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35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

gordec
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

I'm currently considering getting 35 Lux FLE II for the 0.4m close focusing. I really liked having macro mode in RX1Rii (0.2m) and Q2 (0.17m) for things like food, etc. For those who had FLE I, if you are just getting the II for close focusing, is it worth it. 0.4m is still not as close as RX1R or the Q.

Nov 24, 2023 at 11:51 AM

1bwana1
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

I am currently considering trading in my Lux ASPH (pre FLE) for either the FLE or the FLE CF. I have deals cooking for each. I just can't get myself to pull the trigger. My current FLE produces such nice images and the upgrade is between $1,500 - $2,000. I just like the idea of having leicas latest and greatest. Which of course makes no sense functionally.

When considering the FLE CF, I am not sure for me it would be worth the extra$$. The difference between .4 and .7 meters is only inches. When shooting the M11 I can realistically crop that much without penalty.

Nov 24, 2023 at 01:13 PM

uscmatt99
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

I have had the FLE II since soon after its release. Excellent lens, and my only Leica (Zeiss ZM for the rest of my RF lenses). I rarely use it in the close focus range as you need to use the rear LCD to focus and compose, or carry along the EVF which I often don't bring with me. That said I'd still choose the FLE II over the FLE purely for the built in hood. I never use removeable hoods as they are bulky and I'd rather just use my hand as a temporary shade if the lighting conditions call for it. But this one is so easy to extend and collapse, I actually use it all the time. Now, if a native M-mount EVF Leica body is every released, I'll be much more likely to use the close focus range of the lens, as it does generate some beautiful images.

Nov 24, 2023 at 01:37 PM

gordec
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

uscmatt99 wrote:
I have had the FLE II since soon after its release. Excellent lens, and my only Leica (Zeiss ZM for the rest of my RF lenses). I rarely use it in the close focus range as you need to use the rear LCD to focus and compose, or carry along the EVF which I often don't bring with me. That said I'd still choose the FLE II over the FLE purely for the built in hood. I never use removeable hoods as they are bulky and I'd rather just use my hand as a temporary shade if the lighting conditions...Show more →

I see what you are saying about the built-in hood. For me, there is something very pleasant about the older hood design on the FLE I. It looks very balanced.

Nov 24, 2023 at 10:18 PM

highdesertmesa
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

gordec wrote:
I'm currently considering getting 35 Lux FLE II for the 0.4m close focusing. I really liked having macro mode in RX1Rii (0.2m) and Q2 (0.17m) for things like food, etc. For those who had FLE I, if you are just getting the II for close focusing, is it worth it. 0.4m is still not as close as RX1R or the Q.

The lens that will best give you the Q close focus experience would be the Leica 35 APO-M.

Recently I did acquire the 35 Lux FLE II, and I use the close focus quite a bit on the M11M. To me, 35mm feels too wide to be limited to 0.7m. You might also consider a Voigtlander 35mm M lens that close focuses to 0.5m like the 35 1.2 III or 35 1.5.

Nov 24, 2023 at 10:33 PM

gordec
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

highdesertmesa wrote:
The lens that will best give you the Q close focus experience would be the Leica 35 APO-M.

Recently I did acquire the 35 Lux FLE II, and I use the close focus quite a bit on the M11M. To me, 35mm feels too wide to be limited to 0.7m. You might also consider a Voigtlander 35mm M lens that close focuses to 0.5m like the 35 1.2 III or 35 1.5.

I think you can get more dramatic close up portraits like you do with the Q. You can nail focus pretty easily on the LCD screen?

Nov 24, 2023 at 11:35 PM

RexGig0
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

The mention of food photography make me think of the magnification factor, though I am not into food photography, so may be in error. If I understand the math correctly, the maximum reproduction ratio of the APO Summicron-M 35mm ASPH is considerably better than that of the FLE II. If I wanted to do serious close-range work with a 35mm lens on an M camera, I would consider that important. (Not that my wallet can afford the APO 35, within the foreseeable future.)

