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Review - Leica Summilux 50 1.4 ASPH
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:28 pm    Post subject: Review - Leica Summilux 50 1.4 ASPH Reply with quote

Hi all,

some samples from this lens on the M9

straight out of the camera, only WB adjusted

i tried to put the lens through difficult conditions to see how it holds up


@f5.6 ->



@f1.4 ->



@f1.4 ->



@f5.6 ->



@f1.4 ->


Last edited by Hari on Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:43 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

#2 and #3 shows very nice clarity , colors and sharpness.


PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Attila wrote:
#2 and #3 shows very nice clarity , colors and sharpness.


yes, it is a nice lens. i have the chrome version, really fantastic build quality but the pull out hood wobbles and is not smooth.

after using the zm sonnar 50/1.5 with modern coating, my impression is that this lens does not keep up with the coating on the sonnar

that aside, sharp enough wide open, smooth bokeh (smoother than the zm sonnar 50), quick focus throw which is good for fast shots (sonnar also has a short focus throw), much lesser purple fringing than the sonnar but 3x the price


PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quiet costly for little difference indeed, I am fond of Zeiss seems forever Very Happy

Many thanks for review!


PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Indeed very nice pop in #2 and #3, hugely impressive wide open, but the price... not just bites, it chops the head off and makes meatballs with it. So I figure you prefer Sonnar, is that right? Wasn't Sonnar supposed to be dreamy wide open?


PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Attila wrote:
Quiet costly for little difference indeed, I am fond of Zeiss seems forever Very Happy

Many thanks for review!


Happy to put the review here!

In my experience with M mount lenses so far, my personal ranking of price : performance ratio ->

1. Voigtlander
2. Zeiss ZM
3. Leica (the Noctilux f1 is an exception in my books. i'd pay even €10,000 for that insane chunk of magical glass)


PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

fermy wrote:
Indeed very nice pop in #2 and #3, hugely impressive wide open, but the price... not just bites, it chops the head off and makes meatballs with it. So I figure you prefer Sonnar, is that right? Wasn't Sonnar supposed to be dreamy wide open?


Honestly, i barely got any time to shoot with the lux 50 asph but from what i've seen out of my camera so far, i do prefer the zm sonnar 50 1.5

Especially the T* coating

Some shots from the ZM 50 1.5 for reference -> http://forum.mflenses.com/zeiss-sonnar-zm-50-1-5-t50065.html


PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

#3 has that wonderful Leica look. The others seem flat and/or flarey, but I understand there's no pp.

I see that even the empty box for this lens is fetching up to $50 USD on eBay, lens hoods $200+. I guess P.T. Barnum was right. Smile


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, your signature is like drool worthy, nice arsenal of lenses.... I hope when I am your age my career brings me to a place where I can afford an arsenal like that!!

Oh, and uhhhh.....

Can I call you when like I need some free money? Wink


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

frenched wrote:
#3 has that wonderful Leica look. The others seem flat and/or flarey, but I understand there's no pp.

I see that even the empty box for this lens is fetching up to $50 USD on eBay, lens hoods $200+. I guess P.T. Barnum was right. Smile


all straight out of the camera, only WB adjusted

some other shots came out really awesome but i want to do some pp which is why i haven't posted those yet

interesting character that Barnum. scam artist and politician - what a match made in heaven Laughing


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jimithing616 wrote:
Wow, your signature is like drool worthy, nice arsenal of lenses.... I hope when I am your age my career brings me to a place where I can afford an arsenal like that!!

Oh, and uhhhh.....

Can I call you when like I need some free money? Wink


Thanks man!

"When i am your age ..." - how old are you and how old do you think i am? Laughing


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hari wrote:


some other shots came out really awesome but i want to do some pp which is why i haven't posted those yet


Looking forward to seeing those!


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I really like the purple flare. Nice portrait also of man with speakers in background. That probably isn't F1.4? Oh wait, but it seems that it is judging by bokeh shape.


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For people who like oodles of detail in their wide open shots, I think the 'lux is significantly better.

The Leica delivers very rich, voluminous images while the Zeiss has lovely rendering and bokeh and a good coating, I agree. Stopped down to f4 or so it is as sharp and rich as the Leica, IMO.


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pancolart wrote:
I really like the purple flare. Nice portrait also of man with speakers in background. That probably isn't F1.4? Oh wait, but it seems that it is judging by bokeh shape.

The last picture with the vehicle in the background isn't f/1.4, if the aperture has 9 blades.


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fabian wrote:
Pancolart wrote:
I really like the purple flare. Nice portrait also of man with speakers in background. That probably isn't F1.4? Oh wait, but it seems that it is judging by bokeh shape.

The last picture with the vehicle in the background isn't f/1.4, if the aperture has 9 blades.

Was asking (and answered myself Wink ) regarding "man with headphones".


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know, but since the last photo is stated as f/1.4 and it most likely isn't, it could as well be related right?


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

here is another one at f1.4

again, no pp - only WB tweaked



PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fabian wrote:
I know, but since the last photo is stated as f/1.4 and it most likely isn't, it could as well be related right?


excuse my ignorance but what makes you think it wasn't shot at f1.4?


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

what do you do when you like something?

of course, you buy two of them Laughing



PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hari wrote:
Fabian wrote:
I know, but since the last photo is stated as f/1.4 and it most likely isn't, it could as well be related right?


excuse my ignorance but what makes you think it wasn't shot at f1.4?




I don't own any Leicas, but it would seem rather odd to me if their aperture blades aren't fully retracted when shooting wide open.


Last edited by Fabian on Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:57 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fabian wrote:
Hari wrote:
Fabian wrote:
I know, but since the last photo is stated as f/1.4 and it most likely isn't, it could as well be related right?


excuse my ignorance but what makes you think it wasn't shot at f1.4?




My bad - the m9 is too advanced to bother with trivia like recording used aperture and I surely don't rem what I did for each shot

But, well observed!


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It makes a sexy combo on the silver Olympus E-M5 I see. Same results but cropped or are there noticeable differences?


PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fabian wrote:
It makes a sexy combo on the silver Olympus E-M5 I see. Same results but cropped or are there noticeable differences?


Apart from the loss of depth and resolution, not much of a didference


PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

converted to B&W and processed with LR