Look how small the new version of the SL 50 Lux is set to be, provided the product photo is real. Look at how small the front element is and small the entire lens is – smaller than either the Sigma or Panasonic f/1.4 front elements and lenses. I wonder if Leica is taking a new direction with SL lenses to lean on their M lens optical designs. Could this be an AF variant derived from their 50 Lux M lens? If this turns out to be the case, I feel like this would be a great new direction for the SL lens line.
Look how small the new version of the SL 50 Lux is set to be, provided the product photo is real. Look at how small the front element is and small the entire lens is – smaller than either the Sigma or Panasonic f/1.4 front elements and lenses. I wonder if Leica is taking a new direction with SL lenses to lean on their M lens optical designs. Could this be an AF variant derived from their 50 Lux M lens? If this turns out to be the case, I feel like this would be a great new direction for the SL lens line....Show more →
You may not be wrong. A 50mm f/1.4 lens only requires an entrance pupil of approximately 35.7mm (50 divided by 1.4), so this could very well be an f/1.4 despite the small front element. That said, it does seem very compact for a full-frame AF lens (Look at their current SL 50/1.4 Lux as a comparison). Perhaps Leica is relying heavily on aspherical elements and a more advanced optical design, with some compromises to keep the size down.
p.1 #5 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
Fred Miranda wrote:
You may not be wrong. A 50mm f/1.4 lens only requires an entrance pupil of approximately 35.7mm (50 divided by 1.4), so this could very well be an f/1.4 despite the small front element. That said, it does seem very compact for a full-frame AF lens (Look at their current SL 50/1.4 Lux as a comparison). Perhaps Leica is relying heavily on aspherical elements and a more advanced optical design, with some compromises to keep the size down.
Yes, like the Q3 43 APO with 4 aspherical lenses, 7 aspherical surfaces. I think the original SL 50 f/1.4 has only 2 aspherical elements. They also could have completely ignored correcting for distortion optically.
p.1 #8 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
FrozenInTime wrote:
It looks to have internally focusing, so a new optical design, rather than just adding motors to the Summilux M optics.
True, could be a variation of the M optical design — or it could be something completely different. But we know Leica of all manufacturers has a history of making small high IQ lenses.
p.1 #9 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
Surfnsun wrote:
Can you elaborate on what that means in the lens design? I’m genuinely interested.
The M 50 Lux’s front element moves forward and backward as you focus. The photo of the new SL lens looks like the front element is fixed, so focusing is done by an internal element/group of elements.
I suppose it’s also possible the front element is just a clear piece of glass and there’s a tiny 50 M Lux inside operating things just like when sci fun movies show little aliens inside a human operating them
p.1 #11 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
I don’t always make sense, and I’m pretty sure there’s a squirrel running loose in my head as I get older, so I’m not putting anything past those crazy people at Leica.
highdesertmesa wrote:
The M 50 Lux’s front element moves forward and backward as you focus. In the photos of the new SL lens, the front element appears fixed, so focusing is probably being done by an internal element or group.
Of course, it’s also possible the front element is just a clear piece of glass and there’s a tiny 50 Lux inside operating everything, like in those sci-fi movies where little aliens are running a human from the inside. 🙂
p.1 #12 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
SlowDriver wrote:
It looks smaller than an APO Summicron-SL...
Smaller than even the non-APO Summicron SL. Girth is the same as the other two pictured but that width goes further down. Also they must really be encouraging manual focus with this lens because look at the size of the focusing ring.
Overlayed in Photoshop to align sizes to the width at the base.
p.1 #13 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
The far right to me seems like a lens designed for studio work in a controlled environment? Possibly even a tripod? I just don’t see that as an enjoyable choice to handhold and carry around.
highdesertmesa wrote:
Smaller than even the non-APO Summicron SL. Girth is the same as the other two pictured but that width goes further down. Also they must really be encouraging manual focus with this lens because look at the size of the focusing ring.
p.1 #14 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
Surfnsun wrote:
The far right to me seems like a lens designed for studio work in a controlled environment? Possibly even a tripod? I just don’t see that as an enjoyable choice to handhold and carry around.
You might want to be sitting down for this one, then. That's the original 50 SL Lux on the far right, and this is why the smaller (rumored) size of the version 2 is a big deal.
The APOs are a bit long, but they're really not that wide. Leica designed all the APOs to fit in the same size lens barrel, so some focal lengths may have longer barrels than they would have otherwise.
p.1 #15 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
I’m not gonna lie, it has some of the same appeal as the Nikon 200/2. Just chunky. I imagine some of that size comes from pursuing extreme correction and rendering quality? Are these popular with fashion and commercial shooters where color accuracy matters? I work in a wildly different profession from photography. I just enjoy it.
highdesertmesa wrote:
You might want to be sitting down for this one, then. That's the original 50 SL Lux on the far right, and this is why the smaller (rumored) size of the version 2 is a big deal.
The APOs are a bit long, but they're really not that wide. Leica designed all the APOs to fit in the same size lens barrel, so some focal lengths may have longer barrels than they would have otherwise.
p.1 #16 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
Surfnsun wrote:
I’m not gonna lie, it has some of the same appeal as the Nikon 200/2. Just chunky. I imagine some of that size comes from pursuing extreme correction and rendering quality? Are these popular with fashion and commercial shooters where color accuracy matters? I work in a wildly different profession from photography. I just enjoy it.
Yes, pursuing what's possible with size, weight, and AF speed being low priority – a bit like the current Nikon Z Noct. I don't think there's any one use case for it that stands out over others, perhaps enthusiasts with unlimited budgets, large biceps, and patience?
p.1 #17 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
For competitive reasons, Leica needs to reduce the size/weight of their SL lenses and bodies. In addition to optical refinements, they will undoubtedly upset the purist and rely increasingly upon firmware distortion corrections.
p.1 #18 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
highdesertmesa wrote:
Yes, pursuing what's possible with size, weight, and AF speed being low priority – a bit like the current Nikon Z Noct. I don't think there's any one use case for it that stands out over others, perhaps enthusiasts with unlimited budgets, large biceps, and patience?
Also following from Nikon's thinking : there is the addition of the Z 50/1.4 - a compact affordable fast prime, that is positioned as a classic rendering lens, as opposed to the clinical 50/1.8 or the large professional 50/1.2, and that tour de force Noct Nikkor.
p.1 #19 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
Generally like the concept of making a smaller lens that is maybe not quite as perfect optically but with pleasing rendering.
But also gotta say that aesthetically this lens does not match its $5,000 price tag and „made in Germany“ claim.. it looks cheap. Like a Panasonic MFT lens actually.
And the 100mm macro will be „made in Japan“ so either a Tamron or Sigma design. Could very well be that the new 50mm is also designed by a third-party and is just (partially) assembled in Germany..
p.1 #20 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
What if it turns out to be made from Unobtainium? Could be interesting.
None of this photography gear should be this pricey. The world is just bonkers expensive. That goes for all the manufacturers.
fjablo wrote:
Generally like the concept of making a smaller lens that is maybe not quite as perfect optically but with pleasing rendering.
But also gotta say that aesthetically this lens does not match its $5,000 price tag and „made in Germany“ claim.. it looks cheap. Like a Panasonic MFT lens actually.
And the 100mm macro will be „made in Japan“ so either a Tamron or Sigma design. Could very well be that the new 50mm is also designed by a third-party and is just (partially) assembled in Germany..
