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Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308
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p.28 #1 · p.28 #1 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

based on Ye's advice over the course of several emails, and after reading this entire thread, I'm ignoring/discounting the opinions of the French reviewer who briefly turned my head, and I ordered the SR reissue earlier this evening. I ended up buying from the Leica store in Rancho Mirage. I spoke with the owner of the store, Sean Cranor, nice guy and very informative. He was candid about the problems that the first batch had particularly the vignetting problem with the original hood which he says has since been corrected. He checked inventory of his store and the Walnut Creek store, and I'm getting his latest serial number - date of manufacture is October 2023. He feels confident that there won't be any problems with the lens, and I have no doubt that if there is he'll make it right. Once I get and have a chance to use it, I'll report back.

I'm in awe of the community of photographers generally on this site including everyone who provided insight on the vintage and reissued SRs. And Fred thanks for patiently answering the questions I sent you yesterday.

Mar 26, 2024 at 09:45 PM

BruceRH
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p.28 #2 · p.28 #2 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308 wrote:
based on Ye's advice over the course of several emails, and after reading this entire thread, I'm ignoring/discounting the opinions of the French reviewer who briefly turned my head, and I ordered the SR reissue earlier this evening. I ended up buying from the Leica store in Rancho Mirage. I spoke with the owner of the store, Sean Cranor, nice guy and very informative. He was candid about the problems that the first batch had particularly the vignetting problem with the original hood which he says has since been corrected. He checked inventory of his store and the Walnut Creek...Show more →

Congratulations and enjoy, it is a very unique lens that is very enjoyable to shoot with IMHO. If you want to pair it with a 50mm I would recommend you take a look at the Light Lens Lab 50mm ƒ2 Speed Panchro II. The rendering is similar to the SR, again IMO. It is beautifully made and the rendering is very unique. I bought my black paint with brassing from Popflash.

https://www.popflash.com/light-lens-lab/light-lens-lab-50mm-f/2-spii-black-paint-with-brassing-leica-m-mount-lens-new/

Mar 27, 2024 at 09:37 AM

brick33308
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p.28 #3 · p.28 #3 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

BruceRH wrote:
Congratulations and enjoy, it is a very unique lens that is very enjoyable to shoot with IMHO. If you want to pair it with a 50mm I would recommend you take a look at the Light Lens Lab 50mm ƒ2 Speed Panchro II. The rendering is similar to the SR, again IMO. It is beautifully made and the rendering is very unique. I bought my black paint with brassing from Popflash.

https://www.popflash.com/light-lens-lab/light-lens-lab-50mm-f/2-spii-black-paint-with-brassing-leica-m-mount-lens-new/

thanks! Actually a month ago I got from the buy/sell FM forum a perfect 50/1.4 summilux asph. Absolutely love it.

Mar 27, 2024 at 10:13 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.28 #4 · p.28 #4 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308 wrote:
thanks! Actually a month ago I got from the buy/sell FM forum a perfect 50/1.4 summilux asph. Absolutely love it.

Some argue that at f/1.4, the Leica Summilux ASPH produces both creamy bokeh and clinical sharpness, and I can't entirely disagree. However, I still appreciate the look.
https://tahusa.co/lens-review/leica-summilux-50mm-f1-4-asph-too-perfect-to-own/

Mar 27, 2024 at 03:44 PM

brick33308
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p.28 #5 · p.28 #5 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

Fred Miranda wrote:
Some argue that at f/1.4, the Leica Summilux ASPH produces both creamy bokeh and clinical sharpness, and I can't entirely disagree. However, I still appreciate the look.
https://tahusa.co/lens-review/leica-summilux-50mm-f1-4-asph-too-perfect-to-own/

interesting. I hadn't noticed it on mine, I guess because I hadn't been looking for it. Here's an image I shot with it wide open, not sure if this makes that point or not. Note that I did use ACR's denoise AI in post. Either which way, I adore this lens.

Mar 27, 2024 at 07:19 PM

brick33308
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p.28 #6 · p.28 #6 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

speaking of that Leica glow - can't afford a vintage or new SR? No problem, Ricoh has you covered for 1/2 - 1/3 the cost

https://petapixel.com/2024/03/27/ricohs-new-gr-iii-hdf-and-gr-iiix-hdf-cameras-feature-a-dreamy-filter/

Mar 27, 2024 at 07:32 PM

Desmolicious
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p.28 #7 · p.28 #7 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308 wrote:
speaking of that Leica glow - can't afford a vintage or new SR? No problem, Ricoh has you covered for 1/2 - 1/3 the cost

https://petapixel.com/2024/03/27/ricohs-new-gr-iii-hdf-and-gr-iiix-hdf-cameras-feature-a-dreamy-filter/

Canon SureShot Tele brought that in the ‘80s

https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/film121.html

https://casualphotophile.com/2023/06/26/canon-sure-shot-tele-review/

You can have that for $40.

Mar 27, 2024 at 09:45 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.28 #8 · p.28 #8 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308 wrote:
speaking of that Leica glow - can't afford a vintage or new SR? No problem, Ricoh has you covered for 1/2 - 1/3 the cost

https://petapixel.com/2024/03/27/ricohs-new-gr-iii-hdf-and-gr-iiix-hdf-cameras-feature-a-dreamy-filter/

An alternative is to use a diffuse filter, but based on my experience experimenting with diffuser filters on the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton, I can tell you that it doesn't replicate the effect produced by a Leica lens.

