JohnJ Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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My favourite is the Leica 1.4/80 Summilux-R, more so since using it on an A7RII then on Canon bodies in the previous 10 years, or, Leica film bodies in the 10 years before that. Although focusing on the A7RII is quite slow, and you really can't accurately focus on a moving subject, you can actually nail focus even at F1.4. I always struggled to nail focus WO on Canon bodies but F2 was fairly easy. Focusing on a Leica R8/R9 is a piece of cake, as it has one of the best viewfinders ever, although the lens does have focus shift when stopping down so nailing focus can still be an issue.
The qualities I like most of the Leica 1.4/80 Summilux-R are probably those qualities that others dislike. The lens does have a bit of a 'glow' (spherical aberration) wide open. It does also flare a bit, sometimes, which often adds to the image. When stopped down to F2, the lens is noticeably sharper and already shows a different character. When stopped down to F4 it's a completely different lens again with relatively few flaws. I only use it at F1.4 or F2 unless I actually need depth of field.
The lens does have very good bokeh in that it is quite soft behind the subject but it is not as soft as the bokeh from the FE 1.8/55, or some other 80/85's. In any case, it certainly doesn't have a harsh bokeh. To me, it's bokeh sits on the fence between being soft and painterly, it is visible or present, but not the star of the show. If I want a lens for harsh background bokeh, one that does draw the eye to the bokeh, then there are many lenses from which to choose, such as the Mamiya 1.9/80 N (M645 lens), but not the Leica 1.4/80 Summilux-R.
Some (mostly) recent examples from the Leica 1.4/80 Summilux-R;
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/Leica/R80/161119_DSC01004.jpg
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/Leica/R80/161120_DSC01290.jpg
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/Leica/R80/161103_S_DSC00309.jpg
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/Leica/R80/161120_DSC01241.jpg
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/Leica/R80/IMG_0070_1000.jpg
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/Leica/R80/IMG_0105_1000.jpg
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