joe88 wrote:
Julian, congrats on your M9. Post some shots soon. What lenses do you have now? Others will chimp in but sometimes the lens pairing could depend on which other lenses you have or intend to buy.
Thanks for your input Joe. I appreciate it. As far as lenses go, I have a Zeiss 35 f2 and Leica 90 Summarit to start off with. Trying to find a Summilux/Summicron is rare unless you go on ebay to pay the rediculous mark up they charge. So, with that said, I'm stuck with these for now until I learn the camera itself.
Thanks guys
Joe, great shots! Congratulations on your new 50 Lux Asph
KL, great shot across the water. The colours seem almost paint like in rendering. I do like the location of your office
Joakim, very nice set! The 90 Elmarit is an excellent lens.
Ryan, really nice set ! I do prefer the B&W version
Julian congrats on your M9
Your question is the 75 Lux worth buying over the 75 Cron AA? Both are exceptional lenses, but are so very different in how they render. The Lux, is an amazing and was the favourite of the Mandler who designed this lens, as he mentioned ".... balance between performance and size". But it is not cheap and you must be sure that you have a good copy of the lens. Whereas Peter Karbe, did not like this lens, and production of the Lux was stopped in 2007. Karbe's design, the 75 Cron, is sharper more modern in its rendering of images. Both lenses have a MFD of 0.7m and easy to focus IMO. The 75 Cron AA is smaller and lighter too. Tough decision
^^Thanks for your feedback Charles! It is a tough decision but, since you pointed out that it's modern in it's rendering it looks the Cron is the winner. Thanks again!
carstenw wrote:
More modern, yes, but less character...
+1
I do prefer the 75 Lux over the Cron AA, but then some prefer the modern look, so it really is a personal preference
Julian, I picked up the 75 lux instead of the cron because a) I wanted the extra stop (which was also a selling point over a 90, a focal length I prefer) , b) I wanted something with a similarly gorgeous look as the Canon 85 1.2, c) I wanted something longer than my 50 and I was leaving on a trip and it was simply available (!), and d) it was a good price and I knew I could get my money back at any point if I didn't like it- there doesn't seem to be much risk of depreciation with used m glass.
It is large, but nothing in comparison to a canon 85 1.2. Focusing is a bit slow, but I suspect the same is true of the cron. You have to be pretty careful in technique at 1.4. I'm still very much learning to use it, but I have gotten some good stuff with it. It's one of those lenses that you have to know how to use to finesse its strengths. It is said to be as sharp as the cron by f/2.8 or 4.
Silken wrote:
Julian, I picked up the 75 lux instead of the cron because a) I wanted the extra stop (which was also a selling point over a 90, a focal length I prefer) , b) I wanted something with a similarly gorgeous look as the Canon 85 1.2, c) I wanted something longer than my 50 and I was leaving on a trip and it was simply available (!), and d) it was a good price and I knew I could get my money back at any point if I didn't like it- there doesn't seem to be much risk of depreciation with used m glass.
It is large, but nothing in comparison to a canon 85 1.2. Focusing is a bit slow, but I suspect the same is true of the cron. You have to be pretty careful in technique at 1.4. I'm still very much learning to use it, but I have gotten some good stuff with it. It's one of those lenses that you have to know how to use to finesse its strengths. It is said to be as sharp as the cron by f/2.8 or 4.
+1 I too was looking to replace the look of the Canon 85/1.2LII for portraits.
My experience with the 75 Lux (German version) has been that focusing is very accurate. Again, I cannot emphasise enough the copy must be very good, and accurately calibrated with your M9. I feel that a number of issues on the forums do relate to the above issues. The 75 Lux has the classic Mandler rendering at f/1.4 and then becomes very sharp and modern in look above f/4. You basically end up with two lenses
My advice would be the 75 Lux over the 75 Cron. I have the latter and it's my least favorite Leica lens, because as Carsten says - it lacks character. It's optically a competent performer but extremely neutral in its rendering. The 75 Lux on the other hand is really special.