APO Summicron-M 35mm ASPH: Largest Reproduction Ratio of 1:5.6

Summilux-M 35mm ASPH FLE II: Largest Reproduction Ratio of 1:8.9

I got those figures from the Leica Store Miami website. (B&H did not show that particular tech spec data, and the Leica Camera website is more difficult to navigate.)

Again, to be clear, I do not know anything about food photography, so, would not know the ideal magnification factor or reproduction ratio for that task.

Edited to add: I know that a Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AI-S, with Close Range Correction*, a manual-focus lens, can focus as closely as 0.2m, which is one of the reasons I want to acquire a high-quality adapter, such as Novoflex or Rayqual, to enable trying it on an M camera.

*Nikon’s Close Range Correction, a.k.a. CRC, involves a “Floating Element.”

Nov 25, 2023 at 03:42 AM

highdesertmesa
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

gordec wrote:
I think you can get more dramatic close up portraits like you do with the Q. You can nail focus pretty easily on the LCD screen?

Yes, but it helps to have very good close-up vision. If you happen to have age-related presbyopia, you'll want some reading glasses with a fairly strong magnification power. Honestly, if you shoot at least half your shots below 0.7m, you'll wish you were using the Visoflex 2, which has the added benefit of tilt.

Nov 26, 2023 at 09:56 AM

highdesertmesa
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

Also might be worth mentioning about the FLE II: if a subject is right near 0.7m, the focus ring wants to snap into the detent, making focusing at that distance frustrating even with live view. You basically lose the ability to fine-tune focus when shooting right at 0.7m. Best to put the focus right into the detent and focus by moving yourself and the camera forward and back.

Nov 26, 2023 at 10:02 AM

RustyRus
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

highdesertmesa wrote:
Yes, but it helps to have very good close-up vision. If you happen to have age-related presbyopia, you'll want some reading glasses with a fairly strong magnification power. Honestly, if you shoot at least half your shots below 0.7m, you'll wish you were using the Visoflex 2, which has the added benefit of tilt.

I think it really depends what you are doing- Although I don't have eye issues (only 43) I feel if you set your maggnification to a custom butting, getting critical focus is easy. You are right though, using the Visoflex is better overall expirence when using a tripod etc.

This one is with the APO from earlier this week (best sush in in Portland) but just hit the mag button and touch the lcd where you want focus. Pretty simple once you get used to it.

Also I am selling my 35 LUX CF- buy mine

LEICA M11 Apo-Summicron-M 1:2/35 ASPH. lens 35mm f/6.8 1/160s 400 ISO +0.3 EV

Nov 26, 2023 at 10:04 AM

highdesertmesa
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

RustyRus wrote:
I think it really depends what you are doing- Although I don't have eye issues (only 43) I feel if you set your maggnification to a custom butting, getting critical focus is easy. You are right though, using the Visoflex is better overall expirence when using a tripod etc.

This one is with the APO from earlier this week (best sush in in Portland) but just hit the mag button and touch the lcd where you want focus. Pretty simple once you get used to it.

Also I am selling my 35 LUX CF- buy mine

I have magnification mapped to the top button, and it's definitely a necessity for nailing focus at f/1.4 at any distance with the LCD. But without reading glasses, it's all just variations of blur to me, and I could never see when it snaps into focus.

Nov 26, 2023 at 10:14 AM

manolosavi
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 35mm Summilux FLE II Close Focusing

i upgraded mine with the intention of selling the previous FLE, but i've been kinda lazy and still have both. hard to say if the upgrade is worth it since the optics are identical otherwise, but i've been very happy with the new one. the old one has just been in storage at home ever since i got the new one.
i will say that even tho the new one has a significant upgrade in how much closer you can get to things, its still not really macro levels.
as for the hood, to me its a huge win. i *love* the old design and the engineering of how well it fits when installed, but it adds so much bulk that i have literally only taken it out of the box to install it on the lens at home to look at it and then put it away again, hasn't seen the light of day. the new hood on the other hand is always available so i think its much better because i actually use it!

Nov 30, 2023 at 06:13 PM


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