Re: [Leica] Re: 35 Summicron v. Lux

[Mark Rabiner <mark@rabiner.cncoffice.com>]

Jeff Moore wrote:
> 
> 2000-04-27-03:30:14 lmrmax@ix.netcom.com:
> > At the moment, I am trying to decide between a 35 2.0 or 1.4. Other
> > than the obvious 1 stop difference, any differences between the two in
> > "look" or "feel" of the images produced?
> 
> I'll assume you're referring to the brand-new ASPH flavors of each.
> 
> I flat-out love the way the Summicron pictures look -- the Summicron
> ASPH seems to let out-of-focus areas have nearly the coherence of
> those from the pre-ASPH 35mm Summicron (which is also worth
> considering), and the Summicron is significantly less unwieldy -- both
> the lens itself and the hood strapped on front are bulkier.
> 
> The Summilux ASPH sometimes renders out-of-focus areas in a kind of
> 'jangly' doubled way.  Erwin's reviews (I hope I'm paraphrasing
> correctly, and I hope you've read them in full:
> 
>   http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/m/lenses/pages/l11879.html
> 
> ) seem to imply as well that the Summicron is somewhat more
> consistent, from center all the way out into the corners.
> 
> Having said all that, of my 35mm-lens use, I'd say that the Summilux
> gets about 90-95% and the Summicron the rest.  It's just that handy to
> have the extra stop in reserve, and just how dramatically sharp
> whatever's in focus is at f/1.4 relative to everything else is just a
> visceral thing.  A towering, landmark lens.
> 
> So: no easy answer.  Still depends mostly on how much time you spend
> in twilight or indoors.

He says that the non ASPH Summicron-M 35mm at F2.0 is almost identical to
Summilux-M ASPH 35mm at F 1.4.
I guess with my Summicron-M 35mm ASPH I don't have to worry about such wide open "character".
I can crank it open and still get excellence that won't be more difficult to print.
This keeps my need to "upgrade" and get the 1.4 ASPH down. 
I like my lenses to not get funny on me wide open. My words: "get funny"
Mark Rabiner