Why and when did you switch from non-ASPH to aspheric lenses?

[Freakscene]

If you switched away from the non-aspheric lenses to aspheric lenses, could you share with us why you did it. Why?

With Leica lenses all the new designs (after the mid-1990s) have aspherical elements. I switched to modern Leica lenses when I got my MM and later the Typ 246 because the older lenses have apparent focus shift, are out-resolved by the sensors (which creates strange image artifacts and tonality), and are much less sharp across the field than older lenses.

I still like the look of older Leica lenses on film.

Marty

 

[Ko.Fe.]

My NIB Summarit-M 35 2.5 which is known to be aspheric costed me less than trashed CLE 35 Cron from seventies.

Something like 100 bucks aspherical FF lens.
https://www.dxomark.com/canon-ef-40mm-f-2-8-stm-review/

 

[Rob-F]

To what I already said, I wanted to add that I've never replaced a spherical lens with an aspherical one. I use the pre-ASPH and ASPH 35 Summilux; and the Pre-ASPH and ASPH 35 Summicrons; sometimes the ASPH and sometimes the spherical versions. The ASPH are sharper, but I still like the images from the older lenses too.

 

[michaelwj]

Size.
The 2.8/28 ASPH is just smaller than the others. I didn’t go for the 35 ASPHs for the same reason, they’re too big.

 

[Contarama]

Can't speak from Leica and I know in these modern times things are very different but when I think of aspherical I think Noct Nikkor or 28/1.4 afd or Canon 55/1.2 SSC aspherical. All were hand ground aspherical elements as opposed to cad designed molded glass of today as I understand it. Idk something about a slide rule makes me more comfortable. Would I change out my 50/2 for an aspherical 58/1.2? Yeah if I was really really worried about coma.

Now they're all aspherical computer controlled robot produced molded affairs. Clinical. No thanks I prefer flaws and imperfections.

 

[Doug]

Apropos of the OP, I had the Zeiss ZM 4.5/21mm and Leica Elmarit 2.8/21mm both of which are excellent on film. I was particularly fond of the little f/4.5 lens and its lack of distortion. But on digital, both suffered "Italian flag syndrome" so they were sold off in favor of the aspheric Leica SEM 3.4/21mm. Recent lenses are often formulated with the expectation of use on digital cameras, so with wides especially I favor them, and they're usually ASPH. I too very much like the Pentax 31mm Limited, where the "AL" designater stands for "aspheric lens". On last February's cruise from Florida to Peru, that 31mm was used for almost all my photos.