Silken wrote:
Julian, I picked up the 75 lux instead of the cron because a) I wanted the extra stop (which was also a selling point over a 90, a focal length I prefer) , b) I wanted something with a similarly gorgeous look as the Canon 85 1.2, c) I wanted something longer than my 50 and I was leaving on a trip and it was simply available (!), and d) it was a good price and I knew I could get my money back at any point if I didn't like it- there doesn't seem to be much risk of depreciation with used m glass.
It is large, but nothing in comparison to a canon 85 1.2. Focusing is a bit slow, but I suspect the same is true of the cron. You have to be pretty careful in technique at 1.4. I'm still very much learning to use it, but I have gotten some good stuff with it. It's one of those lenses that you have to know how to use to finesse its strengths. It is said to be as sharp as the cron by f/2.8 or 4.
-Cory...Show more →
Thanks Cory. Your insight is truly helpful. I own the 85 L as well and was looking for something similar in FL. The 75 Lux is close enough for portraits and low light situations.
charles.K wrote:
+1 I too was looking to replace the look of the Canon 85/1.2LII for portraits.
My experience with the 75 Lux (German version) has been that focusing is very accurate. Again, I cannot emphasise enough the copy must be very good, and accurately calibrated with your M9. I feel that a number of issues on the forums do relate to the above issues. The 75 Lux has the classic Mandler rendering at f/1.4 and then becomes very sharp and modern in look above f/4. You basically end up with two lenses
Thanks for the info. Charles. Now I know what to look for!
My advice would be the 75 Lux over the 75 Cron. I have the latter and it's my least favorite Leica lens, because as Carsten says - it lacks character. It's optically a competent performer but extremely neutral in its rendering. The 75 Lux on the other hand is really special.
Thanks Luka. I was all ready to purchase a few weeks ago when I noticed some were in stock at Adorama. When I got home to order it was all gone! So, instead I called and put in a preorder and it's now on the way home today! Anyways, it looks like I'll be on the hunt for a 75 Lux. Followed by a 50 Lux if I can find one!
Charles, nice shots above. Right now I got to like the 50Lux ASPH shot the most I see a slightly different color pp with these? The colors seem more vibrant.
Ryan, you seem to have the M9 glued to you? Another nice set. The bench shot is excellent, love the color contrast on that one. I also see a hint of barrel distortion on the bench. Did you notice it?
Julian - you generally won't go wrong with any Leica glass no matter how bad they can be. For the 50Lux ASPH, suggest you put your name down with a reputable Leica dealer and wait it out.
joe88 wrote:
Ryan, you seem to have the M9 glued to you? Another nice set. The bench shot is excellent, love the color contrast on that one. I also see a hint of barrel distortion on the bench. Did you notice it?
Joe, that is just from some large tourists continually sitting on the bench Seriously though, yes, this lens does have more distortion than I saw reported.
Charles, nice shots above. Right now I got to like the 50Lux ASPH shot the most I see a slightly different color pp with these? The colors seem more vibrant.
Ryan, you seem to have the M9 glued to you? Another nice set. The bench shot is excellent, love the color contrast on that one. I also see a hint of barrel distortion on the bench. Did you notice it?
Julian - you generally won't go wrong with any Leica glass no matter how bad they can be. For the 50Lux ASPH, suggest you put your name down with a reputable Leica dealer and wait it out.
I don't comment on this thread as I don't have any Leica gear. But, ohh boy, this thread is at a whole different level of technical and renditional finesse! Great job everyone, too many fine images here to comment on every one of them.
Here are a couple of shots with the 50 Summicron LTM 1999 edition - was trying to compare the shots taken with this lens vs the 50 lux, will post some comparisons soon.
I appreciate it. As far as lenses go, I have a Zeiss 35 f2 and Leica 90 Summarit to start off with. Trying to find a Summilux/Summicron is rare unless you go on ebay to pay the rediculous mark up they charge. So, with that said, I'm stuck with these for now until I learn the camera itself. 
So, instead I called and put in a preorder and it's now on the way home today! Anyways, it looks like I'll be on the hunt for a 75 Lux. Followed by a 50 Lux if I can find one! 
