry Lime]

Type 1 as in the very first formulation that they only produced for 2 years?

HL


50mm F1.4 Summilux 1959-1961 - Type 1 SN#1,645,300-1,844,000
This version was only made for two years and was replaced by Type #2, which featured a new optical computation and increased performance (especially at 1.4).

50mm F1.4 Summilux 1962-1994 - Type 2 SN#1,844,001-N/A
This is the most common version of the Lux. This optical formula was in production for over 40 years until the arrival of the ASPH model and is very, very good. This version with the clip on hood focuses as close as 1 meter (100cm). Takes E43 filters.

50mm F1.4 Summilux-M 1995 - 2005/6 - Type 3 SN# ???
Same optical formula as Type #2, but with a built in collapsible hood (which doesn't lock in place! ). This version will focuses as close as .7 meters (70cm). This is the version I have and I prefer the ability to focus closer. Performance is identical to Type 2. Same optical formula as Type#2. Takes E46 filters.

50mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH 2006 - present Type 4 SN# ???
A totally new optical formula with ASPH technology and a floating element for increased close up performance. Reportedly this is the highest performing 50mm lens ever made for 35mm photography. Cost: circa $2700 dollars.

 

[jaffa_777]

I am also interested in the pre-asph summilux's. Hey I don't want to hijack blacklight's thread, but what price range should one be looking at to get the type 3 summilux. I think that lense produces a gorgeous image on black and white!

 

[ray_g]

I am also interested in the pre-asph summilux's. Hey I don't want to hijack blacklight's thread, but what price range should one be looking at to get the type 3 summilux. I think that lense produces a gorgeous image on black and white!

I am not sure about recent prices, but a few months ago, there were examples here selling for 1200-1500. Great lens. If you don't mind losing the close(r) focusing and using a screw-on hood, you'd save some money with the previous, 43mm, version. The prices on that may have gone up - KEH has a BGN one for around $900. They used to sell those for $695 not too long ago.

 

[rich815]

I am also interested in the pre-asph summilux's. Hey I don't want to hijack blacklight's thread, but what price range should one be looking at to get the type 3 summilux. I think that lense produces a gorgeous image on black and white!

I got one from someone here about a month or so ago for $1050 and saw another not long after be listed at $1100 but sell in the end when he dropped the price, I think to $950-1,000 or thereabouts. Another silver one went for $1200 a little before that. If you want one quickly the typical price is about $1300 or even more. With patience, as shown by my examples, one can be had a little cheaper.

Great lens, BTW. I love mine.

 

[jaffa_777]

Cool guys.

I have seen one called a black paint version? Whats the deal with this one?

 

[BigSteveG]

I picked one up recently (black, V3) in absolute mint condition and factory coded as well. No box/case. Paid $1,500. Two months agp I could've had a NOS unit from Bel-Air camera for $1,600. I went back 3 weeks ago and it had just come back from Leica w/ coding. New asking price: $2,199.00
It's my understanding that V3 also offers a more advanced coating. But I don't that for sure. I do like the close focus, it's light, small, and produces very creamy images. It's quite sharp stopped down a few. Now the asph seems to be everyone's benchmark. I don't know I could've found such a nice unit at lower price.

 

[MCTuomey]

my v3 wears a semi-permanent rubber band to hold that bleeping built-in hood in place. paid ~$1100 w/o the rubber band. use it for low light, otherwise my elmar.

 

[blacklight]

Well, I could probably get it for a very good price, $300-400. But the thing is, would I get a better lens than e.g. 50 Nokton, which I can get new for that price? I've read that the type 1 Lux is soft wide open, someone even wrote that it needs stopping down to F8 to get good results, although this is really hard to believe. On the other hand if it had some interesting characteristic, the lack of sharpness might not be such a problem..

 

[Harry Lime]

my v3 wears a semi-permanent rubber band to hold that bleeping built-in hood in place. paid ~$1100 w/o the rubber band. use it for low light, otherwise my elmar.

