summilux 75 1.4

[armandopavia]

Just purchased some weeks ago the lux 75 1.4

Big problems with focusing at 1.4. Is any body owners of such lens who can give me some advices as i notice that there is a big difference in sharpness with the other asph lenses.

Thanks

Armando

 

[jaapv]

1. DOF is extremely shallow. Don't move between focussing and taking the pic.
2. Don't focus/recompose.

 

[vizioneer]

Are you saying that the wide-open close-focus performance is not sharp enough? And/or DOF makes focusing difficult? For focusing, I get it approximately correct and then move my head forward/back to fine focus and take the photo before the subject moves. The DOF is so shallow that sometimes the lens probably gets mistaken for being a bit soft? Of course, I'm sure the 75 cron is sharper, but I'm a bit curious how the 2 match up at f/2 close-focused. The 75 lux is an early 60s/70s design, and the new cron is well new. 😛

 

[vizioneer]

BTW I've seen StuartR's comparison a while back, it'd be nice to see him do .75m, f/2, on a few different subjects, esp. a person's eye(s) in focus.

 

[jaapv]

Are you saying that the wide-open close-focus performance is not sharp enough? And/or DOF makes focusing difficult? For focusing, I get it approximately correct and then move my head forward/back to fine focus and take the photo before the subject moves. The DOF is so shallow that sometimes the lens probably gets mistaken for being a bit soft? Of course, I'm sure the 75 cron is sharper, but I'm a bit curious how the 2 match up at f/2 close-focused. The 75 lux is an early 60s/70s design, and the new cron is well new. 😛

Open perfomance is spectacularly good, but if you mean say 1m focussing distance, or semi macro, that is really not what this lens was designed for and performance may be less than you expect in that case. It is basically designed for low-light medium range photography like theater, portraits including the shoulders, etc. However 95% of the problems are with moving out of the DOF whilst pressing the shutter. Basically this is exactly the same story as the Noctilux, as DOF is similar. Try it out using a tripod.

 

[vizioneer]

I know I've owned a 75 lux- the DOF can be a bear. It also can provide neat effects. f/1.4 is there when you need it though. Which will double your shutter speed which of course will make your exposure less prone to shake/subject movement. All depends on a person's average use of the focal length whether to get the cron or lux.

 

[fgianni]

Basically this is exactly the same story as the Noctilux, as DOF is similar. Try it out using a tripod.

Actually the DOF is even worse than with the noctilux,

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

for 35mm at 3 ft gives a DOF of 0.04 ft to the 75 summilux at 1.4 and 0.06 for the noctilux at f1.0

 

[neilsphoto]

Sean Reid in his www.Reidreviews.com site posted a 75 'lux photo of mine in his article "sticking with film".

I nailed nearly everyone of my 75 shots that day for focus. I wasn't of course at 1 meter when shooting. Those 1 meter shots are really really tough to get. But when you do the look, the dare I say Bokeh is without compare. Wish I could get a similar look/feel in digital.

All I can say is keep trying. Whenever I feel I should sell the 75 for lack of use I use it. Right away I know I must keep it.

 

[Mackinaw]

No doubt focusing is a bear. I picked up my 75/1.4 from a fellow list member back in February and am still learning how to use it. When you're on, the images are golden. When you're off, forget it.

Below are three pics taken with the 75/1.4 a few months back. The picture of the old Continental and the gal pointing at a picture were taken at 1.4. The picture of he little kid at the diner was taken at about F1.6.

Jim Bielecki

 

[neilsphoto]

Lets see if I can post a couple. All at 1.4.

 

[Mackinaw]

Neilsphoto-------Very nice! What kind of film and developer?

Jim Bielecki

 

[neilsphoto]

Well the one on the left and right is TMZ 3200 @3200 developed in HC110. Scanned with a Minolta 5400 and Vuescan.

The center shot is Ilford XP2 C41 process B&W film. All are at 1.4 and left to right 1/15th, 1/30th, 1/60th I believe.

As another poster said, when you nail te focus you are golden, if not well............ Well worth trying though.

 

[MCTuomey]

I second Jim's kudos, Neil. Very nice work. What the 75 is meant to do, I think.

 

[neilsphoto]

Thanks guys.

 

[vizioneer]

Rockin'! Making my choice clearer gentlemen.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[vizioneer]

Hi Leica_Magus, I think black lenses on chrome bodies look good! The 75 cron is probably optimal in a lot of respects, I too will be considering it despite the lux temptation LOL.

 

[boilerdoc2]

The 'lux is essentiallyas sharp at 2.0 as the cron is at 2.0. But the 'cron doesn't have the extra speed when you need it. That extra weight just balances so much better IMHO also improving steadiness. If you can hack the $ you'll love it. But yes, for tack sharp focus use a tripod when possible; otherwise you'll move that few millimeters between focussing and the shot.

 

[armandopavia]

Many thanks to you all for your kind advices on summilux 75.

Armando

 

[jaapv]

The 'lux is essentiallyas sharp at 2.0 as the cron is at 2.0. But the 'cron doesn't have the extra speed when you need it. That extra weight just balances so much better IMHO also improving steadiness. If you can hack the $ you'll love it. But yes, for tack sharp focus use a tripod when possible; otherwise you'll move that few millimeters between focussing and the shot.

Sorry -not quite true. They both are excellent tools, but the 'cron is different from the 'lux. The 'cron is "hervorragend" and the "lux is "einzigartig" according to Leica, and the MTFcurves bear out that there is a difference at all apertures.