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Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
  
 
hmzimelka
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p.24 #1 · p.24 #1 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


@Fred Miranda as some kind of reference to the copy I've tried, I've uploaded an aperture series of an infinity scene, taken with the Summilux Reissue on the M11.

https://mega.nz/folder/67pBkRiL#DSFCo4Tf1BxjIDzn3AnF8Q
Oct 25, 2023 at 10:32 AM
Fred Miranda
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p.24 #2 · p.24 #2 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


Infinity performance: Leica 35mm f/1.4 Lux Steel Rim vs Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton (SC)



  1. Distance: Infinity
  2. Focus: Center - Best of three
  3. WB: Daylight for both lenses
  4. Both Lenses perfectly centered using my decentering test
  5. Software: Lightroom with FM Default Landscape Sharpening. All other settings set to default




35mm
CENTER resolution/contrast comparison: Leica 35mm f/1.4 Lux Steel Rim vs Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton (SC)






F/1.4







F/2







F/2.8







F/4







F/5.6







F/8
Oct 25, 2023 at 04:36 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.24 #3 · p.24 #3 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


35mm
MID-FIELD (~12mm) resolution/contrast comparison: Leica 35mm f/1.4 Lux Steel Rim vs Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton (SC)






F/1.4







F/2







F/2.8







F/4







F/5.6







F/8
Oct 25, 2023 at 04:38 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.24 #4 · p.24 #4 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


EXTREME CORNER resolution/contrast comparison: Leica 35mm f/1.4 Lux Steel Rim vs Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton (SC)






F/1.4







F/2







F/2.8







F/4







F/5.6







F/8
Oct 25, 2023 at 04:39 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.24 #5 · p.24 #5 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


So, when we look at the crops taken with the reissued Leica 35mm f/1.4 SR and the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton at infinity distance, the Leica lens performs a bit better. This is also true for long-distance shots. But, it's important to know that the field curvature shape changes as you move closer or farther from your subject. The Leica lens might produce flatter images when the subject is at infinity. I haven't checked the exact FC shape, but it seems to have wavy shape.

I did this test using perfectly centered versions of both lenses. If the lenses weren't perfectly centered, the results wouldn't be reliable because even a tiny misalignment can greatly affect the results, especially when we zoom in to see the fine details.

For this comparison, I used my Leica M10-R (41MP).
Oct 25, 2023 at 04:48 PM
hmzimelka
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p.24 #6 · p.24 #6 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


Fred Miranda wrote:
So, when we look at the crops taken with the reissued Leica 35mm f/1.4 SR and the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton at infinity distance, the Leica lens performs a bit better. This is also true for long-distance shots. But, it's important to know that the field curvature shape changes as you move closer or farther from your subject. The Leica lens might produce flatter images when the subject is at infinity. I haven't checked the exact FC shape, but it seems to have wavy shape.

I did this test using perfectly centered versions of both lenses. If the lenses weren't...Show more →

Thank you for the test!

They both have a similar moustache shape curvature, but the Nokton's curvature is much more wavy.
Oct 25, 2023 at 10:56 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.24 #7 · p.24 #7 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


hmzimelka wrote:
Thank you for the test!

They both have a similar moustache shape curvature, but the Nokton's curvature is much more wavy.

You're welcome! I recall testing this in the past and will search for the files. It might be a result of both field curvature and the optical design that's causing this difference. I mention this because when I focus on the mid-field/corners area, the Voigtlander's resolution/contrast doesn't quite match that of the Leica.
Oct 26, 2023 at 03:45 PM
 


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hmzimelka
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p.24 #8 · p.24 #8 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


Fred Miranda wrote:
You're welcome! I recall testing this in the past and will search for the files. It might be a result of both field curvature and the optical design that's causing this difference. I mention this because when I focus on the mid-field/corners area, the Voigtlander's resolution/contrast doesn't quite match that of the Leica.

Looking forward to the results...
I just think the CV has stronger curvature making off centre focus more difficult, especially for distant subjects. But looking at your mid-zone tests, that foreground bush is quite sharp at f/4 with the Nokton already.
Oct 26, 2023 at 10:23 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.24 #9 · p.24 #9 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


hmzimelka wrote:
Looking forward to the results...
I just think the CV has stronger curvature making off centre focus more difficult, especially for distant subjects. But looking at your mid-zone tests, that foreground bush is quite sharp at f/4 with the Nokton already.

Good catch! Maybe I only examined the corners when I checked. I'll test if adjusting the focus towards the middle improves that area. The bush indicates the plane of focus, starting at infinity in the center and getting closer in the middle, then maybe moving farther away at the corners. As you mentioned, this could result in a wavy field curvature shape more pronounced for the Voigtlander.
Oct 26, 2023 at 11:03 PM
hmzimelka
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p.24 #10 · p.24 #10 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


Fred Miranda wrote:
Good catch! Maybe I only examined the corners when I checked. I'll test if adjusting the focus towards the middle improves that area. The bush indicates the plane of focus, starting at infinity in the center and getting closer in the middle, then maybe moving farther away at the corners. As you mentioned, this could result in a wavy field curvature shape more pronounced for the Voigtlander.


Exactly, the plane moves closer from the centre and then further away again towards the edges. Both lenses show the same pattern curvature, but the Leica is far less exaggerated, but from my test with the one sample, perhaps the Leica comes at a cost of some astigmatism and loss of sharpness at around the 12mm mark.

Here's the shape of the Summilux 35mm SR Classic I tested at f/5.6 and f/2.8 (bottom). Notice the astigmatism, tangential vs sagittal resolution.
Oct 26, 2023 at 11:25 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.24 #11 · p.24 #11 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


hmzimelka wrote:
Exactly, the plane moves closer from the centre and then further away again towards the edges. Both lenses show the same pattern curvature, but the Leica is far less exaggerated, but from my test with the one sample, perhaps the Leica comes at a cost of some astigmatism and loss of sharpness at around the 12mm mark.

Here's the shape of the Summilux 35mm SR Classic I tested at f/5.6 and f/2.8 (bottom). Notice the astigmatism, tangential vs sagittal resolution.

_https://www.martinzimelka.com/sample_images/Lux-SR-Reissue-field-curvature-f56.jpg

_https://www.martinzimelka.com/sample_images/Lux-SR-Reissue-field-curvature-f28.jpg

This is great to visualize the difference in astigmatism! Thanks for posting.


Feb 20, 2024 at 11:43 AM
KyleChx
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p.24 #12 · p.24 #12 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


Considering pulling the trigger on one of these guys.

Do we think in February of 2024 the later manufactured models are a safe bet? Or am I gonna buy and immediately ship it back to Leica?
Feb 20, 2024 at 03:18 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.24 #13 · p.24 #13 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens


KyleChx wrote:
Considering pulling the trigger on one of these guys.

Do we think in February of 2024 the later manufactured models are a safe bet? Or am I gonna buy and immediately ship it back to Leica?

I believe there were some problems with the initial release of this lens. It seems that Leica has improved their tolerance control following the initial complaints. I'm not certain whether the 2024 models will come with the updated hood, which doesn't cause hard vignetting when using a UV filter, but I assume the new production will include the redesigned hood which was sent to previous owners.
The main complaints about the initial batch were a stiff focusing ring when turned towards infinity and a loose aperture ring. My current version, which came from the second or third batch, doesn't have these issues. However, my first copy, which I pre-ordered, did have these problems.
Feb 21, 2024 at 12:19 AM
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