Summilux Advise Needed

Sailor Ted

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I’m on the cusp of selling my Noctilux and need a little advise- namely what can I expect from the Summilux 35mm (current version) and how will it differ from my 35mm Summicron non-asph. Also any ideas regarding asph vs the older Summilux versions are welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Ted
 
I have the Summilux ASPH, the Summicron V1 and I recently acquired the Summilux pre-ASPH from Kim Coxen. The Summilux ASPH has slightly higher macro and micro-contrast, and a more modern look in both colour and B&W. The f1.4 can be used with full confidence, but the downsize is its weight and size.

On the other hand, Summilux pre-asph is petite, with just about the same size as a pre-asph summicron. Like the summicron V1, it has medium contrast, which can be an asset when you use it on a digital rangefinder on a sunny day. It is a bit soft wide open, but comparable in sharpness to the Summicron when closed down. It does have an issue with flare when it is used wide open. It can handle strong on-axis light source reasonably well, but it has trouble with strong oblique light source that lies just outside the frame. But the flare will be gone if it is stopped down to f2. The bokeh is wonderful, and the softness at 1.4 can produce some dreamy effects.

Here it was used wide open:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=52598&ppuser=990

And here stopped down a little:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=52599&ppuser=990

They have different characters, but both are lovely.

Andrew
 
As a thought, what about the Voitlander 35/1.2? You could buy it, keep the 35 Cron for general use, and still have enough left over to cover all the IR filters beyond the 2 free ones ;) Or maybe keep the Noctilux too, so you won't end up paying an additional grand when you decide to repurchase one next year :D
 
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The latest asph-lux will be bigger by 2x. This is a lens where 1.4 is very sharp. OOF dropoff is faster/steeper than the 35 pre-asph cron. Both are excellent lenses.

If you need 1.4 to be 100% sharp and consistent, get the lux-asph.
 
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