Ha! So does mine! 🙂

I've actually thought of making a small, threaded hole in the hood,
so I could lock it in place with a small brass post.

But a GG-2 hood from the Contax G series also does the trick.
I cut a vent in one and it works like a charm. Also put one of these
on my 1.4/35 Lux ASPH.




HL

 

[Harry Lime]

I just traded mine. I valued it 750$. I know of a pretty mint summarit Ltm that is 290$. Dont know how they compare to each other.

The very first version of the Summilux is an improved Summarit. That's the one they made for only two years. The next formualtion is quite an improvement, especially wide open. This is the formula that was around for about 40 years.

 

[nikon_junkie]

I liked the lens and regret selling it.

I'm happy with my 50mm Summicron DR, but if you wont buy it for $400, then let me know because I will.

 

[peter_n]

Well, I could probably get it for a very good price, $300-400. But the thing is, would I get a better lens than e.g. 50 Nokton, which I can get new for that price? I've read that the type 1 Lux is soft wide open, someone even wrote that it needs stopping down to F8 to get good results, although this is really hard to believe. On the other hand if it had some interesting characteristic, the lack of sharpness might not be such a problem..

It depends on your personal taste. I really love the old-fashioned look the type 1 gives, and if you want to see some beautiful pics showing that look go over to photo.net and see Mike Dixon's pictures with it, they are beautiful. If the lens is going for <=$400 I wouldn't think twice about it. I use the type 2 version and love it too, and wouldn't trade up to the ASPH version for anything (got a 75/2 instead 🙂 ).

 

[thomasw_]

i prefer the signature and performance of the type2 or 3 lux. i think optically they are the same, just that the third has a built in hood. but you can sometimes see type 2/3s going for as low as 900 up to 1300. a great lens that some even prefer to the asph lux. here 's an ex.

 

[Tom A]

The 1 st version of the Summilux 50/1,4 is derived from the Summarit 50f1.5 which in turn cames from the pre-war Xenon 50f1.5. The version II/III are further developments from this formula. In 1958 Leica was faced with stiff competition from Nikon and their 50f1.4 (which is a better lens than the 1st generation Summilux) as well as Contax with the Sonnar 50f1.5.
The Version I 50/1,4 S-lux is not a bad lens, but it has shortcomings. Tendency to flare, soft edges up to about f4, but center sharpness wasen't bad for the time. I kind of like the look, particularly with black/white. Contrast is a bit low, but thats what multigrade filters are for in the darkroom. It makes a very good portrait lens as it will smooth out mid-tones.
It is also one of the best looking Leica lenses ever made. This has nothing to do with performance, but a early 50mm f1.4 in chrome with the correct hood on a M3 is a nice looking packaged.
The version I is quite rare as most of them were beaten to pulp by press shooters in the late 50's and early 60's and "collectors" tend to bid mint ones up for looks alone.
These are also lenses that do collect scratches and nicks in the front coating and as it will flare even with a clear front glass, a couple of nicks or "cleaning" marks will make it flare even more.
You can get much the same performance with Summarit 50f1.5 (with the proper hood) at probably 1/2 the cost.

 

[x-ray]

Well, I could probably get it for a very good price, $300-400. But the thing is, would I get a better lens than e.g. 50 Nokton, which I can get new for that price? I've read that the type 1 Lux is soft wide open, someone even wrote that it needs stopping down to F8 to get good results, although this is really hard to believe. On the other hand if it had some interesting characteristic, the lack of sharpness might not be such a problem..

The Nokton is a superb lens. I owned one prior to my asph summilux 50 and now after experiencing mechanical problems with the asph lux I wish i had kept the Nokton. Even wide open at 1.5 the Nokton is a killer lens and not that far from the asph performance. I hate to reference Puts but he stated it out performs the late model non asph summilux wide open. Take that for what you paid for the information but i would go the Nokton. When my asph comes back from DAG and if it developes focusing problems again it's going to be sold and a new Nokton purchased to replace it.