2nd gen Summilux-R 50

I'm looking to replace my Summicron-R 50 with a Summicron-R 35, and

then adding a Summilux-R 50. Is there any good reason to get the

current Summilux instead of the previous 2nd gen? It sounds like

stopped down the gen2 is a solid performer, as good as or better than

the current cron. But which of the two luxes is more pleasing wide

open? Anyone shoot them side by side at h-and-s-portrait/tabletop

distances?

This doesn't answer your specific question however Erwin Puts' review of the current R 50 lux places it head and shoulder above it's predecessors. maybe you can find his reports on the Leica web site or Erwins own, there are links to it on the Leica web site.

 

JJ

Jan,

 

By "2nd Gen," i assume you're speaking of the ROM version of the 50-Lux-R. But, be

careful if buying one 'used.' The older optical formulations can be converted to ROM, and

may be listed, either unscrupulously or out of ignorance, without that disclosure.

The newest optical formulation has an E60 filter size compared to the E55 on the earlier

model, so it should not be too hard to tell the difference. I have this newer version and

am entirely happy with it. It is sharp wide open with nice out of focus areas. I recommend

it highly. Here is a shot taken fairly wide open (I don't recall, f/2.8 or wider)<P><img

src="http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~srichardson/kr-getty7.jpg">

John, I hadn't looked at his site, and the Lens Compendium has only the first two versions in it... will have to check that out.

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Derek, there's a third, current, version of the lens that came out in 1997. To me, whether it's ROM or not doesn't terribly matter. I certainly wouldn't pay extra for it.

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Nice shot, Stuart! Looks a lot like the cron 50/90, which means pretty darn good... I'm still thinking closer and much wider aperture though.

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Something more like this, except not as close. (For shooting glassware and product arrangements, not flowers.) This was shot with the Canon TS/E-90 at f/2.8, a very gaussian lens clearly made for this kind of use. (Canon 1D, so 1.3x crop factor and a much flatter perspective than I like. A 50 should be perfect on film or my 1Ds.) <a href="http://www.rockgarden.net/janbrittenson/gallery/Flowers/Popup16806.jpg">

Gaussian Bokeh</a>

Jan, If your intent is to get the sharpest performance wide open and close up, I think it

makes sense to get the current model. It seems to perform very well close up and it has

nice bokeh. It is not an aspherical, so it does not have that family trait. It is just an

updated version of the original. Here is another shot...not much to look at, but of the lens

wide open and close up: <P><img src="http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~srichardson/purple-

pointers.jpg">

Thanks Stuart, exactly what I was looking for. That's an extremely confusing background to begin with, and I think it looks pretty good given the circumstances!

First two versions are same optics, according to sources I've read, just different style mounts. They outperform competing 50mm 1.4 lenses from NIkon, CAnon, etc by a large margin. I have the second version and I know it competes well with the Summicron 50 on fullframed digital, especially if you add a bit of contrast post-processed to the 'Lux image it seems to be a tad bit better than the summicron. Yes, that's subjective, just to my eye. The details are as good. Pumping contrast on Summicron does not improve it any and it never quite overtakes the 'Lux by any significant amount.

 

If you want to really outstrip the Summicron, the latest version of the 'Lux should do that from 4.0 onwards, especially close range, I would predict, without any post processing.

 

If you have the bucks, get both a first or second, plus the latest. You can find early versions at all sorts of low prices. Use it wide open for nostalgic shots, or grab shooting in street scenes where the camera could get ripped off, and where you want full aperture under softer lighting. Depend on post-processing to get your desired effect. You can even selectively sharpen areas and they will come up.

 

If you have less bucks, get just the third version. It runs from 1300-2000 depending on what shape and if comes in a box, case, etc. There are very few of them on the market, and they go fast, so be prepared to bid aggressively for one.

 

If you have less bucks, get just the second version of the 'Lux. It can be found for as little as 350, or as much as 1200 if in great shape. It has a built-in lenshood, and is a nicer build than earlier version.

 

If you have even less bucks, get just the first. The first is usually really cheap, will do digital especailly fine with a slight contrast bump. Wide open it will be the softest of the 3, but that is slight and overridden by available light in all 3 lenses. All images in available light tend to be soft due to the lighting alone. You'll only notice differences in full sun or flash, in which case you don't need 1.4 anyway.

 

I plan to get a 3rd version soon, in addition to the second version, and the Summicron. All 3 have special advantages. You can't go wrong getting some old Leica glass in the house, the images are remarkable from all of them, just in different ways.

b

There are only TWO optical formulations of the Summilux-R, the original (which is a seven element lens) and the current (which is, I believe 8-elements). The current lens is a significantly improved formula, especially at wider apertures and away from the center area. You can read about the differences on Erwin's site (if it is still up) or in his book. I think if you plan on using the lens frequently at wide open apertures, the current generation is the one to go with. OTOH, if you are going to use it mostly stopped down, the older lens is a lot cheaper and will allow you to have enough money left over to buy another lens!