I took arrival of my Leica 50mm ƒ/2.0 Summicron-R and was curious to see the differences between that and my friend's Leica 50mm ƒ/1.4 Summilux-R. I'm about to convert mine to Sony Alpha mount, my friend uses his on Canon EOS. I'd thought I'd share my thoughts.

The Summicron is noticably shorter and lighter.

The Lux 50 is not the current version and it is reported the current version is much better IQ, but prohibitively expensive. You may find your Lux 50 to be weaker in the corners at wider apertures, than the Cron 50.

My cron 50 was very sharp accross the frame into the corners. The big question is, will you use f/1.4 alot?

JimU wrote:
I don't really see much of a difference between the two lenses except for 1 stop and about $500 difference.

I'd say that's about right--which makes the 'cron probably the best overall 50mm of all time. There are 50s that are critically sharper; there are 50s that have "better" bokeh (subjectively; there are 50s that are more affordable; there are 50s that are more compact. (I'm not convinced that there are 50s that are built better.)

The 'cron is a 9 of 10 in all those categories, as opposed to a 10 in one and a 6 in others.

I like the Summilux better, because of the Biotar-Type Highlight bokeh.

Thanks for posting these - very interesting. I almost bought a Lux (older version) but opted for the Summicron. I'd love to find a reasonably priced Lux E-60 - maybe in the next lifetime. Until then - I'm really enjoying the 50/2, one of my favorites.

Greg Feldman wrote:
JimU wrote:
I don't really see much of a difference between the two lenses except for 1 stop and about $500 difference.

I'd say that's about right--which makes the 'cron probably the best overall 50mm of all time. There are 50s that are critically sharper; there are 50s that have "better" bokeh (subjectively; there are 50s that are more affordable; there are 50s that are more compact. (I'm not convinced that there are 50s that are built better.)

The 'cron is a 9 of 10 in all those categories, as opposed to a 10 in one and a 6 in others.

+1

I tested an E60 lux against my cron and decidied to keep the cron, mainly a financial decision as the difference wasn't worth the money. Yes, if they cost the same I'd get the E60, but they don't.

JJ

Figure I'd better give you guys a heads up, I was gonna bid up and acquire another one, but I don't have enough disposable income atm. I've already communed with the seller and he ships worldwide for ~55 euro and will declare at a lower value if (like me) you live in a country with insane import tax.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110424092032

3hrs to go.

cavewalker wrote:
I like the Summilux better, because of the Biotar-Type Highlight bokeh.

+1

You have excellent taste in bokeh, cavewalker.

thrice wrote:
Figure I'd better give you guys a heads up, I was gonna bid up and acquire another one, but I don't have enough disposable income atm. I've already communed with the seller and he ships worldwide for ~55 euro and will declare at a lower value if (like me) you live in a country with insane import tax.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110424092032

3hrs to go.

He has 0 feedback as a seller though... Never had any probs buying expensive lenses on eBay, but personally, i'd like to use a seller with many sales and good feedback.

PeterGlaso wrote:
He has 0 feedback as a seller though... Never had any probs buying expensive lenses on eBay, but personally, i'd like to use a seller with many sales and good feedback.


Oh I hear ya, but ebay will cover you, and also he said it's unmounted. Seemed like a really genuine guy over e-mail, fluent english etc. If he was a scammer wouldn't he have posted on US ebay and specified he shipped everywhere to get the exposure?

Either way, someone got a great deal. I paid 2k for mine and considered myself lucky, such a great lens.

Thanks for the comparison.

Summicron is definitely sharper from center to corner. The yellow flower in the center of the arrangement clearly shows this.

Bokeh ? I'd say very close, and we can easily make it creamier in post-processing .

I have compared latest 50mm Summicron-M to latest Summicron-R after a Leica dealer told me that Leica told him that the R series have higher resolution compared to the M's, something related to size of the lens.

