Matt I notice that you made this lovely picture of your wife with the Lux 50 Pre-ASPH. My dealer has provided me with an E46 version of the same lens to possibly purchase but requires a prompt answer so I won’t have the usual couple of weeks to use it thoroughly. I’ve been looking for a 50 Pre-ASPH for quite a while and I’m strongly tempted. But the money could also go towards replacing my APO-Lanthar 35/2 and Ultron 35/2 v2 with a Leica 35 APO. I know you have the Lux 50 ASPH as do I and am wondering what you see as the main differences between the two lenses and why it would be worth having both. One issue that concerns me is whether it has strong focus shift.
genji wrote:
Matt I notice that you made this lovely picture of your wife with the Lux 50 Pre-ASPH. My dealer has provided me with an E46 version of the same lens to possibly purchase but requires a prompt answer so I won’t have the usual couple of weeks to use it thoroughly. I’ve been looking for a 50 Pre-ASPH for quite a while and I’m strongly tempted. But the money could also go towards replacing my APO-Lanthar 35/2 and Ultron 35/2 v2 with a Leica 35 APO. I know you have the Lux 50 ASPH as do I and am wondering what you see as the main differences between the two lenses and why it would be worth having both. One issue that concerns me is whether it has strong focus shift....Show more →
Quick answer is no, I don't think it would be worth having both for most people.
But.... I have a bit of an affliction with 50mm lenses and I like some of my lenses to have character and some to be modern. I heard the e46 had focus shift and that the e43 didn't, or it wasn't as bad, but the e43 had issues with flare so I bought the latter because I can deal with a little flare, but focus shift is too frustrating.
My e43 is a wonderful little lens, but It's fairly new. So far, I've had no focus shift issues at all and have been shooting with the RF from 1 to 3 or 4 meters (m9, m10). Its VERY Sharp in the center, like nearly ASPH sharp, I think the colors feel feel a little less muted but the skin tones look like they have more contrast. Bokeh is beautiful with both Leica lenses. (Hard to believe the e43 is from 1969, I was 3!) One thing I will say is that the focus throw is very long, or it feels long on the e43, which can be good and bad, I prefer the shorter throw and the tab of the ASPH.
I have the CV 50/1.2 currently as well and have Fred's F/1 coming tomorrow.
The goal is to decide on 1 modern walkaround and 1 character 50 for my m body's.
I'm kinda going through that with my 35's too. Pretty fun process.
Some m9/50e43 Bokeh
Leica Camera AG M9
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 (II)
ƒ/1.4 50.0 mm 1/350 160iso
Matt Kerby wrote:
Quick answer is no, I don't think it would be worth having both for most people.
But.... I have a bit of an affliction with 50mm lenses and I like some of my lenses to have character and some to be modern. I heard the e46 had focus shift and that the e43 didn't, or it wasn't as bad, but the e43 had issues with flare so I bought the latter because I can deal with a little flare, but focus shift is too frustrating.
My e43 is a wonderful little lens, but It's fairly new. So far, I've had no focus shift issues at all and have been shooting with the RF from 1 to 3 or 4 meters (m9, m10). Its VERY Sharp in the center, like nearly ASPH sharp, I think the colors feel feel a little less muted but the skin tones look like they have more contrast. Bokeh is beautiful with both Leica lenses. (Hard to believe the e43 is from 1969, I was 3!) One thing I will say is that the focus throw is very long, or it feels long on the e43, which can be good and bad, I prefer the shorter throw and the tab of the ASPH.
I have the CV 50/1.2 currently as well and have Fred's F/1 coming tomorrow.
The goal is to decide on 1 modern walkaround and 1 character 50 for my m body's.
I'm kinda going through that with my 35's too. Pretty fun process.
Thanks so much, that was exactly the kind of answer I was hoping for. I tested this E46 version for focus shift, which turns out to be much worse than I’m willing to try to work around—so back it goes. I might ask my dealer to see if he can find an E43 version because, like you I prefer to have a modern and a character lens for a given focal length. And I really like the rendering in the image you posted.