Mar 27, 2024 at 09:49 PM

stgrove
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p.28 #9 · p.28 #9 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

Fred Miranda wrote:
An alternative is to use a diffuse filter, but based on my experience experimenting with diffuser filters on the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton, I can tell you that it doesn't replicate the effect produced by a Leica lens.

Agree, diffuser filters do not come close to a Leica lens.

Mar 28, 2024 at 10:07 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.28 #10 · p.28 #10 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308 wrote:
interesting. I hadn't noticed it on mine, I guess because I hadn't been looking for it. Here's an image I shot with it wide open, not sure if this makes that point or not. Note that I did use ACR's denoise AI in post. Either which way, I adore this lens.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Photography/2024-3-9-Key-West-night-shots/i-LnHsXGX/0/fCk5gfLB4Jz2kV4NN7rw3RQXccSW8k8rRTVM2K6m/O/L1001169.jpg

I'm not saying it's a negative, just that it might seem "too perfect" for some shooters. Personally, I have the 50/1.4 Lux and I think it's a timeless Leica lens that produces images with a contemporary aesthetic.

Apr 01, 2024 at 07:06 PM

brick33308
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p.28 #11 · p.28 #11 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

Fred Miranda wrote:
Personally, I have the 50/1.4 Lux and I think it's a timeless Leica lens that produces images with a contemporary aesthetic.

I agree, although it may get bumped down from first to my second most favorite lens when I get the 35 steel rim reissue this week

Apr 02, 2024 at 06:18 AM

RexGig0
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p.28 #12 · p.28 #12 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308 wrote:
I agree, although it may get bumped down from first to my second most favorite lens when I get the 35 steel rim reissue this week

Nothing has yet threatened the “Favorite” status of my Summilux-M 50mm ASPH.

No, not even my Re-Edition Steel Rim Summilux 35. Actually, they are so different, they compete on different playing fields, as I see it. Each can be “a” favorite, at its own game.

Edited to add: With the Minimum Focusing Distance and Maximum Magnification specs factored into the equation, the Re-Edition Steel Rim will not be the better lens for photographing Chihuahuas.

Apr 02, 2024 at 06:45 AM

stgrove
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p.28 #13 · p.28 #13 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

I find it interesting that it seems some "Limited Edition" Leica items have long lead times. Example--the Black SR was released on what 22 March? Well it seems some were manufactured in June 2023.

Apr 02, 2024 at 02:04 PM

brick33308
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p.28 #14 · p.28 #14 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

RexGig0 wrote:
Nothing has yet threatened the “Favorite” status of my Summilux-M 50mm ASPH.

speaking of chihuahuas, here's my first ever M photograph

Apr 02, 2024 at 06:58 PM

brick33308
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p.28 #15 · p.28 #15 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

I got my 35 steel rim reissue. Manufacture date on the box is December 8 2023. It came with the newer vented hood that Fred got with his second copy, and I'm not getting vignetting on wide open images. If I push up on the aperture tab, there is a very slight minute movement of the aperture ring upward, but there's no wobbling or looseness of the aperture ring. I know some people don't like the infinity lock but I do. It takes just the slightest press to unlock and move the focus ring which is buttery smooth. I did a simple test shooting AA batteries on a diagonal, and focus seems to be spot on wide open and at higher apertures.

Here are 3 images I shot this morning. First is wide open, second is f4 which surprisingly at that aperture still has nice out of focus rendering. Third is f4.8. Bottom line: I'm thrilled with this lens. Wide open, and even up to f4 it produces character images I want, and stopped down further the images are as sharp and detailed as I want them.

Apr 06, 2024 at 11:03 AM

BruceRH
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p.28 #16 · p.28 #16 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

Congrats and enjoy! Mine is an earlier version but Leica was very quick to send me the new hood. My aperture ring also has very little movement. It is a wonderful lens, really 2 lenses in one.

Apr 06, 2024 at 06:13 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.28 #17 · p.28 #17 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308 wrote:
I got my 35 steel rim reissue. Manufacture date on the box is December 8 2023. It came with the newer vented hood that Fred got with his second copy, and I'm not getting vignetting on wide open images. If I push up on the aperture tab, there is a very slight minute movement of the aperture ring upward, but there's no wobbling or looseness of the aperture ring. I know some people don't like the infinity lock but I do. It takes just the slightest press to unlock and move the focus ring which is buttery smooth. I did...Show more →

Congrats on getting a good copy of the Steel Rim! One of my favorite 35mm lenses.

Apr 06, 2024 at 07:41 PM

KLaban
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p.28 #18 · p.28 #18 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

brick33308 wrote:
Here are 3 images I shot this morning. First is wide open...

Just wondering what the strange colouration towards the left side of your first image is?

Apr 07, 2024 at 04:02 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.28 #19 · p.28 #19 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

KLaban wrote:
Just wondering what the strange colouration towards the left side of your first image is?

It's flare.

Apr 07, 2024 at 08:46 PM

stgrove
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p.28 #20 · p.28 #20 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens

That's what makes this lens so special

Apr 07, 2024 at 08:50 PM

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