Well, he was right, the R had slightly higher resolution. But I preferred the more "film-like" quality of the M. Either one will be fine with me, although the R is certainly cheaper, but heavier.

Anyway, this article made me drop my plans to get a 50mm Summilux-M ASPH which I planned to use for nighttime shooting only. I think I will check out the Voigtlander 1.1 instead ... I am sure the Summiluxes are great for certain uses, though.

Any thoughts on how either compares to a ZE/ZF 50/2?

seems like there's not much experiences comparing 50/2s.

for the last few months I was planning on selling the summicron and buying a summilux. but i've decided I don't need the extra stop (I have the 58/1.2), the summicron performs with slightly better contrast and arguably better bokeh at f/2-2.8.

My original intention was I was going to use it as a portrait lens and thus would stop it down anyways. still it'd be nice to have the extra stop for available light if necessary.

Thanks for your review. It is very helpful.

I would like to add commend that the pictures taken at close distance around 0.7 -1 m which is diificult distance for Leica R 50mm. Then the lens can not show their full pentential performance. It should take picture at distance 2 m up. You will see real lens performance. This lens is not macro lens or close up lens. It was designed for general purpose which mostly will take photo at 2 m distance upward.

This is just my little opinion.

I think you made the right choice.
I actually like the more compact version 1 bokeh better than the latest made in Germany Summicron R 50mm. However, the new version has better corners and less vignette. I also had a chance to compared the Canadian version and it didn't look as good as the German made version to me. Not as sharp as the version 1 and latest version.


JimU wrote:
seems like there's not much experiences comparing 50/2s.

for the last few months I was planning on selling the summicron and buying a summilux. but i've decided I don't need the extra stop (I have the 58/1.2), the summicron performs with slightly better contrast and arguably better bokeh at f/2-2.8.

My original intention was I was going to use it as a portrait lens and thus would stop it down anyways. still it'd be nice to have the extra stop for available light if necessary.

I compared the lux to the cron a few months back. At f/2 it wasn't even close, the lux was hugely better. Past f/2.8, they were pretty close. I use the extra stop so it's become one of my favorite lenses.

I'd love to see a comparison between the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH on the M9 and the last version of the 50mm Summilux-R on a 1Ds2, 5D, etc.

John Black wrote:
I'd love to see a comparison between the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH on the M9 and the last version of the 50mm Summilux-R on a 1Ds2, 5D, etc.

Erwin Putz said the M was slightly better, maybe the review is still on his site. If you read enough of his reviews thoroughly you come to understand how accurate they actually are. I do trust his reviews because they have mirrored my own experiences without exception.

JJ

Could you specify which versions youu tested?

zombii wrote:
I compared the lux to the cron a few months back. At f/2 it wasn't even close, the lux was hugely better. Past f/2.8, they were pretty close. I use the extra stop so it's become one of my favorite lenses.

The Summilux R E55 1.4/50 have the most wonderful bokeh of any fast 50th

cavewalker wrote:
The Summilux R E55 1.4/50 have the most wonderful bokeh of any fast 50th


The E60 might have something to say about that

The E60 is a much improved version. If you have extra budget, you should go with E60.

Very good examples thrice the bokeh is very smooth too. The E60 version have way better edge performance as the E55. But the E55 have a more rounded "biotar like" bokeh what i like so much.

JimU wrote:
Could you specify which versions youu tested?

zombii wrote:
I compared the lux to the cron a few months back. At f/2 it wasn't even close, the lux was hugely better. Past f/2.8, they were pretty close. I use the extra stop so it's become one of my favorite lenses.


The Lux is an 11777 version serial 295xxxx. The Summicron was an 11216 (I think) E55 version serial 356xxxx. I've got a newer E55 Lux now as well and the two perform identically optically. Functionally, the newer one has a lighter focus ring. and doesn't feel quite as solid but it focuses perfectly to infinity where the older one focuses well past infinity. I think I'm going to send it off for adjustment and then decide what to keep after I get it back.